Master Sofia Richie's Chic Slicked-Back Bun in 8 Simple Steps with This Definitive Guide
Slicked-back buns have been the talk of the town in recent months as several celebrities have taken to sporting the look for both casual afternoon errands and evenings out. Sofia Richie in particular has been touted as the queen of the slicked-back bun. She took to TikTok in early September to thank her fans for referring to the look as “chic,” and clarified that the up-do is really her “lazy girl hairstyle.”
Lazy or not, the influencer knows how to achieve the perfect version of the popular style. She’s gotten “really good” at the up-do over the years, perfecting her “really easy technique,” she said in the short tutorial.
Her method makes for the best sleek bun without the “sticky and hard” feeling that gelled styles usually produce. Here are the simple steps—and accompanying products—that Richie implements to achieve the look.
Make a strong center part
To achieve a soft and smooth appearance, Richie uses
UNITE Hair 7SECONDS Detangler Leave-In Conditioner($11.40) on her wet hair before brushing it out. She then used the pointed end of her comb to part her hair right down the middle, to create a strong center part. She then brushed each side out again.
Work a regenerating hair mask through all of your hair
Rather than your typical gel, Richie took a handful of her go-to
Christophe Robin Regenerating Mask($69) and ran it through all of her hair. She made sure to run it through her roots both on top of her head and underneath. The influencer swears by the product, which she noted was the reason for her “luscious” hair growth during the pandemic.
Clip the front half of your hair
She then took the front half of her hair on one side—from her face to right above her ear—and twirled it and secured it with a clip. Then, she repeated this step on the other side.
Apply lotion to the back half of your hair
She then applied
Oribe Matte Waves Texture Lotion($42) to the rest of her unclipped hair, smoothing down the top and underneath of her hair with the product. Richie then brushed out the back part of her hair and put it up in a ponytail at the spot where she wants her bun to sit. “Getting [the] back part sealed to your head is the most important part,” she explained.
Use lotion to smooth front hairs
Taking out the clips in the front, Richie used more of the Oribe lotion to smooth and seal down her face-framing pieces of hair.
Pull front hairs back into ponytail
Using her brush, Richie brushed her front hairs and pulled them as tightly to her head as possible. She then tied them in a ponytail alongside the back hairs.
Twist ponytail into a bun
Taking all of the hair in the ponytail, Richie twisted it around itself into a small, tight bun and tied it down.
Brush out any imperfections and apply lotion and oil
She took a brush to the style one more time to smooth out any leftover imperfections or hairs out of place. Richie added extra lotion underneath and to the crown of her head to make sure none of her baby hairs would fly away. Lastly, she applied an added sheen to the look using
UNITE Hair BLONDA Oil($49.50).
Below are all of the products that Richie uses to achieve the sleek look.
UNITE Hair 7SECONDS Detangler Leave-In Conditioner, $11.40 (amazon.com)
In addition to detangling, UNITE’s spray promises to strengthen and protect all hair types from UV or heat damage.
Christophe Robin Regenerating Mask, $69 (amazon.com)
The key to boosting her hair growth, Richie swears by this nourishing mask, which smooths and de-frizzes.
Oribe Matte Waves Texture Lotion, $42 (amazon.com)
Oribe’s lotion moisturizes and texturizes, and Richie uses it to help achieve the sheen in her lazy girl bun.
UNITE Hair BLONDA Oil, $49.50 (amazon.com)
An argan oil that nourishes, repairs and smooths any frizz.