HENRIs Style Guide: The Italian Slick-back
Certain hairstyles automatically transport your mind to another era, where the cut sets the mood and reflects the culture.
A classic slick-back – and more specifically The Italian Slick-back – is precisely one of those looks that takes you into an old black-and-white film, where the world romanticises freshly pressed Italian shirts, lit cigarettes and charming mafiosos from Southern Italy.
The expression is swept back and controlled, but not overly stylised and never with the feeling of trying too hard.
The man who wears the Italian slick-back does not fight with his hair in the morning, the metro is never delayed and the coffee always tastes the way it should. The hair is part of him and his identity.
It is not a look that shouts "look at me". It represents professionalism and composure with a hint of success.
Although much men's hair has become looser and draws inspiration from the 1970s, the Italian slick-back still lives on in the urban landscape. It is not a trend that falls out of fashion. It is a look that has always worked for men of all ages. And still does.
Watch our stylist Julio style his Italian slick-back here.
Who is the style suited for?
The Italian Slick-back requires enough length for the hair to be combed back and lie flat.
Typically this means you need medium to long hair. It works best on hair with a certain natural structure or thickness, but with the right preparation even finer hair types can carry the look.
What determines a successful Italian slick-back is not what you start with, but how you build it up.
How to style a Slick-back
Step 1 - Build the foundation with our Refined Salt Water Spray.
Start with a few sprays of our Refined Salt Water in slightly damp hair and work it evenly through from root to tip. The salt water spray is what lays the foundation for the look to perform as intended.
It adds texture and natural grip, making the hair receptive to the next step and keeping the look in place throughout the day. Skip this step and you risk the pomade sliding through the hair without taking hold.
Step 2 - Blow-dry with direction and lift.
Use a hair dryer and a comb to dry the hair with lift from the root. This is where the character of the look is defined. Go straight to the pomade without having built volume into the hair first, and you will end up with a flat, heavy result – and that is not what you are going for.
It is the lift from the blow-dry that gives the slick-back life and depth instead of looking plastered down.
Take your time with this step.
Step 3 - Finish with our Crystal Pomade and a comb.
Take a small amount of Crystal Pomade and warm it up between your palms before working it evenly through the hair.
Start with less than you think you need.
Then use a fine-tooth comb to comb the hair smooth and firmly back.
Crystal Pomade is the right choice for this look because it delivers exactly what a slick-back demands: high shine, controlled hold and clean lines without feeling heavy or greasy in the hair.
The look should appear polished, but not artificial.
If you have a lot of hair to work with, you can repeat the combing in sections to ensure every part sits exactly as it should.
Maintenance throughout the day
One of the advantages of using our Crystal Pomade is that it is water-based and pliable.
If the look loses its shape during the day, you can reactivate the product by lightly dampening your hands and running them through the hair before combing it back again.
See our products for a classic slick-back
