I'm 16 years old and I am Colombian and I have thick black hair. I used to part it back in the day, but now I'm doing other things, but the flip doesn't work good, unless I cut it short and usually the haircutters cut it too short to do anything so I have to wait for it do grow some length to comb it forward and flip it. Spiking it would probably be hard and I don't want any glue or sticky gooey build up stuff. I am using the gel called crew that was gaven to me by a hairdresser. When I slick it back it just comes up and looks big, like an afro. I want to use a gel that will stay there and make the hair appear still wet and that will not have any build up. Should I just cut it short frequently, how short? And is there something out there that can help?

You don't have to cut your hair short if you don't want to. If you want your hair to have that wet look, use a hair styling wax. It will make your hair look wet and it won't cause build up like some gels do. You can find hair styling wax at a drug store or pharmacy in the hair care aisle.