If you’re looking for a chic hairdo that can be achieved in minutes, slick bun hairstyles are your best bet. Made popular by It girls like Bella Hadid, Hailey Bieber, and Sofia Richie Grainge, sleek buns can instantly elevate the simplest outfits to quiet-luxury status. Indeed, the versatility of a slicked-back bun knows no bounds.
If you’ve been craving the look but wondering how to do it, you’ve come to the right place. This simple updo might seem easy, but it can be tricky if you’re a neophyte. Below, we show you how to pull it off so it’s completely free of flyaways.
How to do Slick Bun Hairstyles
A slicked-back bun is a staple hairstyle. It’s one of the easiest updos to pull off yourself, so long as you have the right products and tools to secure your hair firmly and tame flyaways. The best part of the look is that any hair type can rock it, whether straight, wavy, curly, or coily. You just need more attention to detail, patience, and precision, especially for type 3 or 4 hair.
Here’s how to get it done with style inspos in between:
Prep Your Hair
Shampoo and condition your hair. Then blow-dry your strands until the roots are flat and smooth. Avoid starting out with wet hair, as it can cause breakage.
Section Your Hair for the Slick Bun Hairstyle
A slick bun hairstyle requires brushing every layer to ensure it’s flat and smooth. Section your hair into two parts with clips or hair ties to get a smooth finish and reduce bumps. If tangled, detangle with a boar bristle brush to ensure there are no knots.
Apply Hairsyling Product to Your Slick Bun Hairstyle
After detangling, add styling products to your hair. Mix water and leave-in conditioner in a spray bottle and spritz the combo generously all over your hair, from the lengths to the roots. Once you’ve misturized your hair well, add gel to each section. Prepping your hair with product will provide hold and ensure it’s smooth enough to achieve a sleek, shiny final look.
Choose the Part for Your Slick Bun Hairstyle
One of the key elements of slick bun hairstyles is a flawless part that runs straight all the way to the back with no flyaways. So, figure out how you’d like to part your hair—center, side, or zigzag. Once you’ve decided, use a rattail comb to forge a trail through your strands and create your desired part. Then apply more gel along the part line to keep it in place.
Pull Your Hair Back
After parting your hair, pull it back into a ponytail. To do this, brush and comb your hair until it is smooth. Then, pull your hair into a tight low ponytail at your desired height. Ensure it stays tight and secure with an elastic. If your hair is coily or curly, brush thoroughly and apply enough product to keep it as flat and sleek as possible.
Twist Your Hair
Twist the ponytail into a bun and wrap it around the base to form a bun. Then pin or secure the bun in place with a hair tie or bobby pins. Add more product and hairspray to the front of your hair for a long-lasting, smooth look.
Smooth Flyaways
If you find any stubborn flyaways, apply more product, such as mousse, hair wax, or oil, to smooth them down. The products will provide targeted control so the strands don’t shift or pop out. They’ll also enhance the glossy finish.
Set the Style with Hairspray
Use a silk scarf to set your hair in place. Once your hair is dry. Remove the scarf and finish with hairspray for extra hold and gloss. If you have a hooded dryer, sit underneath for a few minutes to set the style completely and ensure it stays sleek.
And there you have it—your slick bun. If you followed the tips above, it should feel secure, but not too tight. For extra hold, you can apply another round of hairspray to ensure your slick-back bun stays in place all day long.
