Want to learn how to get a great slick back ponytail? I’ve started wearing my hair slicked back in the last few years and it has become a great go-to hairstyle for me.
This sleek ponytail style really highlights your face and makes you look put together wherever you go.
All you need is this slick back tutorial, a few hair tools and a little bit of patience as you start to learn how to create this look.
After practicing and lots of trial and error over the years, I’ve finally perfected the slick back and can now do it in under five minutes.
Here’s my go-to process for creating a simple slick back ponytail.
What you’ll need for a slick back ponytail:
Step-by-step slick back ponytail instructions:
1. Start by brushing through your dry hair to get out any knots and smooth hair.
2. If you want to see the part in your hair, now is the time to create it.
You may want to use the tail of a thin-tooth comb to do this to make it extra sleek.
I personally think a middle part looks really cute with this style. If you don’t want a part in your hair, you can skip this step.
3. Start to brush your hair into a ponytail, using the brush to guide the hair into your other hand.
Position the ponytail where you want it to land on the back of your head (low, middle or high).
4. Holding the ponytail in one hand, use the brush to smooth out the ponytail—focus on the top as this will be the most noticeable part of the slick back, but don’t forget to smooth underneath the ponytail from the nape of your neck too.
5. Keep holding the ponytail and put the brush down.
Pick up the wax hair stick and gently glide it over any sections of hair that need help staying in place.
For me, this is usually any short face-framing pieces in the front of my hair, the sides above my ears and the hair underneath the ponytail by my neck.
6. Brush through the hair one more time, helping to smooth the parts you went over with the wax stick in place.
I find this second brush through really helps smooth everything down.
7. Once you’re happy with the slickness of your hair, take your seamless hair tie and wrap it around the ponytail, pulling tight to help get a sleek look.
8. To finish off the look, take a tiny pump of hair oil and rub it between your palms to distribute the product.
Run your palms across the top and bottom of the slick back for added shine and sleekness.
As an optional final step for extra hold, you can use hairspray all over the ponytail to help keep things super secure.
Alternate products to consider for slick backs:
If you’d prefer not to use a wax stick or hair oil, here are two other alternative products that you can substitute in their place.
Hair gel
Hair gel can also work for a slick back hair style. You can use it in step 5 in place of the wax stick.
I recommend starting with a small amount to smooth down ends so you don’t overload the strands and end up with a greasy look.
You can always add in more if needed, but you can’t remove it once you apply.
Hair wand
I am also obsessed with my dae Hair Wand, which features a mascara-inspired brush to truly help smooth down your strands in a slick back.
I don’t find that it has as much hold to it, but if you find that you have some stubborn flyaways even after you secure the ponytail, this should take care of them.
Slick back FAQ’s:
Can I do a slick back ponytail on wet hair?
It is not recommended to attempt a slick back hairstyle on fully wet hair.
When your hair is wet, it is most vulnerable to damage and can break more easily from the tension of being pulled into a tight ponytail.
If you’re worried about frizz, I’d suggest adding some hair oil or hair gel to tame those strands.
Where should I position my slick back ponytail on my head?
This is really up to your personal preference!
I do think that when you’re first starting out, doing a low, slick back ponytail will be the easiest to pull off.
This way you don’t have to worry about smoothing down the back of the ponytail or about getting the positioning perfect since it will sit at the nape of your neck.
I’ve found that the middle placement is my favorite, but the high slick back ponytail can also look super cute too!
I recommend experimenting with different placements to see which is your favorite.
Should I style my ponytail in a slick back or embrace my natural texture?
Most of the styling in a slick back is going to be focused on the top part of your hair. But don’t forget about the ponytail itself when choosing how to style your hair.
I have naturally straight hair (type 1A hair). So if I’m going for a super sleek look I may choose to skip curling my hair and embrace my natural texture.
If I want to add more volume to the look, I may choose to put some loose curls in my hair. It’s either before or after completing the slick back styling process.
What kind of outfit should I wear with a slick back ponytail?
I do think that the slick back ponytail looks especially nice with a high neck top like a turtleneck, or even an off-the-shoulder top.
But I truly think the slick back is a timeless hairstyle that looks great with tons of different outfits.
Are there other ways I can elevate the slick back ponytail?
I personally love when people take an extra strand of hair and wrap it around the hair elastic for an even more seamless look.
To do this simply grab a small section of hair (about one inch) from the bottom of the ponytail.
You may want to rub the wax stick across it or put some hair oil on it to help the strands stay together.
Then take the hair and wrap it around the elastic. You can either tuck the hair into the elastic on the underside or secure it with a bobby pin.
Let me know if you try this hairstyle or if you have any tips to share in the comments!
yours,
Austen
