My Signature Slicked Back Bun Is the Best Style for Greasy Hair Days
Amelia Singson is a Sydney-based Makeup Artist with over a decade in the industry. She loves glowing skin, bushy brows and is partial to blush on the nose. Her relationship with skincare is deep and real, and she can talk about products until your ears fall off.
Looking for hair styles for greasy hair?
Scroll through my Instagram feed and you'll see plenty of inspo - I always wear my hair up.
But not in just any old up do - it's a very specific, sleek, shiny, model-inspired low bun that's kinda become my signature hairstyle.
A super sleek bun is one of my favourite hairstyles to do because it helps to show off your beautiful skin and makeup, and even delivers a mini face lift, sans needles.
But the main reason I really, really love it? A sleek low bun is sooooo good at disguising dirty hair. I'm talking filthy. Greasy roots. Way too much dry shampoo. The dirtier, the better.
In fact, clean hair can actually make this style trickier to nail because it's just too silky and slippery. Grease = good.
So if you want an easy guide on how to do a slick back bun with short hair, keep scrolling.
How to Do A Slicked Back Bun.
This sleek bun tutorial is short and easy, only 5 steps. No Kardashian glam squad required.
You can watch my full video tutorial below, or read on for the play-by-play.
Step 1: Spritz with Water
The first step in taming messy, gross hair with a sleek bun is spritzing it with water.
I keep some water in a little spray bottle. Spritz it through so the hair is damp (but not sopping wet) - this will give you a bit of grit to work with.
Step 2: Tie Up Hair
Next, you'll need a styling hair comb with teeth that are fairly close together or a boar bristle brush - Denman Anti Static Carbon Tail Comb and evo bradford pin/bristle dressing brush are great options.
Use the comb to scrape back the hair to get it nice and neat before securing it into a low ponytail with a hair tie.
If you're like me and will wear this hairstyle fairly often, spiral or silk hair ties are the better option because they're a lot more gentle than your regular elastic bands or hair bands, and won't tug and pull on your hair e.g. Kitsch Ruched Satin Petite Scrunchies 6pc Set - Eucalyptus.
Step 3: Apply a Hair Mask
Considering your hair is already dirty anyway, it'd be rude not to take the opportunity to chuck in a hair mask to make your sleek bun work even harder.
Spritz your ponytail with water and work a scoop of a leave-in hair mask through the hair. Choose one that's going to best suit your hair needs - my hair is damaged and broken, so the Kerastase Chronologiste Intense Regenerating Hair Mask 200ml helps to repair that.
Once the mask is evenly distributed through the hair, you can start twisting your ponytail into a bun and secure with another silk hair tie or some bobby pins.
Step 4: Slick Down Every Strand
Now, to start adding the slick to this slicked back low bun.
I use the ELEVEN Australia Slick Hold Styling Pomade - 85g to achieve the full sleek look - this one has hydrating ingredients like lanolin and glycerin to further nourish the hair, and is completely clear for a lovely, shiny finish to the hair.
Take about a 10-cent piece, work it between your palms to coat both hands before using your hands to push the hair down and back, slicking down any flyaways. I call this motion the Danny Zuko from Grease.
You can also use a bit more pomade to smooth the edges of your bun.
Step 5: Brush the Flyaways
This step is optional, but if you really want to keep every little hair secured in place the Kitsch Styling Taming Wand or an unused toothbrush is your best friend.
Because you already have the hair product in, you won't need any more pomade. I take the toothbrush and comb over the hair again from the hairline back to the base of the bun (paying special attention to the sideburns around the ears) for that last little bit of perfection.
Voila! A perfect sleek bun and not a hair out of place.
Add a pair of gold earrings and everyone will think you put in a lot more effort than you actually did.
And the best bit? No one would ever suspect your hair is seriously manky.
Want more great haircare recommendations? Check out these stories from the Adore Beauty team below!
