How to Style an Undercut

Co-authored by Martha Ellen Mabry and Kyle Hall

Last Updated: May 19, 2024 References

An undercut is a trendy, versatile hairstyle that features long hair on the top and short, clipped hair on the sides and back. With the right tools and some product, you can easily style your undercut so it's brushed up, slicked back, or brushed back as a pompadour.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Brushing Up an Undercut

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When you get out of the shower, let it air dry for a few minutes so it’s not soaking wet. Applying product to your hair will be easier when it’s damp.^{[1]
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A pomade, putty, or wax will work. If you want a stronger hold, use a pomade or wax. If you want a medium hold, use a putty.^{[2]
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Rub your fingers against your scalp to work the product into your hair. Make sure all of the long hair on top of your head is covered with product.^{[3]
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Brush the hair up so that it’s almost vertical. If your hair is on the longer side, you can brush it up at an angle so it's not so tall. Run your fingers through your hair to tousle it and break up any strands that were clumped together by the brush.^{[4]
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Blow dry your hair on high so it stays in place. Hold the blow dryer so it’s at the base of your hair blowing up. As you’re blowing drying your hair, run your fingers through it to help style it the way you like. Blow dry your hair for 1-2 minutes, or until it's completely dry and held in place. ^{[5]
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- Run a brush up through your hair while you're blow drying it if you want it to look neat and less tousled.
- When you're finished, the hair on the top of your head should be standing nearly all the way up. The product in your hair will help hold your hair in place.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Slicking Back an Undercut

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1
Purchase a pomade. Pomade is a thick, waxy hair styling product with a strong hold. If you want your hair to look shiny when it’s slicked back, look for a pomade that says “high shine” on the label. If you don’t want your hair to look shiny, get a pomade that says “matte finish” on the label.^{[6]
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- If you have thick or wavy hair, look for a pomade that has an extra strong hold.
Once your hair is wet, let it air dry for a few minutes so it’s only slightly damp. It will be easier to work the pomade into your hair when it’s damp.^{[7]
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It’s best to start out with a small amount of pomade and add more after if you need it. Rub the pomade between your hands so your palms and fingers are covered.^{[8]
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Work the pomade into your hair so that all your long hair has pomade on it. Make sure you get down near your scalp and not just on the surface of your hair.^{[9]
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Place the comb or brush at the start of your hair on your forehead and brush it back through your hair all the way to the back of your neck. Bring the comb or brush back to your forehead and brush back a different section of your hair. Repeat until all of the long hair on the top of your head has been brushed back.
Start at your forehead and bring your hands back to your neck. Don’t work your fingers into your hair or pieces of your hair might lift up. If there are any pieces of your hair sticking up, use your hands to flatten them into place.^{[10]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Styling an Undercut Pompadour

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You want your hair to be damp, but not soaking wet. If your hair is soaking wet, let it air dry for a few minutes until it’s only damp.^{[11]
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Blow drying your hair before styling it will give it extra volume for the pompadour look. If your hair is naturally wavy, use the blow dryer with a special nozzle attachment to straighten out the waves in your hair.^{[12]
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Angle the blow dryer so it’s blowing up at your hair. As you’re blow drying a section of your hair, take a round brush and brush that section of your hair back. To give your hair more volume, blow dry your hair back in the opposite direction you usually style it in.^{[13]
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Use a pomade or wax that has a strong hold. Rub the product between your hands so your palms and fingers are covered.^{[14]
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Start at the roots and run your hands to the ends of your hair so it’s completely covered. As you’re working the product into your hair, brush your hair upward with your hands to add volume.^{[15]
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Don’t press down hard with your hands or you’ll lose the volume you created with the blow dryer. You just want to gently guide the hair back toward the back of your head until it’s all neat and going in the same direction. When you’re finished, all the long hair on the top of your head should be pushed back in the same direction, while still maintaining its volume.^{[16]
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