How to Get the Viral Aussie Slick Back Hairstyle

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Learn to style this iconic look without damaging your hair

Co-authored by Amy Bobinger, BA

Last Updated: September 30, 2025

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What is an Aussie slick back?

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How to Do It

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Origin & Spread

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Avoiding Hair Damage

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Video

If you’ve been scrolling TikTok lately, you might have seen tutorials for an Aussie (or Australian) slick back. It’s the latest “clean girl” hairstyle—but what exactly does it mean? We’re here to answer all of your questions about this trendy hairstyle, including what it is, how to do it, and where the trend started.

What are Aussie slick backs?

An Aussie slick back is a slicked-back ponytail. The top of the hair, near the crown, is slightly lifted to be messy and voluminous. The front section is parted down the middle and combed down and back toward the ponytail. The front section is usually set with hair gel or wax.

Section 1 of 4:

What is an Aussie slick back on TikTok?

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An Aussie slick back is a middle-part, slicked-back ponytail. The top of the ponytail is left messy or bumpy for a little extra volume, while the front is pulled back in a sleek slick-back. Tutorials for this hairstyle have recently gone viral on TikTok. Aussie slick backs are especially convenient on second- and third-day hair that might look greasy if you wear it down. They’re also a good way to relieve some of the tightness and tension that can occur when you slick your hair straight back.^{[1]
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- This video from @millyjsmith is especially popular—it currently has almost 350K likes.
- The videos have sparked a lot of debate about what exactly the style is (and where it comes from). Many Australian commenters say they’ve never heard of this style, or that it isn’t authentically Aussie.
- The term “Aussie slick back” may be a misunderstanding based on the product line Aussie.
- The Aussie slick back is a little polarizing—people either seem to love it or hate it.

Section 2 of 4:

How to Do an Aussie Slick Back

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To do an Aussie slickback, separate out the front section of your hair. Part it cleanly down the middle, then either brush it forward or tie it in front of your face with an elastic to keep it out of the way. Pull the rest of your hair into a ponytail, leaving a little messy volume on the top of your hair. (Lift small sections with your fingers or the tail end of a comb for even more volume.) Secure the ponytail with an elastic.
- Comb the front section of your hair back to meet the rest of your ponytail. Either swoop it down and back or comb it sleekly to the sides, depending on what you prefer. Use a hair stick or gel and a comb, spoolie, or boar brush to slick down the front section. Then, tie it with an elastic.

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How did the Aussie slick back trend start?

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No one’s really sure how this trend started. Some people attribute the beginning of the Aussie slick back trend to this video by British TikToker @atlantasecret. However, that video wasn’t posted until May 2, 2025. The earliest known use of the term “Australian slick back” on Tiktok is this video posted on April 7, 2025.
- Another video of a slick back posted by Australian TikToker @zaravangorp was posted on April 7, although it wasn’t captioned as an Aussie slick back.

Section 4 of 4:

Avoiding Hair Damage with an Aussie Slick Back

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Avoid slicking your hair back too tightly. Regularly wearing your hair pulled back tightly can lead to a type of hair loss known as traction alopecia.^{[2]
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Trustworthy Source

American Academy of Dermatology
Professional organization made of over 20,000 certified dermatologists

Go to source} To avoid this, don’t pull your hair back so tightly that it pulls on your scalp, and don’t slick your hair back while it’s wet—your hair is more likely to become damaged. Also, detangle your hair before slicking it back to ensure you’re not combing over snags, leading to breakage.^{[3]
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- If you get a headache from wearing your hair slicked back, it’s probably too tight.
- If you notice patchy areas around your hair line, stop wearing tight styles until your hair grows back.