What Is a Cowlick? How to Tame Stubborn Hair Strands

Dealing with cowlick hair can definitely be frustrating when you're trying to achieve your favorite hairstyle. Wondering what is a cowlick? It's simply a small patch of hair that decides to grow in its own unique direction, causing some strands to misbehave. These quirky spots often pop up around your cowlick hairline, making styling a bit tricky.

Even though you can't completely get rid of a cowlick, don’t worry—this guide will help you understand exactly what you're dealing with. In the next paragraphs, we’ll share plenty of easy tips and tricks to help keep these stubborn strands under control. With the right styling approach, you can easily manage your cowlick and rock any hairstyle you love!

What Is a Cowlick?

A cowlick is that funny little piece of hair that grows differently from the rest, often sticking out awkwardly. You might see it as a swirl or tuft at your crown, along your cowlick hairline, or even elsewhere on your scalp. The term "cowlick" comes from the way a calf’s hair swirls after being licked by its mother.

Cowlick hair is very common but varies greatly in how noticeable it can be. They're often less visible if located on your crown and hidden by longer hair. Hair texture plays a significant role, too; straight and fine hair tends to highlight these stubborn areas more prominently, making the hair cowlick more challenging to tame.

On the bright side, wavy and curly hair types naturally help disguise cowlicks. The natural twists and curves in wavy or curly hair can camouflage stubborn patches more effectively. Similarly, thicker hair has more weight, making it easier to manage and control those rebellious strands around your cowlick hairline.

What causes cowlicks?

If you’re noticing a cowlick hairline or a stubborn patch at your crown, you can probably thank your parents. Genetics play the biggest role in determining where and how cowlicks appear as your hair grows. Additionally, surgeries or injuries to your scalp can also lead to new cowlicks. Scar tissue from healing wounds can change the natural pattern of your hair growth, resulting in a noticeable hair cowlick.

How Cowlicks Affect Styling

Having a cowlick can significantly impact your styling routine. These unruly patches can limit your hairstyle options and require special techniques or products to keep them in check. But don’t worry—we'll dive deeper into easy ways to handle your cowlick hair in the following sections.

Disrupting Part Lines and Bangs

One of the most common issues caused by a cowlick is the disruption of part lines and bangs. If you've ever wondered why your bangs constantly split or stick up in odd ways, a cowlick hairline might be to blame. Because cowlicks grow in a different direction from the rest of your hair, they push strands into unusual positions. This often leads to stubborn splits and uneven textures, making it challenging to maintain smooth, uniform bangs. Fortunately, with a bit of extra styling care, you can reduce these effects and achieve a polished look.

Creating Volume or Flat Spots

Interestingly, cowlicks can also unintentionally create extra volume or flatten certain areas of your hair. If the hair cowlick grows upwards, it can provide a natural boost of volume, though not always in the place you'd prefer. On the other hand, if the cowlick hair grows downward or sideways, it can press hair flat against your scalp, resulting in unwanted flat spots. Understanding how your specific cowlick behaves can help you style around these challenges, ensuring balanced volume and a flattering hairstyle.

Can You Get Rid of a Cowlick?

While cowlicks are a natural part of your hair’s growth pattern and can't be entirely removed, there's plenty you can do to make them less noticeable and easier to handle. Using the right techniques, you can effectively learn how to get rid of a cowlick—or at least minimize its impact. With strategic styling methods, careful use of hair products and tools, and mastering the ideal blow-drying technique, you can smoothly blend those stubborn strands and enjoy a polished, manageable look. Your cowlick hair doesn't have to dictate your hairstyle—these clever solutions will help you regain control.

Do’s and Don’ts

Now let's go over some quick wins, with some easy things you should know to get that cowlick hair under control.

Do’s

Do: Work With Your Cowlick, Not Against It

Instead of constantly fighting your cowlick, try working with its natural growth pattern. Embracing your cowlick hair can make styling less stressful and your hairstyle more manageable. For instance, if your cowlick hair pushes strands forward, try a hairstyle that naturally accommodates this direction rather than forcing hair backward. Unless you want to use your cowlick as a hack to create more volume in your hair, then you can totally go against the stream.

Do: Use the Right Tools and Products

Selecting the correct styling tools and products is crucial in taming a cowlick. Invest in a quality hair dryer and round brush to direct hair effectively during blow-drying. Lightweight styling gels like the L'Oréal Paris Studio Line Above It All Invisi-Gel or mousses like the L'Oréal Paris Advanced Hairstyle BOOST IT Volume Inject Mousse, which can also help control stubborn strands and maintain your desired hairstyle throughout the day.

Don'ts

Don’t: Avoid Over-Washing or Weighing Hair Down

Over-washing can strip your hair of its natural oils, making your cowlick hair even harder to manage. Similarly, using heavy conditioners or styling products can weigh hair down and emphasize flat spots caused by a hair cowlick. Stick to lightweight formulas that give control without making hair limp. We recommend the L'Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Frizz Defy Shampooand Conditioner, which will help you tame the frizz and keep your hair light and breezy.

Don’t: Fight Natural Growth Without a Plan

Trying to force your cowlick into submission without a clear strategy can lead to frustration and uneven results. Instead of battling against your cowlick hairline blindly, take time to learn its pattern and use targeted techniques, like strategic parting or directed blow-drying, to work with it effectively.

How To Fix a Cowlick: A Step-By-Step Tutorial

If you have a cowlick, your blow dryer will be your best friend when it comes to trying to get rid of it (temporarily). When your hair is damp, you’re going to want to blow-dry your cowlick in the opposite direction that it naturally grows. Follow our easy how-to below.

Step 1. Blow-dry in the opposite direction

If your cowlick grows straight up, then try blow-drying the section of hair downward to readjust the direction that the hair is sitting. This trick also helps to create volume. Don’t forget to prime your strands with a heat protectant like theL’Oréal Paris Elvive Dream Lengths Frizz Killer Serum Leave-In before reaching for your blow dryer. And of course, before you start any kind of blow drying, reach for a heat protectant like L'Oréal Paris Elvive Dream Lengths Heat Slayer Leave-In because there is nothing that makes a cowlick worse than damaged hair.

Step 2. Guide the hair with a round brush

Next, use a round brush to blow dry your bangs until they’re fully dry and the cowlick is unnoticeable. Try blow-drying your hair toward the left first, then toward the right. This back-and-forth motion helps to "reset" the hair's natural fall and break the strong pattern of the cowlick.

Step 3. Blast your hair with cool air to set

When you finally have your hair where you want it, switch your blow dryer to the cool-temperature setting for a few seconds. This cold blast of air to finish things off will help to set the hair in place.

Step 4. Use a clip to hold the cowlick

After you’re done heat styling, use a small hair clip to hold your cowlick in place while you finish up the rest of your beauty routine. The longer you hold the hair down and train it in place, the more long-lasting it will be. Once you’re ready to head out, remove the clip and complete your hairstyle with a few spritzes of strong-hold hair spray, like the L’Oréal Paris Elnett Satin Extra Strong Hold Hair Spray.

3 More Ways To Hide a Cowlick

Here are additional styling hacks to help you temporarily hide your cowlick

Use a strong-hold hair product

This one may seem obvious, but when you have a stubborn cowlick, you’ll want to use hairstyling products that have an extra strong hold. When styling it, gently pat it down to prevent it from sticking straight up, and apply a hair pomade like L’Oréal Paris Studio Line Overworked Hair Putty. When you’re putting the finishing touches on your hairstyle, you can also top it off with a strong-hold hairspray for extra staying power.

Change your part

Instead of wondering how to get rid of cowlick every day and putting up a fight, let it decide where it’s best to part your hair and enjoy the natural volume it provides. If your cowlick is noticeable from the front and you wish it weren’t, experiment with a middle part or a deep side part and see what’s the most flattering and natural-looking for you.

Experiment with new hairstyles

Just like changing your part, don’t be afraid to experiment with different styles like braids, buns, and ponytails to see what works best for you. You can also play around with texture. As we mentioned, cowlicks are usually most noticeable on straight hair. To distract from a cowlick and make it less noticeable, try sporting wavy or curly hairstyles, such as bathrobe curls or a curly perm.

Next Up: The Best Short Haircuts for Curly Hair

Photo courtesy of L’Oréal Paris