When we’re having a good hair day, a good day usually follows, and when we’re having a bad hair day, well, you can fill in the blanks. Feeling good about our hair is imperative to our overall confidence, but issues like hair loss, thinning, damage and breakage can wreak havoc on our hair and self-esteem.
While doing my nightly TikTok scroll recently, I stumbled across a video of a creator demonstrating hairstyles to hide her “double crown.” As a beauty editor, I immediately get to work when I hear a term I’ve never heard before. Ahead, expert hairstylists explain a double crown and how to style your hair to mask it.
Featured Experts
- Paul Labrecque is the creative director, master stylist and colorist with Paul Labrecque Salon and Skincare Spa
- Dimitris Giannetos is a celebrity hairstylist
What is a Double Crown?
It’s fairly common for issues that have existed for years to resurface with new names. A double crown fits this box of redefining a common hair case, Labrecque explains. “Essentially, a double crown is a term for nothing more than two swirling cowlicks.” Giannetos elaborates, adding, “The top of your head is called the crown, and the hair that grows at the crown of your head is a circular formation. You’ll know if you have a double crown if you have two whorls, or a circular pattern of the hair follicle, on the top of your head. These whorls can either grow in the same or opposite direction and vary from person to person. Double crowns are generally due to genetics.”
How to Tell if You Have a Double Crown
Discovering if you have a double crown can be difficult—it is the back of your head, after all. Labrecque explains that the best time to decipher if you have a double crown is when your hair is dirty. “If you have a double crown, when dirty, your hair would take on two whirlpool-like effects that do not allow for height, making your hair look flat. If you have fine hair, this could cause the appearance of bald spots.” As Giannetos adds, these two whorls of hair at the crown could go in the same or different directions, and the structure of it is largely due to genetics.
So, if you have a double crown, should you be worried? In short, no. “Double crowns are not so much a problem unless there is oil at the roots,” says Labrecque. “If this happens it becomes difficult to stop the splitting. In those with fine hair it will be more noticeable because it adds to the overall thinness of your strands.” Not to worry though—there are ways to minimize the appearance.
Hairstyles and Hair Care for Minimizing Double Crowns
If you’re struggling with your double crown, Giannetos explains that while “you don’t need any specific products or care, your hairstylist can help you determine which styles to rock to help alleviate the appearance of the double crown.” For example, “Growing out your hair will reduce the appearance of the double crown, as well as adding layers which can add movement and texture to the crown of your head,” he says.
According to Labrecque, keeping the hair heavy is key in minimizing a double crown. “In this instance, do not go with short layers,” he says, “Also, use plenty of dry shampoo in between washes to keep oils away. My two favorites are Olaplex’s Clean Volume Dry Shampoo ($30) and K18’s AirWash Dry Shampoo ($48).
“If your double crown looks like it is balding, you may want to try certain growth serums or oils to help disguise it,” Giannetos says. “Trying volumizing tools such as gel, mousse or hairspray can be a great option as well, as you can try to shape the hair to camouflage it. I recommend the Moroccanoil Curl Control Mousse ($32) as a great option for getting this type of volume and controlling how the hair falls.”
