Key Takeaways
-
The first step of styling slicked-back hair is to start with hair that’s clean, healthy, and hydrated.
-
Work styling products into damp hair after cleansing and conditioning to eliminate frizz and add shine.
-
Evenly distribute slicked back hair product with your hands, then comb through with a wide-toothed comb.
Jump to
How to Slick Back Hair: Tips from a Pro?
Slicked-back hair is a timeless look that demands healthy, well-prepped hair to achieve lasting hold and shine. Follow these pro tips on how to slick back hair so you can ooze confidence and elegance wherever you go—from work to weekend.
Start with Clean, Healthy Hair
This may not seem like a step, but its illusive fit into this guide is exactly why you’re here. You want your hair to be clean—without any product buildup from previous days—in order to get the ideal slicked-back look. After all, you want shine, texture, and uniformity. We recommend OLAPLEX® Nº.4 Bond Maintenance® Shampoo. It gently cleanses your hair, helping to reduce breakage and hydrate for soft, healthy-looking hair.
Stay Hydrated
Give your hair some of its own shine by keeping it hydrated with regular conditioning. That way, your styling products can enhance your healthy hair. After washing with Nº.4 shampoo, condition your damp hair with OLAPLEX Nº.5 Leave-In Moisturize & Mend Leave-In Conditioner. This moisturizing leave-in instantly hydrates, softens, and detangles, providing 12x more moisture after one use.*
Work on Damp Hair
In order for products to glide on and distribute evenly, gently towel dry the hair after showering. You want the hair toweled enough so that it’s not dripping but is still wet enough to dampen a paper towel if it were to touch your hair.
Prep the Hair
Before reaching for a styling product that will hold your slicked-back hair in place, prep the hair with a dime-sized amount of OLAPLEX Nº.6 Bond Smoother®,which reduces frizz for up to 72 hours.
Nothing kills slicked back hair like flyaways, and with Nº.6, not only will you ensure that your hair is being conditioned and strengthened, you’ll also experience up to 81% reduction in frizz. For additional shine, add a few drops of OLAPLEX Nº.7 Bonding Oil™ to a pea-sized amount of Nº.6. Begin to work the product into the hair with a wide-tooth comb, working with your natural part and comb back.
Pro tip: Just like when you’re detangling your hair, start from the ends, working your way up so as to not cause any damage to the hair via styling mechanically.
Find the Right Product
Regardless of which product you choose to slick back your hair, it should be one that provides ample hold and shine. The specific product and brand will come down to trial and error. Choose what works best for your hair type and texture.
Work in Product
Whether using OLAPLEX stylers (or any gel, mousse, or pomade), use your hands to work the product through your combed back hair. Once the product is evenly distributed, use the wide-toothed comb to set your slicked back style in place. For extra shine and hold, you may also use hairspray, though we find this step is optional as Nº.6 and OLAPLEX Nº.7 helps to tame any flyaways that the hairspray would normally serve to reduce.
Find the right OLAPLEX products for your hair, no matter how you choose to style it, by taking our quiz. You’ll get a routine that’s personalized to you, your hair texture, any issues you may have, and your hair goals. Learn more about products and get more styling tips at the OLAPLEX blog.
*As tested in a clinical facility using curly tresses.