So you’ve seen a bald spot and aren’t sure if it’s a cowlick or balding? We’re here at Stages of balding to assist you to distinguish between cowlick or bald spot and explain the critical differences.

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Overall

Cowlicks and balding are two distinct hair conditions that often get mistaken for each other. A cowlick is a natural hair growth pattern that occurs when a section of hair grows in a different direction from the rest of the hair, causing it to stand up or lie flat. Balding, on the other hand, is a hair loss condition that can be caused by genetics, aging, or hormonal changes.

Male pattern baldness is a common type of balding that affects men, while female pattern baldness can also occur in women. Hair thinning is a symptom of balding and can also occur due to aging or other factors. Understanding the hair growth cycle and natural hair growth patterns can help identify whether someone is experiencing a cowlick or balding. Calic hair growth and cowlick or balding in females are other potential considerations.

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What is difference between cowlicks or balding patches?

You could learn about whether you’re becoming bald in a number of different ways, especially early signs of balding at 20.
Bald patches are the most visible signs, but cowlicks are sometimes mistaken for balding spots.

The simplest approach to explain the differences is to say that cowlicks are connected with hair growth patterns, whereas balding is the loss of hair in that region.

Cowlick on Hairline

A cowlick, for example, is a patch of hair that falls in a different way from the hair surrounding it.
Because of the effect of the texture in hair pattern, the skin (or scalp) beneath it is partially exposed.

The hair can get a bit mistaken about which direction it should fall, and it can’t be solved.
Before we were even born, our hair follicles are fixed in place.

This same pattern that appears on a young calves fur after a cow mother has licked their newborn clean is known as ‘cowlick.’

Related: How to tell if youre balding

The thicker and longer an individual hair is, the more difficult it is to notice a cowlick since there is more hair to cover it, which is impacted by the root.
Cowlicks are prevalent in both men and women, although women’s hair is usually longer to hide them.

Cowlicks can develop on the back, hairlines, or at the front of your head.
They are most often found at the crown of the head, which is also where many bald spots appear.

Products for Cow-lick to try

You can shop by clicking any of the buttons below that link to Amazon to get the stylist products recommended for taming your cowlick.

*Apply this Bumble and Bumble Anti-Humidity Gel-Oil first thing in the morning before wetting down your cowlick with water. Click button below to see price on Amazon.

*This Pai-Shau Sublime Hold Hairspray is a product that can pre-styling your hair with a little tension. This product is temporary out of sock, but click the button below for a similar product on Amazon.

*Davines This is a Strong Hold Cream Gel for cowlick. Norris’s salon recommend this product to style short hair.

*Healthline said this product V76 by Vaughn Texture Clay for cowlick is good for creating much texture with perfect medium hold.

*”It’s KEVIN MURPHY Night Rider Matte beyond great for taming cowlicks while maintaining a defined and untidy appearance,” Norris adds.

What is Bald spots?

The difference in balding is that there would be fewer or no evidence of hair follicles in the exposed skin area.
It’s most likely merely a cowlick if the exposed skin area is small and just in the “center” of the directed hair pattern.

Male pattern baldness is a condition in which there is a wide area of obviously thinner hair.
This happens when your hair follicles begin to shrink, resulting in crown balding stages and thinner hair until everything finally stops growing.

Although there is no cure at certain hair stage, there are various treatments available.
Be wary of frauds or “wonder cures,” and do your homework before beginning any therapies.
If you do decide to go that way, start as soon as you see the first signs of balding, as hair follicles can’t be replaced after they’ve been removed.

How to See The Difference?

Check the whole of your hair. If you observe thinning in other areas of your hair or a receding hairline, it’s a strong indicator that you’re balding.

If your hair is losing more than normal, that’s another sign to keeping an eye on. We lose approximately 50-100 strands each day naturally but losing moreover that might indicate baldness. Check your pillow in the morning or see how much falls out in the shower and keep track of this.

DHT sensitivity (the hormone that causes hair loss) can also cause redness and itching in places where there is a lot of hair loss.

Even though that your hair follicles are aggressively directed away from the area, if it’s call a cowlick, and you will still keep your hair follicles at the root. It’s most likely just a normal cowlick if there’s no thinning in other regions of your head.

Another thing you guys to consider is how long your hair patch has been like this. If it’s should be on the back of your head, is it possible that it’s always been like for some time, and you’ve never noticed it. Check with close relatives and friends to see if they recognize it, or go through old pictures. If it’s always been there,

it’s probably not a balding problem.

Cowlick or Bald Spot?

Whatever the case may be, we hope we were able to clarify things out for you, and congratulations if it’s only a cowlick and not balding!

We wish you luck on your perilous journey through life. We have lots of information to help you get started on your balding journey if you would like to see more blog posts about what causes balding.

Help more about treatment option and information about cowlick balding visit Oxford Biolabs.

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Written by Anthony Wedderburn:

Medically Team reviewed by Dr. Ljuba Zsolnai and updated. With professional help, Anthony research and only provide content that delivers results. The name "Stages of Balding" accurately reflects the blog's purpose: to provide practical solutions and guidance without requiring extensive research on the reader's part.

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Cowlick or Balding | Explaining The Major Differences