Slick back
Combing hair straight back from the forehead and fixing it close to the head with a product.
Also: slicked-back hair
Slicking back means combing all the hair away from the face, without a parting, and holding it flat and smooth with pomade, gel or wax. It needs some length on top, at least a few centimetres. It was the look of the 1920s and of mid-century film stars and returned in the 2010s, often paired with an undercut or fade. A wet-look slick back keeps a shiny finish; a matte version looks softer. Long hair can be slicked back into a low bun.