Question about hair whorl

[tatsu15]

I wasn't sure where to post it so I hope it's not off subject. I was wondeing what is the significance of hair whorl direction? It seems the most common is clockwise, but my two daughters have counterclockwise hair whorls? What could this mean? Thanks in advance

[Tjej]

Well, are you left-handed? Hair whorl direction can be associated with handed-ness, and the counterclockwise is associated with left-handedness.

Tjej

[tatsu15]

No I am right handed and so is my husband. Our hair whorls are clockwise. My oldest seems to be right handed, but my youngest may be left handed. She reaches first with her left hand and she is 8 months so not sure if it's too soon to say.

[zinemama]

It has a significance?

[Llyra]

I guess I don't understand the question. What do you mean? I wasn't aware it meant anything at all, other than that each child has a unique genetic makeup and that human beings are wondrously diverse.

[eepster]

If you give them a side part, you will want to do it on the opposite side from where most people do it.

[karne]

Well, one of my kids has a double whorl, clockwise, and I was told that it connotes strength of character!

[Delicateflower]

Well, mine has a triple whorl, neener neener neener

[Dandelionkid]

Cool question!!! I just found out that hair whorls are actually intricately linked to brain development in the uterus. There have been some studies that link different types of hair whorls to diseases such as mental illness. It is really, really interesting. My son has two whorls so that's why I went looking. A GP I know told me about this when I asked.

[Dandelionkid]

Originally Posted by karne

Well, one of my kids has a double whorl, clockwise, and I was told that it connotes strenght of charcter!

My son too- this fits well for him Thanks for posting.

[Abraisme]

My son also has two whorls, going in opposite directions.. Does this mean that he's confused?

[Tjej]

Here's a list of some articles on pub med about it. It seems there has been research into "handedness" and homosexuality and hair whorl association. Some studies show links, some don't.

Tjej

ETA: This article goes into the handedness aspect - counterclockwise is much more prevalent among lefties (apparently scientifically known as "non-right-handers" ).

[eepster]

Originally Posted by Tjej

ETA: This article goes into the handedness aspect - counterclockwise is much more prevalent among lefties (apparently scientifically known as "non-right-handers" ).

Non-right-handers is a more inclusive term that includes lefties, ambidextorous people and people that schools forced to use their right hands for writing but tend to use their left hand for other stuff.

Now I'm wondering, if there would be an association between hair whorl and dyslexia since there is an association between non-right-handedness and dyslexia (says the dyslexic woman with the counter clockwise hair whorl, who was naturally ambidextorous but was forced to only use her right hand to write in school.)

[Jackies Ladybug]

my husband has (well, had) a counter clockwise whorl, and is totally dyslexic. he is a natural righty, but has a right dominant foot which is not common for righties.
cool to think about this stuff.

[Pavlovs]

Originally Posted by Tjej

Here's a list of some articles on pub med about it. It seems there has been research into "handedness" and homosexuality and hair whorl association. Some studies show links, some don't.

Tjej

ETA: This article goes into the handedness aspect - counterclockwise is much more prevalent among lefties (apparently scientifically known as "non-right-handers" ).

I remember hearing about a study on whorl and finger length in relation to homosexuality. Very interesting! It seems that there is a tendency for homosexuals to have their hair whorl go counter clockwise. Also, there is a norm for women to have their index finger be longer than their ring finger (easiest to spot when looking at the palm of the hand, not the back of it) and for men to have the opposite - ring finger longer than index finger. This tended to be the opposite in homosexuals. My older son has clockwise hair whorl and my baby has counter clockwise hair whorl and "backwards" finger length, so it'll be interesting to see what happens when they grow up.

[HarperRose]

My friend has taken her daughter to a geneticist in the past and was told that hair whorls can be an indication of various genetic issues. (That means, not always.)

During our son's diagnosis (he has asperger's), his doc told dh & me the same thing. His hair whorls, however, have no bearing on his ASD.

[eepster]

Originally Posted by Pavlovs

I remember hearing about a study on whorl and finger length in relation to homosexuality. Very interesting! It seems that there is a tendency for homosexuals to have their hair whorl go counter clockwise. Also, there is a norm for women to have their index finger be longer than their ring finger (easiest to spot when looking at the palm of the hand, not the back of it) and for men to have the opposite - ring finger longer than index finger. This tended to be the opposite in homosexuals. My older son has clockwise hair whorl and my baby has counter clockwise hair whorl and "backwards" finger length, so it'll be interesting to see what happens when they grow up.

I thought the finger thing only was indicative in women.

ETA: I was tired when I wrote this, now that I've been up and going for a bit, I suddenly remembered that it's some kind ear structure that is associated with gay women.

What I had actually been thinking about with the finger thing, was that people often get confused that a short ring finger in women is associated with being gay, when it is actually the norm.

[kalimay]

I read something awhile ago that suggested that left handedness might have to do with placement in the womb. The research they were looking at showed a much higher rate of lefties in twins and even higher in triplets. I wonder if the swirls could also have something to do with that.

[cloe]

My index fingers are way longer than my ring fingers and I have 2 whorls, one of which is counter clockwise. I am right handed, not dyslexic, currently pg with my third child and married to a wonderfull man whom I am very much in love with. All these studdies are interesting but definatly not a stamp of any thing.

[sewchris2642]

It means that you'll have to part her hair on the other side. All my kids have double crowns. Their hair doesn't know which direction to go. It makes for some interesting parting of the hair when making pigtails.