I went through a temporary slick-back bun era in 2023. My hair was falling out; it looked very thin and shriveled a bit in the blast despite my best efforts. But truth be told, using heavy waxes and pulling my fine and thin hair was probably the worst thing I could have done. I could have given up on the hairstyle altogether. Fast forward to 2026, and not only is my hair in much stronger shape, but there’s a new wax stick on the market so the best for my hair health. Enter: Oribe’s Supershine Wax Smoothing Wax Stick, which retails for $46.
The first sliding rod from the genre, which, while still crazy to think about, was developed with a lot of thought. It has long-lasting hold (seriously, it’s the only one that keeps my baby’s hair in place), but prioritizes nourishing and conditioning ingredients so my hair feels frizzy and prone to breakage when I wash it. For my full, honest review, and to see the product in action, read on.
The formula
Setting the standard with you: hair waxes are not new techniques and there are a ton of them on the market. But what really makes this one different from others I’ve tried is twofold: first and most importantly, the product has done a lot of research to prove that the formula protects moisture for 48 hours, provides a hold worth two days, and provides 66 percent protection from moisture. Second to that? It uses a trio of truly powerful ingredients for hair health. The cranberry complex is effective in conditioning dry hair and creates a glass finish (many waxes tend to dry hair); the blend of smooth butter seals in moisture and strengthens the cuticle; and castor seed oil strengthens hair to prevent breakage and split ends.
Application
I have perfected the slick-back technique. To start, I use a wax stick to smooth my part and the hair, paying special attention to the small hair above my ear that hates the behavior. Then, I take a boar bristle brush (I actually like Oribe’s, but anyone will work) and gather my hair into a ponytail on my head. It doesn’t have to be perfect at this point. Retrace any flyaways with the Supershine stick and smooth out any bumps with your brush. I personally don’t care if my hair looks messy, but if you want to be a perfectionist about it, grab a rat tail comb and smooth out any kinks. Finally, take a second hair tie, and a few bobby pins, to secure the hair into a bun.
My takeaway
The true test of a smooth stick is how well it wears throughout the day. More often than not, my flies come back around 3pm and the bits around my ear refuse to stay for more than 30 minutes. I was really impressed to be caught here. My scalp was very tangled throughout the day (I had to touch it up around 6pm) and it was always super shiny. But what really stood out to me was the removal. I usually find myself pulling wax with a brush in the shower, but this washes out and leaves my hair feeling horrible. With such a great product, I might have to add the slick-back to my weekly hairstyling rotation.
Buy Oribe
Oribe Hair Care
Supershine Smoothing Wax Stick
Sephora
Dry Texturizing Spray
Oribe
Gold Lust Repair & Restore Conditioner
Oribe
Supershine Moisturizing Hair Cream
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