Is it a cowlick or am I balding?

Author: Prof. Garret Hoppe  |  Last update: Wednesday, August 6, 2025

Distinguishing Between Cowlicks and Balding Progression: Cowlicks remain consistent, whereas balding areas will continue to thin and expand. Location: Cowlicks can appear anywhere but are most common at the crown or hairline, while balding often starts at the temples, crown, or hairline and spreads.

Do I have a bald spot or cowlick?

If the hair follicles look as thick as they always have, it's just a cowlick. If there are fewer hair follicles in the area, it could be a sign of early balding. You can also track the growth of your cowlick—if it stays the same size, it's just a cowlick. If it grows, it may be a bald spot (Wolff, 2016).

Am I balding or is my hair parting?

However, if you have noticed a widening in your midline parting with time, especially if it came on suddenly (during the course of the past few months) and it is accompanied by more hair shedding than usual, it is likely to be an initial sign of hair thinning.

Am I balding or is it my crown?

Thinning hair at the crown is a common sign of male pattern baldness. It is caused by genes and male hormones. male pattern baldness begins with a receding hairline and often causes a crown bald spot. If you are suffering with temple recession and crown thinning, then this is indicative of balding.

Am I balding or is my hair damaged?

If they are split or frayed, that is a sign of damage. Another way is to feel your hair. If it feels dry, brittle, or stringy, that is also a sign of damage. Finally, you can look at the overall health of your hair. If it is dull, lacks luster, or is prone to tangling, that is a sign that your hair is damaged.

Preventing Balding: What I Did Before It Was Too Late.

Am I balding or is it just my hair?

Am I balding or just losing hair? Shedding 50-100 hairs daily is normal. But consistent loss beyond that coupled with seeing more scalp indicates balding, especially in the frontal and top areas for male and female patterns.

Am I overthinking hair loss?

While overthinking alone may not directly cause hair loss, the stress and anxiety associated with it can contribute to hair shedding over time. Managing stress through relaxation techniques, a balanced lifestyle, and seeking professional help when needed can reduce the impact on your hair health.

What can be mistaken for balding?

Common conditions that mimic androgenetic alopecia include thyroid disease, iron deficiency anemia, and malnutrition. Treatment is based on patient preference. Topical minoxidil (2% or 5% solution) is approved for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia in men.

Why have I suddenly got a cowlick?

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. Or, if you've had a hair transplant, that could be another factor in cowlick growth, since you can't really predict the pattern that will result.

Am I balding or is my hairline weird?

As you advance in age and your hairline reaches its mature form, your hairline can end up 1.5 – 2 cm higher above your brow than it was in your adolescence. But this would normally happen slowly, over time. If your hairline recedes more than 2 cm in just a few months, you may start suspecting frontal balding.

Is stage 2 hair loss reversible?

Hair loss is easiest to reverse when it is treated early and quickly before any severe balding has begun. If you are able to recognize the early stages of male pattern hair loss, you will be able to seek treatment sooner, and ultimately retain a full head of hair.

Am I balding or am I paranoid?

So try not to stress out about a few individual strands of lost hair on your hair tie. If you're concerned that you're shedding more hair than this, or you've noticed substantial hair loss when you wash or brush your hair, you're probably not paranoid. This may be the first sign of sustained hair loss.

How do you tell if you have a cowlick?

It can look like a swirl or tuft of hair sprouting up from your crown, hairline, or anywhere on your scalp. The term "cowlick" comes from the swirled effect seen in the hair of young cattle after their mothers lick them. Cowlicks are extremely common, but they can range from unnoticeable to glaringly obvious.

Do cowlicks get worse with age?

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.

Where do you first notice balding?

The typical pattern of male baldness begins at the hairline in the front of the head.

How do I check if I'm balding?

Signs and symptoms of hair loss may include:
  1. Gradual thinning on top of head. This is the most common type of hair loss, affecting people as they age. ...
  2. Circular or patchy bald spots. ...
  3. Sudden loosening of hair. ...
  4. Full-body hair loss. ...
  5. Patches of scaling that spread over the scalp.

Am I balding or is it a cowlick?

Progression: Cowlicks remain consistent, whereas balding areas will continue to thin and expand. Location: Cowlicks can appear anywhere but are most common at the crown or hairline, while balding often starts at the temples, crown, or hairline and spreads.

Why does the crown go bald first?

Over time, the DHT thickens the band of tissue, restricting the supply of blood and nutrients to the hair follicles above it. The follicles on top of the head get smaller and eventually disappear, while those on the sides of the head remain largely unaffected.

Why did I wake up with a cowlick?

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. A silk pillowcase allows hairs to slide down.

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.

Is it possible to regrow hair on a bald spot?

You might be able to reverse hair loss, or at least slow it. With some conditions, such as patchy hair loss (alopecia areata), hair may regrow without treatment within a year. Treatments for hair loss include medications and surgery.

Is my hair thinning or am I crazy?

The most obvious sign that your hair is thinning is excessive shedding. While losing strands—about 100 to 150 hairs a day—is completely normal and should not cause any panic, you should pay attention when you're starting to shed more than normal.

Am I bald or just stressed?

If your daily hair fall is more than the usual 80-100 strands of hair, you might be suffering from stress-related hair loss. If you notice bald patches on your scalp, it may be a sign of Alopecia Areata. If you have had the urge to pull out your hair, it may be stress-induced Trichotillomania.

How can I test myself for hair loss?

Hair pull test.

Allow hairs that are firmly rooted in the scalp to pass through your grasp, but maintain enough traction so that loose hairs are pulled clean. About 2-5 hairs will be pulled in a normal adult. Up to 3 or 4 times that amount will be pulled free in adults who suffer with hair loss.

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