Slicked back hair looks just as good today as it did in the 50s. Need proof? Check out our 9 favorite slicked back hairstyles.

Slicking your hair back is seemingly a shortcut to “achieving cool.” It’s an iconic look that’s somehow both distinguished and a bit daring.

Historically, the slicked back style is closely associated with the 1950s and 60s, but it’s still very much alive today. It has a strong vintage vibe, but it doesn’t feel outdated.

Perhaps the most famous slicked back hairstyle is the classic pompadour, but that’s not the only way to rock slicked back hair.

As long as you have straight to wavy hair, you can achieve a wide range of slicked back looks.

Slicked hair on its own is really just a styling technique that you can use however you want. You can go pure retro with an Elvis-style pomp, or you could opt for something more modern like a slicked back undercut.

To show that versatility, we’ve picked out these 9 slicked back hairstyles that run the gamut from old to new.

Table of Contents

Best Slicked Back Hairstyles for Men

Here are some of the best slicked back hairstyles in no particular order…

#1: Pompadour

Let’s start with the grandfather of all slicked back styles: the pompadour.

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There are all kinds of pompadours, but many of them (including this one) are heavily inspired by the pomps of the 50s. The pompadour itself — that is, the voluminous slicked back hair in the front — is a direct nod to the original style.

You get all the elements of classic slicked back hair: the high-shine look, the tight combing, and the curvature of the pomp. However, there are also a couple of contemporary touches like the hard part and mid fade that give this classic style a nice update.