Bella Hadid has a brilliant trick for managing slicked-back buns without using gel, so I decided to give it a try.

      Bella Hadid's hair has become a hot topic in beauty discussions. In case you missed it, the model emerged with honey-blonde tresses at the 78th annual Cannes Film Festival ("It took two days of color and a whole lot of Olaplex," said colorist Jacob Schwartz regarding the transformation), and social media went wild over her beautiful new color. However, prior to unveiling her new look, Hadid garnered attention for a different hair-related reason that still lingers in my mind.

      In Vogue's recent Beauty Secrets video (released on May 13, the same week she introduced her blonde hair), Hadid shared a step-by-step guide for achieving a lifted, glamorous look. Surprisingly, she used no hair products—neither gel, oil, nor leave-in—to maintain her signature slicked-back bun. Instead, her trick involved a generous spray of fragrance. "This is going to be crazy because I have no hair products with me, but we’ve got plenty of moisturizing products in Orebella, so I’ll just use that on my hair," she explained, before spritzing her locks and twisting them into a very sleek bun. "That was like 60 seconds of a snatcheroo."

      In theory, I can see how this might work: Orebella's alcohol-free, bi-phase formulas are packed with moisture-rich oils—like sweet almond oil, shea oil, jojoba oil, and olive oil, among others—which are also found in high-quality hair-styling products. (In fact, you must shake the bottle well before spraying to activate the mixture—that illustrates just how potent those oils are.) However, since it's a perfume rather than a dedicated hair oil, how effective is it for slicked-back styles? I decided to try Hadid's method for myself.

      It's worth noting that Hadid and I have different hair types. I have 2c waves with some curls, while her hair is straighter and finer. To achieve a slicked-back look without frizz, I typically rely on at least three styling products (gel, wax stick, and hairspray), so I admit I was skeptical about her fragrance technique. But considering I'm currently on day three of a blowout that's in desperate need of cleansing, my excess oil could be advantageous in this scenario.

      Hadid used Nightcap (a sultry fragrance featuring cardamom, sandalwood, and patchouli), while I opted for the brand's luxurious marine scent, Salted Muse. The mix of sea salt, pink pepper, woody amber, olive tree accord, and lavender evokes summer vibes and is arguably a favorite among editors (it even made it onto our Who What Wear 100 Awards list for a reason!).

      After brushing my dry hair with a Tangle Teezer (which is also an award winner, by the way), I spritzed my hair five to ten times with the fragrance. I then secured my hair into a ponytail with a small elastic, just like Hadid did, twisted the strands into a bun, and fastened it with an oversized scrunchie. Because frizz and flyaways are my nemesis, I gave my crown a few more spritzes of the oil-based fragrance and used a boar bristle brush to smooth down my hair for added slickness and shine.

      Did my hair smell like a day spent hopping between islands? Yes. (Which isn’t necessarily a bad thing…) Did my bun stay intact for hours? Surprisingly, yes again! The fragrance felt quite “wet” due to its nourishing oils, essentially acting as an oil-based hair mist. It's relatively lightweight, so if you have coarser, textured hair, you may want to apply Orebella first before reaching for a gel or wax. On extremely humid days, I'll likely turn to my reliable sleek stick (also an award winner, of course), but I can confirm that the trick works in a pinch for my wavy-curly hair.

      Success! I initially worried that dousing my hair in perfume would bombard my senses, but after it settled into my strands, it resulted in only subtle whiffs throughout the day. I made a point not to wear any fragrance on my skin to avoid clashing with the Salted Muse notes, which I recommend doing if you try this method. My desk neighbor (shoutout to Alyssa!) even commented hours later on how lovely I smelled after my slicked-back venture, so I take that as a significant win.

      Does this mean I’ll officially add Orebella to my hair-styling routine? Probably not long-term (my combination of gel, wax stick, and hairspray is reliable!), but it’s a great hack for those days when you can't be bothered to gather multiple stylers, or if, like Hadid, you forget to bring your usual haircare essentials.

      ### Other Slicked-Back Styling Products We Love:

      - **Briogeo