A cowlick is a section of human hair that stands straight up or lies at an angle at odds with the style in which the rest of an individual's hair is worn.^[1][2]

The most common site of a human cowlick is in the crown, but they can appear anywhere on the head. They also sometimes occur in the front and back of the head.^{[citation needed]}

The term "cowlick" dates from the late 16th century, when physician Richard Haydock used it in his translation of Gian Paolo Lomazzo: "The lockes or plaine feakes of haire called cow-lickes, are made turning upwards."^[3]

For people who are more concerned about cowlick management, more drastic measures may have to be used. Electrology, waxing, and even cosmetic surgery can be used to permanently alter the cowlick.^{[citation needed]}

• Ahoge
• Hair whorl
• Hairy ball theorem

• Media related to Cowlicks at Wikimedia Commons