regarding cowlicks:

Cowlick: pronounced [kou-lik] - noun. A tuft of hair that grows in a direction different from that part of the rest of the hair. (Dictionary.com)

The term originates from the bovines' habit of licking its young, which results in a swirling pattern of the hair on a calf. (Wikipedia.com)

I have at least three cowlicks. At least one at the back of my head, and at least two in the front above my forehead. When I was little this caused my bangs to part off to one side. (As seen in the photo below.) When I got older I grew out my bangs and parted my hair instead. That seemed to take care of some of the hair-sticking-up-at-odd-angles. Mostly I just worked with it. Now it results in epic bed head. And I mean epic. I didn't know my hair could stand up quite that straight. More pictures soon ...