Credit: Courtesy of stylist loves and brands
4 min read
If you’ve finally been convinced to give the slicked-back bun a try, try these holding hair products for an always-on-point style that lasts all day.
A slick bun is one of the most coveted hair trends out there. It is one of those looks that circulates and regains popularity as soon as a celebrity wears it. Why? Thanks to its ability to pull any look together, it is worn alongside some of the most iconic moments in fashion and beauty.
Sofia Richie is among those who regularly opt for a slicked bun. Recently, she has become an unofficial ambassador for the look, taking to TikTok to reveal how she achieves her iconic style. “I really love you guys for thinking this is like my chic hairstyle,” she says, before admitting this is actually reserved as a “lazy”, low-maintainance beauty hack.
She applied a hair mask to wet hair and slicked it back with a dense brush before it dried. This was the moment she sent the internet into a frenzy. The first uproar came from those who never wear their hair up straight after washing and instead rely on hair-up days to extend their next hair wash by an extra day. The next was between hair experts who debated whether tying your hair when wet could cause hair breakage.
We took matters into our own hands to investigate and discover the best products for achieving the off-duty model look. Here are our top finds…
Larry King Haircare Flyaway With Me Kit
This kit is the finishing touch to your bun look and helps to keep things tidy. The formula is a finishing cream to tame frizz and deliver a glossy shine. The dual-ended brush takes the product from the hairline to the hairband, creating the ultimate snatched look.
Shop Larry King Haircare Flyaway With Me Kit at Cult Beauty, £20
Hair by Sam McKnight Self Control Styling Gel
This formula was the secret weapon in hair stylists’ kits at London Fashion Week to create slick style looks. It coats hair in a gel-like consistency and remains easy to shape until it dries entirely with an impressive hold.
Shop Hair by Sam McKnight Self Control Styling Gel at Sephora, £22
Gisou The Final Touch Set
If you want to level up your hair’s lustre, this styling duo is just what you need. The primer preps your hair before you dry it to reduce frizz and deliver workable hold. After you have tied your bun, use the hair oil to tame flyaways and add a silky shine.
The Smooth Company Smooth Stick
Meet the ultimate handbag companion. This smart stick will keep flyaways at bay throughout the day. The brush is perfect for reaching hard-to-reach areas like the back of the neck. It deposits a stronghold serum that holds your hair down without leaving it crunchy.
Wella Silvikrin Classic Firm Hold Hairspray
Sometimes, the reliable way is the best way, and we’re yet to find a time when a hairspray has let us down. This formula provides a reliable hold that lasts all day and cares for your hair with UV protection. The best part is it brushes away without a trace – no hair wash required.
Shop Wella Silvikrin Classic Firm Hold Hairspray at Boots, £4.79
KMS Hairplay Dry Wax
A tight bun need not require a shiny finish. This styling spirit mists a waxy formula over the hair that works to provide the hold you need yet feels like nothing is there. It remains undetected with a matte-like result.
Redken Finishing Hair Spray Wax
This is another waxy formula to turn to if you like to leave your hair free of product residue. Tie your hair into a bun and spray this formula directly onto the hair. It provides medium hold while delivering a salon-worthy shine.
Shop Redken Finishing Hair Spray Wax at Lookfantastic, £20.50
KeraCare Wax Stick
Whether you are a styling pro or a beginner, this stick will make a slick bun easy. Thanks to our pritt-stick days of yesteryear, you will find this applies to hair in the exact same way. It smoothes down frizz and flyaways along the hairline and in the nape of the neck.
Bumble & Bumble Seaweed Air Dry Cream
If Sofia Richie has influenced you to give her hair treatment technique a go, use a formula designed to be left in. This post-wash treatment can be used on wet or dry hair to reduce frizz and flyways and provide a soft hold. An enrichment of seaweed nourishes your hair whilst you wear it.
Images: Stylist Loves; courtesy of brands
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