Hair texture decides how much hold you need: straight hair stays put with a dab of gel, while curls and coils usually want a layer of gel or pomade under the hairspray to keep the roots flat.
The list runs from a simple middle-part bun to a high bun with 2 face-framing braids that add only a couple of minutes.
1. Middle Part Slickback Messy Bun
Part first, then everything else. A middle part pulls the hair evenly to both sides, so a slicked bun reads symmetrical and clean, and it suits anyone with balanced features.
Use a comb to draw the line from the center of your brow to the crown, then brush each side back flat.
Pull everything into one ponytail at the crown, twist it around its base into a bun, and tug a few pieces loose so the messy part still looks intended.
If a middle part feels too sharp on you, try a side part instead; the rest of the steps stay the same.
2. Twist Ponytail Into Bun
Twisting the ponytail before it wraps is what gives this bun its shape.
Tie a ponytail where you want the bun to sit, twist the length into a rope, then coil it around the base and tuck the end under the elastic.
Curly hair does especially well here, because the coil hides the ends and the texture fills out the bun without any teasing. Smooth the roots with a little gel and a brush, but leave the curls in the bun alone.
Secure the coil with a few pins.
3. Slick Back Hair
Smooth roots decide whether a slicked bun looks polished or lumpy. Brush the hair back in long strokes from the hairline to the crown, and keep going until no bumps show along the sides or the back.
A flat brush works better than a comb for this, and a touch of gel or smoothing cream keeps flyaways down. Check the back with a hand mirror before you tie it, since bumps hide there.
Tie it low or mid-height, then loosen the bun slightly for the messy finish.
4. High Slicked Back Messy Bun
Height changes the whole mood. Setting the bun high on the crown lifts the look and shows off texture, so it works well when you want the roots sleek and the bun itself undone.
Tip your head up, brush everything toward the crown, and tie it tight there. Wrap the hair around the base, pin it, then tug the bun outward with your fingers so it looks full and a little rough.
For me, a high placement beats a low one when the day is busy, since it stays put and takes only a few minutes.
5. Slicked Back Bun with Face Framing Braids
2 thin braids turn a plain high bun into something more finished. Before slicking everything back, pull out a small section at each temple and braid it loosely to the ends, then secure it with a tiny elastic.
Slick the remaining hair up into the bun, and let the braids hang free along your face. They soften the tight roots, and they can flatter a face with strong angles.
Keep them slim; thick braids compete with the bun. The extra step adds only a couple of minutes.
Best Products for Slick Back Bun
Start with the brush, because it does more than any product. A boar bristle brush erases comb marks, and the Mason Pearson pocket brush is the one two pros named as their favorite for updos.
Then layer in 3 products. Shine and flyaway control come from a few drops of hair oil, and a hairspray with firm hold that still brushes out should go on right before you smooth everything back.
Oribe Superfine Hairspray is the one I’d reach for here.
For gel, R+Co Grasp Intense Hold Shaping Balm tames frizz without the crunch of hairspray, and a little goes a long way. Gisou is another name worth a look.
For a simpler routine, pick whatever smoother suits your hair type: a gel, a leave-in conditioner or a hair mask all do the job.
Tips for Styling
Second-day hair holds a slick better than clean hair. Hair on day 3 or 4 holds a slick style well, and fine strands gain the most from the natural oil and grip at the roots.
Freshly washed or very silky hair slides out of place, so style it dry and mist a texturizing spray through the lengths before you start.
Oribe’s Dry Texturizing Spray is one option; it gives the strands grip before any gel goes on.
Work slowly. A rushed pass leaves bumps at the crown and uneven sides, and those read as sloppy rather than relaxed.
And while striving to look like a “clean girl” originally made the hair-do so popular, it (ironically) works best on second day (or, let’s be real, third day) hair.
Can It Work on Different Hair Types?
Yes, this works on straight, wavy, curly and coily hair. The steps are the same across textures, and what changes is how much product you use.
If your hair has more texture, start with it slightly damp or fully dry and work in a cream or gel first, since pulling wet strands tight is where breakage starts.
Keep a spray bottle nearby so you can wet each section again as you smooth it down.
Curls and coils need extra hold to keep the slicked roots flat, so use more hairspray, gel or pomade than you would on straighter hair. Add it in small amounts and check the finish before adding more.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is slick back bun bad for hair?
It can be if you wear it too tight or too often.
Pulling hard on the same spots wears down the hair there, mostly along the hairline, and if you do it often enough it can lead to traction alopecia, which is permanent hair loss.
Wet hair is at its most fragile, so avoid pulling it tight while damp, mix in looser styles, and skip the style altogether if you have hair loss or alopecia.
Can I do a slick back bun on curly/coily hair?
Yes, and the method barely changes whether your hair is straight, wavy, curly or coily.
Tighter textures hold the flat roots only with extra product, so I work in gel or pomade a little at a time and look at the finish after each pass.
