Updated by the AI Hairstyle team
Slick Back Try On
A slick back puts your whole forehead and hairline on show, so it looks very different from one face to the next. Upload a selfie and preview a slick back on your own photo before your barber appointment. Each generation gives you 2 variations to compare.
What Is a Slick Back?
A slick back is a style where the hair on top is combed straight back from the forehead toward the back of the head, usually with a product that holds it flat and adds shine. The sides are kept shorter so the combed-back top stands out.
The preset shows a glossy, wet-look version with visible comb lines and tapered sides. It is one of the most formal-looking men’s styles, and because it leaves nothing in front of your forehead, previewing it shows you exactly how much of your hairline it reveals.
What to Ask Your Barber For
- Length on top: enough length to comb back and lie flat. Hair that is too short tends to stand up instead of lying back.
- The sides: a taper, a fade or longer scissor-cut sides. Short sides make the combed-back top look sharper; longer sides look softer.
- A disconnection or not: whether the top should blend into the sides or sit as a clearly separate section.
- Finish: a high-shine, wet look like the preset, or a matte, natural one that moves more.
Take the variation you like to the appointment, together with the style name.
Living With a Slick Back
- Styling: comb a pomade or gel through damp hair and comb it straight back. A water-based pomade usually washes out more easily than an oil-based one.
- Trims: the sides and neckline show regrowth first. Regular tidy-ups keep the contrast between the sides and the top.
- Hair type: straight and wavy hair usually lies back most easily. Curly hair can be slicked back with a stronger product, but it may spring up as it dries, so ask your barber how it will behave.
- Growing out: as the top gets longer, it can be worn swept back loosely or tucked behind the ears, and the sides can be left to grow at the same time.
See a Slick Back on Your Own Photo
Each generation gives you 2 variations, and new accounts get 1 free generation. The button opens the generator with the slick back already selected.
Try a Slick BackSlick Back Try On FAQs
Which slick back does the preview show?
The slick back preset combs the hair straight back off the forehead with fine comb grooves, a glossy wet-look finish and tapered sides.
Can I preview a matte or messier slick back?
Not as a separate preset. The preview shows the glossy version, which is still useful for judging how a combed-back top looks with your hairline. Ask your barber for a matte finish if you prefer it.
Does a slick back suit a receding hairline?
It shows the hairline fully, so it depends on how you feel about that. The preview is the easiest way to check: compare it with a style that brings hair forward, such as the French crop or the messy fringe, on the same photo.
Is a slick back the same as a side part?
No. A slick back combs everything straight back with no parting, while a side part combs the hair to one side from a clear parting line. Both are presets.