Slick Back Essentials
Do you want to be the next It girl? You only need one thing! The hot new hair craze is a neat, put-together, slick back ponytail or bun. The perfect look for when your hair is feeling a little bit greasy or difficult to manage. It is also extremely versatile. Going out? Slick back. Work meeting? Slick back. Thanksgiving dinner? Slick back. Any event in which you need something to do with your hair? Slick back!
Before we begin, it is important to acknowledge that people of color have been doing slick back buns and ponytails for much longer than this trend has been around.
The first step to the perfect slick back is to let your hair become naturally oily. Wait a few days after you wash, and then when you think your hair is ready for its next wash, that means it's time to slick it back.
When it comes to building hair health, it can be extremely helpful to add oils to your hair. Oils like the Olaplex No.7 Bonding Oil or even something as simple as rosemary oil are so nourishing for your hair. They promote growth and keep your hair healthy and shiny! The perfect slick back requires your hair to look sleek, so using oils to keep your hair looking perfect all day is not only visually appealing, it also helps your hair. It may seem counterproductive to put oil into your oily hair, but trust us when we say, it works!
The key to getting your hair looking slick and smooth with minimal bumps is a brush meant for smoothing rather than detangling. Slick-back brushes have thicker, more clustered bristles than your average hair brush. A great option is Tracee Ellis Ross’ PATTERN brush which features two sides, both useful when slicking back your hair.
When brushing your hair into a ponytail, it is so important to use either gel or hairspray to help keep your flyaways in place for as long as possible. Got2Be Glue has many great options for both spray and gel, which can be used at the same time or interchangeably. Both of these products have a super high hold, but can easily be rinsed out with just a little bit of shampoo. Use either of these products when putting your hair up, but also when refreshing your look after it has already been slicked back for a few hours. Both of these items can help get your hair back to looking brand new, even if you’ve had it up for a few days, speaking from personal experience!
A crucial ingredient to keeping your hair slicked back all day, and even all night, is good quality, thick, hair ties. The thicker or longer your hair, the thicker and stretchier your hair tie should be. The best hair ties according to us former ballerinas would be these 4mm hair ties by GOSICUKA.
The last, and arguably most important, item to keep your hair looking slick is a wax stick. A wax stick smoothes down flyaways and frizzy hair and is great for touching up your hair in the middle of the day or before going out. It is best used near your ears and at the nape of your neck, places where a large brush may not reach.
Slicking back your hair requires a lot of patience and arm strength, but once you’ve mastered it, it takes no time at all. You’ll question how you lived before slicking back your hair. It is just an extremely versatile and functional style that anyone can do, and it can be spiced up in so many ways by adding braids, accessories, or different parting styles.
Will you try these products to help your slick back look even slicker? Tag us @theedgemag if you do!