Far from being crisp and autumnal right now, the September weather has been rainy and warm, leading many of us to seek out the best hair products for humidity and opting for updos. One of my personal go-tos is a bun and a slicked-back one somehow feels instantly polished.
This is why it works for both casual days and as a low-key hairstyle to complement smarter date night outfits. It doesn’t come much more elevated than an award ceremony and Sheridan Smith’s bun for the Variety Club Showbusiness Awards highlighted why this is such a chic option.
In 2024 she attended and won the Variety Club Silver Heart Award 2024 for Outstanding Contribution as an Actress and Singer. She wore a gorgeous all-black outfit with her hair in a sleek updo and dangly earrings.
Shop Sleek Bun Essentials
This hairspray is an icon in its field and it has a micro diffuser to spray finely. It helps to protect your style against the effects of humidity and this particular spray also gives up to 24 hours of normal hold with natural-looking shine.
This handy sectioner comb is such a useful item to have in your collection, both for achieving a slicked-back bun and other hairstyles. It's heat-resistant and anti-static thanks to the fine tooths of the comb.
This oval nylon and boar bristle brush is a brilliant tool for crafting elegant slick back style such as smooth buns. It helps to effortlessly detangle and smooth hair into place for a refined finish. It's ideal for medium to thick tresses.
We often think about our hairstyle and accessories completely separately, but here the combination worked effortlessly together to frame Sheridan’s face. Her defined middle parting accentuated the smoothness of her hairstyle.
There’s good news too if you love this look as much as I do, as according to woman&home’s Digital Beauty Editor Fiona McKim you don’t need to invest in a myriad of different products to recreate a similar bun at home, you just need a bit of precision.
"Sheridan’s hairstyle is so simple yet elegant, and the key to making simplicity shine is getting the details bang-on," she says. "Create a razor-sharp middle parting using the end of a tail comb, then mist a densely-bristled brush with hairspray and use it to sweep hair back."
Fiona explains that this approach "will smooth flyaways nicely" and adds there’s "no need to buy specific ‘slick back’ creams, which in my experience often go a bit gunky."
In her view "the other neat trick is making sure the low bun hits right at the occipital bone (that little nub at the base of your skull)" as this "gives a flattering ‘lift’ to facial features".
Alongside products like the best heat protectors and hair oils, hairspray is one of those must-haves many of us probably already have at home. As Fiona says, hairspray can be used to achieve a smooth, slicked-back bun like Sheridan Smith’s and it won’t break the bank either.
The simplicity of her hairstyle allowed her statement earrings to do all the talking, as having her hair loose in bouncy curls, for example, would’ve covered them and possibly been a bit too much going on. Sheridan’s earrings had a silver twist running between two large pearls and the modernity of their design was a fun contrast against her timeless hair.
Of course, you don’t have to go for such bold jewellery when you have an updo like this but it does give your earrings a lot more visibility. For everyday, just wear your go-to outfits and the bun will bring extra elegance with the added benefit of keeping your hair out of your face. Pulling out a few face framing tendrils will make the look less sleek and more relaxed, but is also gorgeous.
