Cowlicks. Why do they stay even after they get wet and dry?

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Cowlicks. Why do they stay even after they get wet and dry?

In: Biology

4 Answers

Anonymous 0 Comments

Hi I’m a hairstylist.

Much like a fingerprint, everyone has a unique hair pattern. The angle of the hair follicles on your head determine the direction your hair grows out of it. You can manipulate this somewhat with heat and water, but eventually we all succumb to our cowlicks.

Anonymous 0 Comments

This is known as the [Hairy Ball Theorem](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hairy_ball_theorem). Basically, you can’t comb a hairy ball (your head) flat without creating a cowlick.

A hairy donut (a torus) is quite easy to comb without a cowlick.

Anonymous 0 Comments

Yes, hair on your head grows on a pattern like a record, or an album. It starts in the center of the whorl cowlick and goes around and around all the way around the head. There are other interruptions like ears, and hair line cowlicks, some people have twin whorl cowlicks. Just an interesting bit of information! 🤍

Anonymous 0 Comments

From what I understand it’s the angle of your hair follicles on certain parts of your head.

I have cheek “cowlicks” that go in a swirl for my facial hair, so does my dad. They are genetic.