Are You Born with a Cowlick?

Virtually everybody has a cowlick or two, with the most visible one found at the crown of the head and a second less obvious one, perhaps at the neck or on the front hairline by the part. They form early in life -- in utero -- and once you have a cowlick, you're stuck with it unless you lose your hair.

How are cowlicks formed?

Cowlicks appear when the growth direction of the hair forms in (against) the spiral pattern. The term "cowlick" originates from the domestic bovine's habit of licking its young, which results in a swirling pattern in the hair. The most common site of a human cowlick is in the crown, but they can show up anywhere.

Can you get a cowlick later in life?

"Your hair changes every 7-8 years and goes from superfine baby hair to coarse gray hair later on in life," says hairstylist Matt Fugate, who works at Sally Hershberger Downtown in NYC. Changes in hair texture are genetic, so cowlicks can't be prevented, but you can style them so they don't become unruly.