Get to Know the Types of Hair on Your Body

We spend a lot of time thinking about our hair - the best way to style it, how to keep it healthy, and how to remove unwanted hair. But have you ever thought about where your body hair comes from? We all develop hair throughout our lives, although the types of hair and its vibrancy, density, and distribution will vary from person to person.

Some embrace their body hair, some don’t. Whether you celebrate all the hair on your body or are looking for tips on hair removal, we’ve got you covered. Learn more about the types of hair on your body, and tips on how to remove the hair you don’t want below!

The Hair Growth Cycle

People’s skin is covered by follicles which produce protein filaments; hair[1]. Human hair, irrelevant of where on the body it is, adheres to a growth cycle, consisting of four distinct phases[2]: 

1. Anagen (growth phase)
2. Catagen (transitional phase)
3. Telogen (resting phase)
4. Exogen (shedding phase)

Types of Hair

The timeline of the hair growth phases will vary depending on the type of hair you’re dealing with. There are two main types of hair on your body, with the key differences being the thickness of the individual hairs and where they grow.

Terminal Hair

These are the thicker, pigmented hairs that grow on the top of the head and other parts of the body. Wondering why men typically have more body hair than women? That’s because terminal hair is affected by how much androgen hormones you have, and men typically have more androgens[3].

Women can typically find this type of hair on their head, arms, legs, pubic area, and underarms while men can also have terminal hair on their face, chest, back, hands, and pretty much anywhere else. Of course, hair structure and growth can also vary depending on genetics and ethnicity.

Vellus Hair

Regardless of their sex, from an early age most people are coated in vellus hair which is fine and light in colour. You might only be able to see these hairs under bright lights or close inspection. Wondering where the term peach fuzz comes from? The finer, lighter characteristics of vellus hair resemble the soft, blonde fuzz you sometimes see on the skin of peaches!

Androgenic hair, generally referred to as body hair, normally develops during puberty and is the result of vellus hair transforming into terminal hair[4].

Hair Growth Timelines

Head Hair

The anagen phase for head hair lasts between two to seven years. This timeline varies from person to person, with factors such as genetics, hormones, and even stress affecting the hair growth cycle. The anagen phase tends to be far longer in head hair than body hair, which is why the hair on our bodies is usually a lot shorter than on our heads[5].

Body Hair

The anagen phase for body hair normally lasts around 30 - 45 days[6], a considerably shorter period of time than head hair. Hair has different functions on specific parts of the body, which is why the anagen phase can vary on different body parts. Eyebrows, for example, keep sweat from entering the eye and therefore need to be a certain length and density.

Hair Removal Tips

Now that you know where all of your hair comes from (and that hair all over your body is completely normal!), you might be wondering about ways to remove unwanted hair. Smooth, trimmed, or natural, we’re here to help you feel your best self. If that includes hair removal techniques for long lasting smoothness, we’re happy to divulge!

Legs

Sun’s out, silky smooth legs out! Easily rock smooth legs during those hot summer months by using our depilatory creams* - a quick, painless option for hair removal. Creams can be applied easily in the shower and works in as little as three minutes.

Looking to enjoy up to 28 days of smoothness? Try our Veet® Professional™ Wax Strips, For Legs & Body, Sensitive Skin*, made with Almond Oil and leaves your skin feeling moisturized and touchably soft.

Underarms

Prefer smooth, hairless skin under your arms? Our Veet® Professional™ Wax Strips, Face, Bikini & Underarm, For Sensitive Skin* is made with Almond Oil and removes hairs from the root. Rock your underarm hair, your way with the help of our Veet wax strips!

The right hair removal method for you may vary when it comes to different areas and types of hair. Luckily there are more options available to you every day. Discover all the ways we can help you achieve your hair removal goals and Find Your Veet. 

^*Ensure this product is right for you. Always read and follow product label.

[1] http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1365-2265.1994.tb02483.x/epdf

[2] https://www.healthline.com/health/stages-of-hair-growth#maintaining-hair-health 

[3] http://www.todayifoundout.com/index.php/2013/02/why-testosterone-effects-body-hair-growth/ 

[4] http://health.howstuffworks.com/human-body/parts/human-body-hair.htm

[5] http://www.wired.com/2015/04/hair-only-in-some-places/

[6] http://www.todayifoundout.com/index.php/2012/05/why-does-hair-only-grow-to-a-certain-length/