slick back/down

phrasal verb

slicked back/down; slicking back/down; slicks back/down

: to pull (hair) back and make it look smooth or shiny by using water or some wet substance (such as hair gel)

He climbed out of the pool and slicked back his hair.

He had long sideburns and dark slicked-back hair.

Examples of slick back/down in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The best hair gels can perfectly slick back a bun, lay stubborn flyaways to rest, or coax your curls into a uniform spiral, but the wrong ones will lead to mid-afternoon hair lined with flakes, frizz, and even damage. —Jailynn Taylor, Allure, 26 June 2025

Most recently Gomez has been the queen of the slick back bun. —Rachel Flynn, People.com, 23 June 2025

The actress paired the dress with a diamond bracelet and a pair of diamond earrings, choosing to style her hair in a slick back bun. —Lori A Bashian, FOXNews.com, 24 May 2025

Rodman's look was completed by accessorizing with a layered gold necklace, bracelets, and wearing her hair in a slick back bun. —Raven Brunner, People.com, 20 Apr. 2025