Are you born with a calic?

Author: Earnestine Heidenreich MD  |  Last update: Wednesday, July 9, 2025

Would you believe cowlicks form before you're even born? It's true. And once you're born with a cowlick, you're pretty much stuck with it… unless you lose your hair!

Are you born with a cowlick in your hair?

Cowlicks are a permanent feature, caused by locks of hair that grow in a different direction from the hair around them. You are born with them. They are more noticeable (or less) depending on hair length and style.

Can you randomly develop a cowlick?

Some people develop what we know as a cowlick. Cowlicks are mostly passed down through genetics. If one of your parents has a cowlick, you're likely to develop one too. Cowlicks develope as a result of your hair whorl, which is the circular distribution of hair follicles scalp that revolves around a central axis.

What is the cause of a cowlick?

Cowlicks are caused by the way hair grows out of the follicle. Hair follicles grow in a spiral pattern, but some follicles may have a stronger spiral than others. That's how you get cowlicks.

Can cowlicks develop later in life?

Cowlicks, the small tufts of hair that stick out from the crown of the head, are usually genetic. They can also be caused by an injury or scar. These mostly endearing traits are most common in young children and tend to get better with age, but sometimes appear later in life when hair begins to thin.

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How rare is a cowlick?

Cowlicks are extremely common, but they can range from unnoticeable to glaringly obvious.

Can you fix a cowlick?

You can't fix how your hair grows out of your scalp, but you can disguise most cowlicks with the right combination of haircut and styling techniques. The key is understanding your hair's natural growth pattern and adjusting your cut and styling habits to tame those rebellious hair follicles.

How do cowlicks start?

What causes cowlicks? Usually, cowlicks are simply hereditary, caused by your genes. They can also happen after a serious head injury, surgery, or even if you've shaved your head. That's because this can affect the way your hair grows.

What is the difference between a bald spot and a calic?

Key takeaways. A cowlick is a natural hair growth pattern that remains unchanged throughout life, while a bald spot is caused by hair loss. Though cowlicks can sometimes mimic thinning hair, they aren't an early sign of balding.

Do cowlicks get worse with age female?

In conclusion, while cowlicks themselves do not necessarily get worse with age, the changes in hair density, texture, and health can make them appear more prominent or behave differently. By understanding these changes and how to manage them, individuals can maintain their desired appearance and confidence.

Are cowlicks genetic?

Scientists who have studied cowlicks believe your genes play a big role in determining how many cowlicks you have and where they are on your head. Usually, the most visible cowlick can be found at the top of the head.

Can you get a cowlick from sleeping?

As someone moves around, the hair does not move with them, causing hair to bend. Someone sleeping can also crush their hairs under the weight of their head, creating cowlicks.

Can you train a cowlick away?

The short answer is no. The direction of hair growth is formed at the roots, where pores orient the hair in one direction or various directions. Since this cannot be changed, we manipulate cowlicks with creative styling goals aimed at controlling or disguising the unruly strands.

Can cowlicks randomly appear?

Most cowlicks are natural and are caused by genetics. But sometimes, you can get them after shaving your head or an injury. Where are the most common placements for a cowlick? Typically, a cowlick will show up at the crown of your head.

Which side to part hair on?

The general consensus seems to be that parting on one's left makes a person look competent and masculine, whereas parting on the right makes a person look warm and feminine.

What is the best haircut for a cowlick?

Long layers are foolproof and also super flattering. Pair them with a long fringe to add some weight on the cowlick to help weigh it down. "Long layers and a longer, face-framing fringe will help with any cowlick," Gillen says.

What age do men start balding?

Many start to notice the early stages of male pattern baldness by their 30s, but they may begin as early as your late teenage years or early 20s. Hair loss on your crown usually appears in a circular shape.

Can stress cause hair loss?

Three types of hair loss can be associated with high stress levels: Telogen effluvium. In telogen effluvium (TEL-o-jun uh-FLOO-vee-um), significant stress pushes large numbers of hair follicles into a resting phase. Within a few months, affected hairs might fall out suddenly when simply combing or washing your hair.

What does a mature hairline look like?

The shape a maturing hairline takes usually is an M, meaning you have a peak in the middle of your hairline and it curves back at the temples. While a balding hairline will also start with this shape, a maturing hairline won't continue to recede and the hairline will generally be quite defined as well.

Why did I develop a cowlick?

The Science of Hair Growth Patterns

Hair growth patterns are largely determined by genetics, but they are also influenced by various factors throughout our lives. Cowlicks are the result of the hair growth angle and direction from the follicle, which can create a spiral or whorl pattern.

Why does hair grow in a spiral?

The direction in which your facial hair grows is determined by the shape of your hair follicles. Spiral patterns occur when these follicles are not perfectly round, causing the hair to grow in a corkscrew fashion.

What problems may a cowlick cause?

Because a cowlick can disrupt your hair's flow and make it harder to style, it can often result in the appearance of hair loss — but it's not. We promise. In certain ways, dealing with a persistent cowlick can be like going through a never-ending bad hair day, as no style seems to “stick” or look quite like it should.

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