Cowlick

A cowlick appears when the growth direction of the hair forms a spiral pattern. The hair in a cowlick either stands straight up or lies at an extreme angle and seems to be always at odds with the style in which the rest of the hair is worn. They can show up anywhere. The most common site is in the crown. They also sometimes appear in front of the hair and back.

The term cowlick dates from the late 16th century, when Richard Haydocke used it in his translation of Lomazzo: "The lockes or plaine feakes of haire called cow-lickes, are made turning upwards." Also, the Latin word "calyx" is often pronounced this way and literally means a whorled look or appearance on something, and the "cowlick" always has a whorled appearance.

Characteristics

Hair on the back of the head usually grows in a circular flattened pattern from a central point. The definition of a whorl is hairs that rotate round an axis. The point where we find the hair whorl is the spot where the hair changes direction. On top of the head hair grows to the front, on the back of the head it grows towards the nape and hair grows to the left and right side of the head on the sides of the head. The hair whorl can be in the center of the head but it can also be located the left or right side of the head. In the very center of the whorl some scalp will be visible because the hair lies flat.

People tend to have at least two hairwhorls with one being dominant and clearly visible while the other is less obvious. In the center of the hairwhorl you can see the hairs protruding from the scalp. When combed against the grain of the hair, the hair in the center of the cowlick will stand up straight.

Cowlicks are more obvious in straight thick hair. In Asians with straight hair the scalp will show in the center of the whorl because the light penetrates the scalp. Both men and woman have cowlicks, but cowlicks can be covered by longer hair so the whorl is not visible.

Management

Many people find cowlicks to be extremely irritating, as they often conflict with the desired hairstyle. There are several methods of taming the unruly cowlick. For most people, a combination of the right hairstyle, length, product used, and styling technique can overcome the appearance. For people more serious about cowlick management, more drastic measures may be used. Electrology, waxing, and even cosmetic surgery can be used to more permanently correct the cowlick.

Cowlicks in Popular Culture

  - Dennis the Menace

  - Tintin

  - Carl "Alfalfa" Switzer of the “Our Gang”

See also

• Widow's peak

References