When texture works in your favor.
The Aussie slick back has TikTok in a mild uproar. The name hints at an Australian origin, yet Australians keep jumping into the comments to deny any link. Some welcome the shift away from a tight slick back à la Bella Hadid. Others call it messy. As always, the truth is somewhere in between.
The name is… controversial. From what can be unearthed online, the trend started with a British TikToker @atlantads, although at the time she posted it, she claimed she had seen it all over her FYP. Some people think the term “Aussie” developed because of confusion between the term and the Aussie hair-care company.
Whatever the reason, the label stuck because it sounded casual and clickable. The style feels relaxed and slightly undone, all traits the internet loves to assign to Australia. “An Australian slick back is a normal slick back but we’re just half arsed so we make messy look ✨chic✨,” says one user. Plus, it doesn’t pretend day two never happened.
Crown volume does the heavy lifting here. Quite literally. Unlike a traditional slick‑back, the hair behind the part isn’t pulled flat. Instead, it’s intentionally bumped for subtle volume and texture.
The front is center-parted and smoothed back with gel or wax. It creates the openness and symmetry that are the whole point of a slick back, but takes one step away from ultra-tight, stiff looks that give you headaches just looking at them. The Aussie version allows air at the roots and texture through the ends, which is a huge part of its appeal.
Part your hair cleanly down the center. Section off the front portion of your hair and leave it for now. Pull the rest of your hair back as you would normally do for a ponytail. Just make sure you don’t snatch your hair too tightly.
Before you tie it off, use a rat-tail comb or your fingers to gently push the hair forward and up to release the tension. Hold the ponytail in place with an elastic. Check the profile and adjust.
Now it’s time to slick back the front section. Apply your favorite product, such as a gel, a wax, a cream, or a hair mask. Comb the sections back and down in delicate swoops on both sides of your head so that the ends meet at the base of the ponytail.
Use another elastic to fix the ends. Smooth the slicked sections with a toothbrush or a spoolie if needed. You can stop here, or you can modify your ponytail: braid it, create bubbles, or turn it into a bun.
The style is low-effort and second-day friendly. If you feel your hair needs extra grip, apply a sea salt spray or a texturizing powder. Fine hair might need light backcombing at the crown.
The Aussie slick back effectively reframes second-day hair as workable and current. For more tips on slick back styles, head to our article on how to keep your slick backs healthy.
Images via @eboniiannhair, @aussiehair.
