How to Get Rid of Cowlicks

You think you’re having a perfect hair day, then you notice a cluster of hair out of place on your hairline or a swirly spot sticking up in the back. Wondering how to get rid of cowlicks? We got you.

Cowlicks are small tufts of hair that stick straight up, grow in a different direction, or refuse to blend in with the rest of your hair follicles.

Can you fix a cowlick? Not permanently — cowlicks are surprisingly stubborn. But with the right haircut, styling products, and grooming techniques, you can temporarily hide those unyielding tufts.

Below, we’ll explain why cowlicks develop and share a handful of tips for taming or camouflaging those pesky strands.

Cowlick is an informal term referring to small, stubborn tufts of hair that don’t fit in with or grow in the same direction as the rest of the hair on your scalp. (The word may have originated because the swirl looks similar to a calf’s hair after its mother cow licks its head — but it’s hard to nail down the actual etymology.)

For the most part, cowlicks develop as a result of a “hair whorl“ — the circular distribution of hair follicles on the scalp that revolves around a central axis, usually near the crown. Your hair whorl is where the growing direction of your hair follicles changes.

About 84 percent of people have a clockwise hair whorl, while 16 percent have a scalp hair whorl that rotates counterclockwise. It can be more visible on men and other people with short haircuts.

You can develop cowlick hair anywhere — although they’re usually more noticeable when they’re near the crown, part line, or hairline.

Cowlicks can also vary significantly in size. For some folks, they consist of just a few stubborn hairs that can be tamed with the right wax or styling gel. Others might have multiple cowlicks that are difficult to get under control.

While it’s usually easy to style most of your hair in a consistent direction, a pesky cowlick can make this difficult. Let’s just say you’re not the first guy to Google “how to get rid of a cowlick male.”

You can’t fix how your hair grows out of your scalp, but you can disguise most cowlicks with a combination of the right haircut and styling techniques.

The key is understanding your hair’s natural growth pattern and adjusting your cut and styling habits to tame those rebellious hair follicles.

“A cowlick can be so daunting, generally because it sits on such a noticeable part of a person’s hairline,“ says Anny Botha, hairstylist and founder of Flowers Hair Studio. 

“Depending on the placement and severity of the cowlick, you could definitely get away with small changes like changing your parting, using a hairdryer to manipulate the hair into a look you like, or even using products to flatten or hide the cowlick completely,“ Botha adds.

Here are a few tips for taming a cowlick hairline.

1. Minimize Cowlicks by Keeping Your Hair Short

For most hair textures, the easiest way to deal with a cowlick (or multiple cowlicks) is to keep your hair short.

Short hair won’t actually get rid of a cowlick. But in some cases, it can make it much less noticeable by preventing your hair from sticking up in the wrong direction.

According to Yorke Roussouw, who runs Zerogapped Barbershop in Tools of Trade Studios, cutting your hair short works especially well if the cowlick is in an area where hair naturally stands up. 

“By cutting it very short, the hair loses the length needed to stick up or go in unwanted directions,“ Roussouw says, noting that this creates a neat, controlled look. “However, this only works if the client is comfortable with a close crop, like a buzz cut or fade.“

We rounded up some of the best haircuts for thinning hair. They’re worth considering if you have a cowlick and male pattern baldness.

2. Grow Your Hair Longer to Make Cowlicks Less Obvious

Another way to get rid of a prominent cowlick is to grow your hair longer so it’s harder to notice.

“Allowing the hair to grow longer can add weight, helping the cowlick lay flatter and blend in with the surrounding hair,“ Roussouw explains. We’ve covered what six months and one year of hair growth looks like in our blog.

If your cowlicks are only visible when your hair is at an in-between length (like between haircuts), try growing it out and styling it in a way that makes any change in hair direction difficult to see.

“This is especially effective if the client wants a more versatile style or if the cowlick is located at the nape or in a part line,“ Roussouw says. “The added length provides more styling options and allows the cowlick to become less noticeable.“

Not sure whether to opt for short hair or long hair to hide your cowlick? Botha says to consider factors like your hair type, lifestyle, and grooming habits.

“Each haircut is so personal, so a good consultation is key when it comes to finding a haircut that has to keep a cowlick in consideration,“ she explains. You can also take our online quiz for what haircut to get.

3. Identify Your Hair’s Natural Pattern, Then Go With It

Sometimes, it’s best to accept a cowlick. You can minimize the visual impact of a cowlick by styling your hair according to its natural pattern instead of in the opposite direction.

If you usually style your hair in one direction, try switching things up by identifying the direction of the cowlick. Then, once you’ve applied a strong hairstyling product like pomade, hair gel, or hairspray, comb your hair in its natural direction.

Instead of fighting against your hair’s natural growth pattern, this approach combines the hold of your favorite hair products with the inherent orientation of your hair follicles.

To get the best results from this approach, use a handheld mirror to check the direction your hair naturally flows from your crown, then comb or brush appropriately. To make taming your hair’s spiral pattern a little easier, try applying gel and other styling products to slightly wet hair.

4. Add Weight to Your Locks

“Products and styling are a cowlick’s best friend!“ Botha says. (Or worst enemy, if you’re fighting against one.)

The right hair products can help weigh down strands and make cowlicks less obvious. Try a lightweight product, but consider strong-hold options if your cowlick is particularly stubborn.

Products to consider include:

• Hair gels

• Pomades

• Waxes

• Hairspray

• Styling cream

• Mousse

• Putty

“Lightweight hair wax can provide hold without weighing the hair down too much,“ Roussouw says. “I’d suggest using a matte paste or lightweight styling cream for a natural, flexible hold.“

If you want an even lighter styling product, Roussouw suggests a flexible-hold hairspray or hair mousse.    

5. Use a Hair Dryer to Make Cowlicks Less Visible

Combine the effects of heat, pressure, and hold to bring your cowlick under your control.

“Using a blow dryer with a round brush or a flat iron can be effective in directing the hair where it needs to go,“ Roussouw says. “I’d recommend blow-drying the hair in the opposite direction of the cowlick to train it to lay flatter.“

For extra-finicky cowlicks, Roussouw recommends using a hair straightener after blow-drying for a more polished look. After you style it, spritz some hairspray on your cowlick to help hold it in place.

To prevent damage, you’ll generally want to choose a medium heat setting, attach a concentrator for targeted airflow, and use a heat-protectant product.

Once you’ve subdued the cowlick, switch to cool air to lock your hair in place. Just a heads up, you’ll need to avoid getting your hair wet throughout the day, as this may “reset“ the cowlick and force you to repeat the process from square one.

6. Opt for Headwear

Scarves and hats can help conceal stubborn cowlicks that don’t seem to stay put with heat or styling products. Headwear is an option if you’re not looking to shave your head or sport a close-cropped hairstyle.

7. Talk to a Hairstylist

Still struggling with a cowlick that seems to have a mind of its own? Ask a hairdresser or barber about styling tips for covering up wayward strands. They can recommend a haircut or products that might help.

They may even suggest coloring your hair to conceal the cowlick.

Botha says a stylist can also help you embrace your cowlick by finding a way to incorporate it into a hairstyle you love. "I have an approach where I try to help my clients embrace the hair they have," she says. "Life is complicated enough. There’s no need to constantly fight with our hair as well!"

Though cowlicks can be annoying, there’s no scientific evidence to suggest they’re related to hair loss in men. (Phew!)

Most men’s hair loss results from androgenetic alopecia, or male pattern baldness — a type of permanent hair loss caused by genetic and hormonal factors.

If you’re predisposed to this type of hair loss, a male hormone called dihydrotestosterone (DHT) can attach to receptors in your scalp and, over time, shorten the hair growth cycle of each hair follicle.

This can affect hair growth and eventually damage hair follicles, so new hair fails to penetrate the skin.

Our guide to DHT and male hair loss goes into more detail about how this hormone can affect hair (and why not all men are affected by DHT-related hair loss).

Cowlicks can impact your hair’s appearance, but they aren’t harmful or a sign you’re starting to develop hair loss. You can easily deal with them using the hair care and styling techniques we shared above.

Let’s recap how to get rid of cowlicks:

• Keep your hair short. Very short hairstyles can get rid of cowlicks completely or help conceal them.

• Grow your hair longer. Sporting long locks is another way to hide cowlicks.

• Work with your hair’s natural growth pattern. Working with instead of against your hair can make styling it easier and cowlicks less noticeable.

• Try styling products or headwear. Gel, wax, and pomades can keep cowlicks in check, and headwear like scarves or hats can hide them completely from view.

• Know that cowlicks aren’t a sign of hair loss. But if you do notice excessive shedding, it’s a good idea to speak with a healthcare professional.

Interested in learning more about how to care for your hair? Our list of men’s hair care tips goes over how you can best care for your hair, from choosing products that match your hair type (like curly hair, fine hair, coarse, or textured hair) to avoiding common sources of damage.

Want to grow thicker hair? We offer a range of FDA-approved hair loss treatments, including proven medications, such as finasteride and minoxidil.