Why is my hair growing in a spiral?

Author: Consuelo Volkman  |  Last update: Monday, June 2, 2025

A hair whorl, also known as a cowlick, is a circular or spiral pattern in the growth of hair on the scalp. It is caused by the direction in which the hair follicles grow and can appear in any location on the head.

What does it mean when your hair grows in a swirl?

Follicle Orientation: Hair follicles are embedded in the skin at specific angles. In areas where hair follicles are grouped closely together, the direction of growth can create a swirl pattern. This is most commonly observed on the crown of the head.

Why do I have coiled hair?

How the hair grows out of the follicle influences the distribution of its proteins. So a straight follicle produces straight hair and a curved follicle produces curly hair. The less evenly distributed the squiggly proteins are, the curlier the hair.

What is the spiral hair growth pattern?

A hair whorl (also known as a crown, swirl, or trichoglyph) is a patch of hair growing in a circular direction around a visible center point. Hair whorls occur in most hairy animals on the body as well as on the head, and can be either clockwise, counterclockwise or diffuse in direction of growth.

What does it mean when your hair grows in a circle?

Circle hairs (CHs) represent a body hair growth disorder which is characterized by asymptomatic presence of hairs in typical circular or spiraliform arrangement. It is not associated with follicular or inflammatory abnormalities.

Why Does The Crown Area Always Look Empty?

Why does my hair grow in a spiral?

Spiral patterns occur when these follicles are not perfectly round, causing the hair to grow in a corkscrew fashion. This unique growth pattern can create a visually striking and dynamic look, adding depth and texture to your beard.

How to get rid of hair swirl?

As soon as your hair is dry, use a hair clip to hold down the parts of hair from the swirl so that they stay flat after they've cooled down. Finally, spray everything with hairspray to keep it all in place. Straightening: You can also smooth out the swirl by straightening the hair around it.

What is a spiral in your hair called?

A hair whorl, also known as a cowlick, is a circular or spiral pattern in the growth of hair on the scalp. It is caused by the direction in which the hair follicles grow and can appear in any location on the head.

What causes circle hairs?

No clear consensus has been reached regarding circle hair. One possible cause that has been raised is their incapacity to emerge through the stratum corneum due to their smaller diameter, which would lead to their curling, forming perfect circles.

What is the rarest hair pattern?

Type 1 Hair – Straight Hair

Type 1A, 1B, and 1C hair all fall into the “straight” category. Type 1A is the rarest hair type and is stick-straight without even a hint of a wave.

What deficiency causes coiled hair?

Scurvy is a nutritional disease caused by deficiency of vitamin C. Pinpoint bleeding around hair follicles, and "corkscrew hairs" as seen in this picture, can occur as a result of scurvy. Bleeding along the gums is common.

Why is my hair suddenly growing curly?

Hormonal Changes

Any increase or decrease in your body's hormones can directly influence how your body functions, including your hair growth. During times of great hormonal shifts, like pregnancy and menopause, it's very common for changes in the texture of your hair.

Why does my hair keep coiling?

Friction becomes an issue when the hair rubs repeatedly against clothing, pillowcases, and certain hair accessories. Vigorous towel drying can also lead to friction-induced tangling. And, of course, environmental factors like wind are also a leading cause of tangling and friction.

Why is my hair coiling up?

The most common cause is due to changes in hormones. When your hormones fluctuate, it can affect the structure of your hair follicles. This change in design can cause your hair to curve at the ends. Other causes of curling hair include damage to the follicle, over-processing with chemicals, and heat damage.

What does hair whorl indicate?

The hair whorl denotes the spiral disposition of hairs around an axis, which is determined by the follicle growing direction. Atypical variants of scalp hair patterns, identified by abnormally placed or multiple whorls, have been associated with early brain developmental disorders and several dysmorphic syndromes.

Where do hair spirals come from?

Now, a gene mapping study on human scalp hair whorls—a patch of hair growing in a circular pattern around a single point that is determined by the orientation of hair follicles—shows that these swirls have a genetic basis.

What causes corkscrew hair?

Corkscrew hairs in hyperkeratotic follicles are pathognomonic of scurvy, or vitamin C deficiency. Petechiae and subungual hemorrhage may also be seen. Scurvy is a nutritional disease caused by deficiency of vitamin C.

What are coiled hairs?

Coily hair—also known as type 4 hair—is a natural hair type characterized by the presence of tight S- or Z-shaped curls (or, more succinctly, coils).

What is a hair whirl?

/wɔrl/ /hwɔrl/ Other forms: whorls. Whorl describes something that looks like loops — a strand of curly hair that boings back up when you pull in then let it go, a corkscrew, even the track of a roller coaster that spins you in every direction.

Why does my hair grow in a swirl at the back of my head?

Most people have one whorl, but some can have two or even three. These patterns are determined by genetics and are formed before birth.

What is spiral hair?

SPIRAL CURL – Similar to ringlet curls, spiral curls have a corkscrew pattern. However, they are slightly tighter in that their circumference measures that of a pencil. As a salon specializing in curly hair, all of our stylists are trained to be able to differentiate the two.

How do you get rid of coiled hair?

How to Straighten Curly Hair
  1. Wash And Condition Your Curls. ...
  2. Use A Leave-in Conditioner. ...
  3. Spritz Wet Curls With A Heat-protectant Flat Iron Spray. ...
  4. Dry Your Hair Thoroughly. ...
  5. Section Your Hair For Easier Straightening. ...
  6. Begin Straightening. ...
  7. Touch Up Your Straight Strands.

How do you get rid of deep swirls?

Apply a polish

Each is highly effective for removing swirl marks, and restoring and revitalising your car's paintwork to its original shine. Simply apply a small amount of the polish to either a hand buffing pad or a machine polisher pad and begin working it into the surface of your car.

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.

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