How to Slick Your Hair Back

Co-authored by Martin Nepton

Last Updated: November 2, 2022

Slicked-back hair has been in style for over one hundred years, and for good reason. The style can emphasize thick, rich hair, show off bone structure, and create an eye-catching look that's perfect for everything from business meetings to casual weekend outings. Choose from three styles: classic slicked hair, modern slicked hair and long slicked hair.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Short Slicked Hair

1
Start with damp, towel-dried hair. The slicked-back look stays in place better when you start with damp hair. The hair will finish drying in a slicked position, helping it stay in place all day long. Shampoo your hair and towel it dry to begin.
2
Coat your hair with pomade. Use your fingers to apply a liberal amount of strong-hold pomade to your hair, focusing on the top and sides. Pomade is the classic product used to create this look. A strong-hold pomade is essential to keep your hair slicked back until you wash it out.
- Pomade was classically oil-based. Oil-based pomade creates the classic sheen and hold that made the slicked look popular. However, oil is difficult to wash out, so you may want to look for a strong-hold pomade that does not list oil as a main ingredient.
- Gel is a good alternative if your hair isn't too thick. Gel typically results in a dryer hold and may take on a slightly crunchy texture. This works best with finer, lighter hair types, since it may not be strong enough to hold heavier hair in place.
Advertisement
3
Run a comb from your forehead to your crown. Use a fine-toothed barber comb and slick your hair straight back from your forehead to the crown of your head. The classic slick does not include a part, so just run the comb straight back. Do this several times so that the top or your hair lies flat in straight pattern from front to back.
4
Slick back the sides. Place the comb at your right temple and run it to the back of your head. Now do the same on the left side. The hair on the sides of your head should flow in a slicked pattern from front to back.
5
Continue to comb your hair back to create the shape you want. In most cases, six or seven comb-throughs, or "slicks," should be enough to create this quick style. You want to style your hair in as few slicks as possible to keep the pomade evenly distributed in your hair. If you handle it too much, it may begin to look messy.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Medium Slicked Hair

1
Start with damp, towel-dried hair. Shampoo your hair and dry it, but not all the way. This style looks best on hair that is slightly damp. Your hair will dry in the modern slicked position, helping it stay in place throughout the day.
2
Coat your hair with pomade. Use your fingers to run pomade through your hair, focusing on the top and sides. For this style, you can use either maximum hold pomade or a medium hold product. Keep in mind that a medium hold product will allow your hair to move more, creating a "messy" overall appearance. If you prefer a neater look, use maximum hold pomade.
3
Part your hair if desired. Modern slicked hair can be parted on either side if desired. Use a comb to part your hair on either the right or the left side, keeping in mind that both sides will be slicked toward the back. Avoid a middle part.^{[1]
X
Research source}
4
Comb your hair back from your forehead to your crown. Use a fine-toothed barber comb to comb your hair back from your forehead to the crown of your head. Just comb each section once. For this style, you want the roots to maintain some volume, rather than lying completely flat.
- With the modern slick, you can choose not to slick back the sides. This works particularly well if you have a fade haircut, with much shorter hair on the sides than on top.
- If you do have long hair on the sides, slick it from your temples to the back of your head.
5
Use your fingers to add volume. The modern slick has volume and movement. After initially combing your hair back, put the comb down and use your fingers to achieve the look you want. Run your fingers through your hair and gently lift it at the roots so that it doesn't lie flat.
- You can use a hair dryer set to low to help add volume as you finger comb. Be sure to point it from your forehead toward your crown so that your hair dries in a slicked back pattern.
- Use more pomade as necessary to create the look you want. Then, finish with a little hairspray to help your hair keep it's shape.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Long Slicked Hair

1
Start with damp hair. If your hair is long, you can use a hair dryer to rough dry your hair until it's about seventy percent dry. Alternatively, towel dry your hair to get it ready for styling.
2
Comb out your hair before applying product. Use a wide-toothed comb to comb your hair and remove all tangles before you apply product and attempt to slick it. This will help keep the final appearance neat.
3
Coat the top and sides of your hair with pomade. Use your fingers to apply pomade to the top and sides, the areas you want to slick back. There's no need to apply pomade to the ends of your hair.
- Use a wide-toothed comb to help diffuse the product over the length of your hair. This will keep you from having a defined product line by creating a slow transition between the parts with product and the parts without.
4
Comb back the top and sides of your hair. Use a fine-toothed comb to comb back from your forehead to the crown of your head. Comb from your temples to the back of your head. Finger-comb your hair to add volume and achieve the slicked-back look you want.
5
Consider putting your hair in a ponytail or bun. Putting your hair into a ponytail or bun will help your slick stay in place and create a neater appearance. You could also do a half-ponytail or even a long braid.

Expert Q&A

Question

How do I get my hair to slick back naturally?

Laura Martin
Licensed Cosmetologist
Laura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist in Georgia. She has been a hair stylist since 2007 and a cosmetology teacher since 2013.

Laura Martin

Licensed Cosmetologist

Expert Answer

You can slick back your hair with water or apply a plant-based styling product. You can make a natural gel with flaxseed.
Question

What do you use to slick your hair back?

Laura Martin
Licensed Cosmetologist
Laura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist in Georgia. She has been a hair stylist since 2007 and a cosmetology teacher since 2013.

Laura Martin

Licensed Cosmetologist

Expert Answer

Pomade and gel are two common and effective products. Pommade gives a softer, more flexible hold than gel.
Question

How do you slick back your hair in a ponytail?

Laura Martin
Licensed Cosmetologist
Laura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist in Georgia. She has been a hair stylist since 2007 and a cosmetology teacher since 2013.

Laura Martin

Licensed Cosmetologist

Expert Answer

Start with damp, towel-dried hair and use a brush to smooth your hair back. You can also add gel to the roots for extra sleekness. Secure your hair with an elastic.