A slick back is one of the sharpest, most grown-up hairstyles a man can wear: the hair on top combed straight back off the forehead, with shorter sides. It can look polished and shiny or relaxed and matte, and it works on straight, wavy and even curly hair. This guide covers 10 slick back styles, how long your hair needs to be, how to slick back wavy and curly hair, which products to use and how to ask your barber.
Quick answer: for a slick back you need about 4 to 6 inches on top and shorter sides (a fade, taper or undercut). Towel-dry, apply a little product, blow-dry the hair backward with a brush, then comb it into place. Use pomade for a shiny classic look or cream or clay for a modern matte finish. Wavy and curly hair can be slicked back too, using cream and less heat.
What Is a Slick Back?
A slick back is a style rather than a single haircut: any cut with enough length on top to comb straight back. What changes the look is the sides and the finish.
| Slick back | Pompadour | Quiff | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Direction | Straight back | Up and back | Up, slightly forward or to the side |
| Front height | Low to medium | High | Medium to high |
| Top length | 4 to 6 in | 3 to 5 in | 3 to 4 in |
| Styling time | 2 to 5 min | 5 to 10 min | 3 to 5 min |
10 Best Slick Back Haircuts
1. Modern Loose Slick Back
Top: 4 to 5 inches. Sides: low or mid fade, or taper. Best for: most men, everyday wear.
Combed back with fingers rather than a comb, using a matte cream so it looks relaxed and natural rather than glossy.
2. Slick Back With a Mid Fade
Top: 4 to 5 inches. Sides: mid fade. Best for: a sharp, modern look.
The fade gives strong contrast with the full top. See our mid fade guide.
3. Classic Slick Back
Top: 4 to 6 inches. Sides: scissor taper, no fade. Best for: formal occasions, straight hair.
The traditional version: high shine, combed neatly with a fine-tooth comb, and sides cut with scissors. Ask for “classic slick back with a scissor taper on the sides, no fade.”
4. Slick Back Undercut
Top: 5 to 6 inches. Sides: disconnected undercut, #1 to #2. Best for: thick or unruly hair, bold looks.
Very short sides with no blending and a long top combed straight back. The disconnection gives it maximum contrast. Full details in our undercut guide.
5. Textured Slick Back (Push Back)
Top: 3 to 5 inches, point-cut. Sides: fade or taper. Best for: men who don’t want shine.
Pushed back with clay so the hair separates and moves. Less perfect, more natural, and easier to keep up through the day.
6. Slick Back With a Side Part
Top: 4 to 5 inches. Sides: taper or low fade, optional hard part. Best for: offices, straight hair.
The hair is combed back with a slight side part. A razor hard part makes it sharper.
7. Short Slick Back
Top: 3 to 4 inches. Sides: fade. Best for: fine hair, low maintenance.
A shorter version that still combs back but needs less product to hold. Good if longer hair collapses on you.
8. Wavy or Curly Slick Back
Top: 4 to 6 inches (dry). Sides: soft taper. Best for: wavy and curly hair.
The hair is pushed back without blow-drying it straight, so the waves or curls stay visible. See the section below on how to do it, and our wavy haircuts guide.
9. Long Slick Back
Top: shoulder or collar length. Sides: grown out. Best for: long hair.
Long hair swept straight back and tucked behind the ears. A light cream keeps it in place without looking wet. See medium and long haircuts.
10. Wet-Look Slick Back
Top: 4 to 6 inches. Sides: tight fade or undercut. Best for: events, nights out.
A high-shine finish using gel or a strong pomade applied to damp hair. Striking, but it can look dated if overdone, so keep the sides sharp.
How to Slick Back Your Hair (Step by Step)
- Towel-dry until damp.
- Apply a pre-styler or a little product (cream or light pomade) through the top.
- Blow-dry backward with a vent or paddle brush, lifting slightly at the roots for a little volume. Dry the sides down and back.
- Apply your main product to dry hair: a fingertip-sized amount, warmed in your palms, worked from back to front.
- Comb into place with a fine comb for a neat finish, or your fingers for a textured one.
| Finish | Product |
|---|---|
| Classic high shine | Oil-based or water-based pomade |
| Medium shine | Water-based pomade or styling cream |
| Matte, natural | Matte clay or paste |
| Wet look | Gel |
| Wavy or curly hair | Curl cream or light cream |
How to Slick Back Wavy or Curly Hair
- Grow the top to at least 4 to 5 inches when dry; curly hair shrinks, so it looks shorter than it is.
- Apply leave-in conditioner to damp hair, then a curl cream or light cream.
- Push the hair back with your fingers rather than combing, so the curl pattern isn’t broken up.
- Air-dry or diffuse on low heat while gently pushing the front back.
- Finish with a small amount of light pomade or cream to hold the front in place.
Expect a softer, looser look than a classic slick back. Short tapered sides keep it neat.
Slick Back for Your Face Shape
| Face shape | Best slick back |
|---|---|
| Oval | Any style |
| Round | Slick back undercut or mid fade slick back, with a little height at the front |
| Square | Modern loose or textured slick back |
| Long / oblong | Textured or classic slick back kept flatter on top, with fuller sides |
A receding hairline is more visible with a slick back; a textured version is more forgiving. See haircuts for receding hairlines and our face shape guide.
How to Ask Your Barber
Example script: “Slick back with a mid fade. Keep about 5 inches on top, longest at the front, and leave it heavy enough to comb back. Clean neckline.”
Tell your barber whether you want a fade, taper or undercut, and whether you’ll wear it shiny or matte. More help: how to ask your barber and the barber instruction generator.
Maintenance
- Sides every 2 to 4 weeks (fades and undercuts), 4 to 5 weeks (tapers).
- Top every 6 to 8 weeks to keep the shape.
- Wash out heavy pomade regularly and condition the top, since daily blow-drying dries it out.
Slick Back FAQ
How long does hair need to be for a slick back?
About 4 to 6 inches on top. Around 3 to 4 inches works for a short slick back.
Can you slick back curly hair?
Yes. Use cream rather than heavy pomade, push it back with your fingers and avoid blow-drying it straight.
What is the best product for a slick back?
Pomade for shine, cream for a natural look, clay for a matte textured finish.
How do I keep my slick back from falling forward?
Blow-dry it backward first; product alone won’t hold hair that dried in another direction.
What is the difference between a slick back and a pompadour?
A slick back goes straight back with little height. A pompadour lifts the front up into a high, rounded shape before sweeping back.
