How to Choose a Slick Back Haircut You Can Maintain
Plan a slick back haircut with the right length, side connection and finish. Explore polished and relaxed versions with City Barbers in SLC.
By City Barbers3 min read5 sections
In this article
The short answer
A slick back haircut gives you enough length to direct the top away from the forehead. It can be closely combed with shine or worn with a softer, less rigid finish. The cut needs to support that backward movement before the styling product can do its job.
If your hair keeps springing forward, the answer is not automatically a stronger product. You may need more front length, a different drying direction or a shape that works better with your growth pattern.
Preserve length where the hair bends
The front has to travel up and back, so it needs enough length to reach the position you want. Taking it too short can leave it standing upright instead. Ask your barber what is possible with your current hair before showing only a finished reference.
The crown and upper sides matter as well. A top that sweeps back cleanly at the front can still become bulky behind it. Discuss how the weight should be distributed along the whole shape.
Choose a connected or disconnected outline
A connected haircut blends the top into the sides more gradually. It can create a softer silhouette and leave room for alternative styling. A disconnected undercut creates a much clearer difference between the longer top and short sides.
Neither connection is required for a slick back. Look at profile photos and decide whether you like a continuous shape or visible separation. If you want to occasionally wear a side part, tell your barber before taking the sides extremely short.
Decide how polished you want the finish
The word “slick” does not require a wet-looking surface. A more traditional finish may use shine and comb definition, while a relaxed version can use less shine and more movement.
At the chair
Ask about the finish rather than requesting the strongest product available. Heavy application can flatten the top and make the hair appear grouped into narrow sections. Start with a small amount and build only if the style needs it.
Direct the hair before adding more hold
Ask your barber to demonstrate how to guide the top backward while drying. You may need to concentrate on the roots at the front instead of dragging a comb repeatedly through the ends.
Practice with the tools you actually own. If the routine takes longer than you want, choose a lower-volume version or keep a softer sweep. A haircut should fit your mornings as well as your reference photo.
Related guideQuiff vs. Pompadour: Choosing the Shape at the FrontRead the guide
Know what to maintain
As the hair grows, it may gain useful weight or begin feeling heavy around the sides. The goal of the next appointment is to retain the length that makes the sweep possible while refining the outline that has become bulky.
Bring your slick back reference to City Barbers in Salt Lake City. Book a haircut and talk through the connection, finish and home routine before deciding how much length to keep.
Related service
Men’s Haircuts
A full 55 minutes in the chair: your cut, a straight-razor finish, hot and cold towels, a deep tissue massage and a relaxing hair wash.
241 E 300 S, downtown Salt Lake City · Tuesday to Sunday, 8 AM to 8 PM · (801) 243-6915
