For the record, I’ve worn a slicked-back ponytail at least five days a week for the past three years. But just when I thought I had my slick-back routine mastered, Miley Cyrus showed up at this year’s Met Gala and totally raised the bar. Paired with her stunning custom Alaïa look, the multi-hyphenate wore a braided pony updo that was smooth, glossy, and sleek with not a single flyaway in sight. Ahem, and the real shocker? The hairstyle was powered by a $16 product you can grab on Amazon—aka no celebrity budget required to copy her look.
Bob Recine, the mastermind behind Miley’s Met Ball 2025 hair, used the Nexxus Slick Stick to create that shellacked, polished finish every girlie on TikTok has been chasing for years. No five-step routine, salon splurge, or wildly expensive gel or hairspray claiming it can do what others can’t for a bajillion dollars—just a $16 styling stick!
This hair product literally looks like one of those jumbo glue sticks I used in third grade—and honestly, it kind of works like one too (minus the mess). It’s impressively strong, without any stickiness or flakiness. Plus, it feels weightless, keeps every strand in place, and leaves your hair looking shiny and static-free. Oh, and it fits perfectly in your pocket or purse for touch-ups. Dare I say it’s everything I’ve ever wanted?
Along with Miley’s stamp of approval, it has hundreds of glowing reviews. Shoppers say it “holds up through 10 to 12 hour shifts,” “tames coiled hair in humid weather,” and “lays baby hairs without leaving a greasy finish.” All I’m saying is if a drugstore hair product can survive a Met Gala red carpet and a double-digit shift, it’s definitely earned a permanent spot in my beauty bag.
Megan Uy is an associate shopping editor at Cosmopolitan, where she searches for the best products in all things fashion, home, beauty, sex, gifts, and more, so you don’t have to. When she’s not writing for the site, she’s whipping up some cool and trendy content for the fashion section of the print magazine. She’s been with the brand since 2019 (when she was an itty-bitty editorial fellow), and she's also written for Delish, House Beautiful, and People. Follow her on Instagram to get some BTS of the editor life and chaotic NYC content. Also, feel free to hit her up if you ever wanna discuss the madness that is TikTok.
