45 Best Slicked Back Hairstyles for Men (2026 Guide)

The slick back with a modern twist. This one very close to the quiff feels very Rock ‘n Roll but in a super chill way.

This is an example of a short cut with little maintenance needed, but it is elevated with a drop fade. The drop fade is accomplished by shaving the sides of the hair cut either completely bare or very short. It fades gradually into the top of the hair which is slicked back for a clean and polished style.

This straight pompadour is one of the more bold, slicked back options, but it’s incredibly stylish with a twang of hipster-ness. It’ll take some time in front of the mirror to get it just right, though!

It’s hard to focus on the hair when there’s such a great ‘tache at play, but we think the part in this cut is really what’s tying the whole look together.

The slicked back cut is a favorite among hipsters, just because it’s a little more out-there than other boring cuts. And in case you were wondering, here’s how it looks with a beard, tattoos, and denim jacket.

You can adapt the slicked back style into a manly one, when needed. Rougher styling and thicker hair does the trick here… or maybe it’s all the bushy facial hair.

For those with medium length hair, the slicked back can also do the trick as an elegant cut. You know, the kind of thing you’d wear to a posh dinner party.

Here’s another long variant of the slicked back haircut, this time with long locks suspended over the head. It’s a good choice for the colder winters, where you really need some length to cover those ears.

This loose, brushed back hairstyle is definitely a clean look. However, haircuts play to your face shape, and we think that’s resulted in a slightly strange, stretched look here.

We can bare call this one an actual slicked back style, but it checks off just the right boxes! Since the Hair at the top looks rather breezy I’d say little to no product was applied to keep the movement.

When hair hits this length, it possesses enough weight so that you can pull off styles like this with little to no product depending of course on your hair texture and growth direction.

Notice how the top has been given some long-ish layers for texture.

A pair made in heaven, the undercut, and long top slicked back. Detailed with a drop fade looks like perfection.

It’s not like this hairstyle will get old, but I mean how old-school-cool does this look?

An undercut as short as this is a great complement for the medium-long push back hairstyle.

This slightly unkempt style gives major rebel vibes. Following the natural hairline and letting the hair get messy but maintaining the crucial combing direction backward.

Heavier on product this one, but definitely with a purpose! This is the kind of hairdo that will hold up the whole day.

Is that Brad Pitt’s style? Absolutely it is. The slight puff with slick back strands on top is quite finessing. The undercut taper is quite a buzz cut with temple fade easily brings beard into the game.

The perfect fade does not exist — but it looks like it does! And paired with a slicked-back – it gives a modern look to an otherwise classic style. This haircut is great for those who want to keep their top length longer than the rest of their hair, and in doing so, they can experiment with different top styles and not just a slicked-back.

This haircut also works for most face shapes, except for the round one. It’s versatile enough and can be used for formal occasions or a pub crawl with the dudes. Sport with a walrus mustache, or any mustache for that matter, for an unforgettable look.

There’s nothing wrong with a clean and classic silhouette, especially if you want a haircut that is styled to transition from day to night. The haircut is easy to achieve – you simply grow your hair long (at least 2 to 3 inches) enough that it can be “slicked” back.

This style is product heavy, regardless of texture so make sure you are prepared to do this every morning before heading out. Other than that, you can accessorize with a hoop earring and you’re ready for the world.

If you thought the slick back hairstyle only works for long, thick hair, think again. This classic slick back look proves that the haircut can work for any hair type, including thin hair. The cut has an elegance and sophistication that instantly creates a business-appropriate look. The finish looks flawless, which suits his thin hair. The styling on top helps add volume, which helps hide the fact that he doesn’t have thick hair.

The cut is paired with an elegant full beard with sideburns that blend seamlessly to the sides of the haircut, an apt choice for casual and formal occasions. He has finished it with a styling product like pomade which gives the hairstyle a sleek shine.

This is one of the popular ways of wearing a slick back haircut. Starting halfway between the hairline and the ear, the fade subtly adds a dynamic element to this classic comb-over style. Pairing the cut with a drop fade on both sides and the back means all attention goes to the top.

He has kept it low-key with a matte finishing product to avoid too much shine. He has paired the cut with a patchy beard that he wears elegantly, so you don’t notice the patchiness. The anchor beard brings the whole look together, making for a casual look.

The classic graduated slick back hairstyle is the perfect businessman’s cut. In this case, the hair is left long enough to come on top and then taper down in length around the ears and neck. The top has been cut in a uniform layer that graduates into the back with no texturizing since it’s been left heavy.

He uses a heavy pomade for this haircut to create the much-needed shine and hold. He has chosen to pair it with a light stubble that complements the gradual fade nicely. He has also added a stylish cross earring that gives the illusion of a laid-back casual vibe.

The graduated style created by cutting the hair with tension like this leaves him enough room to vary his look from trendy to conservative.

The salt and pepper look is perfect for older men as well as younger men who fancy that slight silver fox look. The hair is combed back in a sleek way, with the top left a little heavy which helps elongate his face. He has opted for a low fade and minimal accessories. He has gone with an elegantly trimmed salt and pepper full beard, which complements the cut nicely.

The slicked back hairstyle with a mid-skin fade works for younger men who want such a retro casual look. He has kept the fade midway and disconnected, which leaves him enough weight and length to slick back the top.

His hair blends well on the side down to the skin. And while a mid-skin fade pairs beautifully with a thick beard, in this case, it works well for his clean-shaven look with only a bit of facial hair on the chin and mustache area. He has finished the look with pomade, which gives his hair a strong hold and the classic glossy finish.

If short sides and the long top had a retro version this would be it. The way that sides are taper faded makes the top go thick plus the middle-parted fluff gives a vintage touch to the already retro slicked back hairstyle.

Remember to use some product or oil to keep the hair in place and fluffy

If you happen to have thick wavy hair, this is a witty way to style a slick-back. Instead of going all the way slick, you can allow your hair to conserve it’s natural texture for an easygoing look, yet fashionable as ever.

There’s no need to brush out and flatten up your hair for a slicked back, since it works just as well with wavy hair.

We’re also impressed by shorter, gelled back styles like this one. For the busy man with a little less time to spend on adjusting his hair, this is definitely a contender.

There’s often some sort of tapering on the sides with this kind of cut, but in this slicked back, the sides are trimmed off completely. The result? Something a little different, and surprisingly cool…

Quick reminder: slicked back top doesn’t have to mean short sides. This slightly tamer, lion-like (no pun intended) cut seems more reserved to us.

Shaving off the sides and slicking the top right back leaves us with Brad Pitt’s fury hairstyle, which has an impressive fierceness to it thanks to the skin-tight sides.

This is another variant of the slicked back cut with shaved sides, but it’s amazing how much difference the bushy beard makes.

Nothing screams confidence like a well-done pompadour. Just one of the various slicked back styles you can try your hand at!

Slicked back hairstyles can have a bad reputation for not playing enough with volume but here’s a clear example of how keeping volume can actually elevate the style. Pair that with a fancy temple shave of this kind and create an amazing yet subtle contrast.

As classy as it gets. No hair out of place held together with product to keep the form. Here the style is shown with a low fade, to get more conservative (if that’s the goal) a classic neckline taper would do the trick.

We got given a real curveball on the classic way of wearing this hairstyle by no other than a dye job! Trust a little change in your natural shade to truly make a difference.

The strategically placed ‘line’ it’s super unique!

Thin hair strands can make up a pretty concise volume look like the one shown here! Again, we see how the hair is brushed back with a light product leaving a considerable amount of volume given by the hair length.

When you slick back your curls they usually have a say about it, don’t they? That is because curly hair has more of a mind of its own.

Instead of fighting the natural pattern too much, try out a style like this one. It leaves the end of the hair strands to do their own curly thing.

Going back on the style, century-old variations made the middle and side part popular. Slicked back doesn’t always mean no part, I’d even go ahead and suggest a side natural part to change things up a bit.

We don’t get a great visual from this angle but the slick pompadour is accompanied by what can only be described as the classic regulation crop part. Sectioning some hair to make the part and taper sharply to finish with a cohesive tapered undercut. 

A high and tight shape for sure, this hairstyle takes the best of a short crop on the sides and medium length hair on top to present us with this slicked back variation.

Not so much on the conservative side, but it manages to put together a pretty clean look.

A finger-comb can look super even like it does here. It plays with depths and creates texture at the front.

Closer to a quiff, this finger-comb slick back works all its breezy magic to create some volume and texture at the front.

Letting the hair fall slightly to the side, this classic look plays as much with the texture as it does volume.

This slicked back is giving all the right Viking vibes!
A beard like this is the perfect complement to balance the amount of hair that’s shaven off the sides.

This one here is all about the balance, hair left longer on top and the sides kept just long enough!

Such a clean taper deserves a medal! Love how the volume still follows the close hair comb pattern. Definitely grab some good defining product when attempting this style.

Much like a lot of the look variations here, the slicked-back hair doesn’t always need a bunch of products to look super cool! Give this hairstyle a go and have fun with all the possibilities.