Terminal Hairs: Definition, Facts, and How to Protect Them

Ever heard the term “terminal hair” from a healthcare professional and thought, “Is my hair dying? Are they talking about hair loss?”

Don’t worry. Terminal hairs aren’t dying hair follicles. Terminal hair is just the name for the dark, thick strands that grow on your head — and other parts of your body after puberty.

But if you’re worried about hair loss? You might want to keep an eye out for changes in your terminal hairs.

Below, we cover what terminal hairs are, where they usually grow, and what to look for if you’re concerned about male pattern baldness.

Terminal hair is the thick, coarse hair you see on your head, pubic area, and other parts of the body. It serves as a protective layer for your skin.

This type of hair has three parts:

• The medulla (the core)

• The melanin-containing cortex (gives hair its color)

• The cuticle (protective outer layer)

Most hair starts off as fine, light vellus hair follicles. However, during puberty, men start growing darker, pigmented terminal hair due to hormonal changes.

The amount and location of terminal hair are influenced by your gender at birth. Typically, females have terminal hair covering about 30 percent of their body, while males can have up to 90 percent coverage. The difference is driven by male sex hormones called androgens, especially testosterone.

Before terminal hair, there’s vellus hair — also known as peach fuzz. These fine, soft hairs are present from birth and cover our bodies. They’re usually colorless and nearly invisible to the naked eye.

In childhood, they cover your upper lip, underarms, and pubic areas.

As you age, some vellus hair follicles turn into terminal hairs, but many remain. You’ll usually have them on parts of your face without a beard and around your ears.

Terminal hair can grow anywhere on the human body. However, it’s more common in some areas than others.

Before puberty, terminal hair grows exclusively on the scalp, eyebrows, and eyelashes. Once puberty begins, vellus hairs on other parts of the body will start to change into terminal hairs.

Terminal hair growth during and after puberty is most common on the following areas:

• Armpits

• Pubic region

• Face

• Chest

• Legs

• Arms

• Hands

• Feet

• Fingers

• Toes

Hair grows all over the human body, but some people may develop more terminal hairs during puberty due to hormone levels changing.

Men often see terminal hairs on their backs, buttocks, and shoulders. Your genetics and endocrine system largely influence where and how many terminal hairs you develop. Excess terminal hair growth is known as hirsutism.

While heavy terminal hair growth isn’t a health concern, some men opt for hair removal due to personal preference.

When women experience thicker hair growth, it’s often due to polycystic ovary syndrome.

Remember, the choice to keep or remove hair is entirely up to you!

Healthy hair isn’t a happy accident, it’s all about the right nutrients, regular washing, and protection from damage.

The following nutrients help support a healthy hair growth cycle:

• Biotin

• Vitamin E

• Zinc

• Omega-3 fatty acids

Your scalp hair and body hair need a balanced amount of natural oil, courtesy of your sebaceous glands, to shield them from damage.

Too little oil? Keratin in hair follicles can tangle, break, and turn dry and brittle. Excess hair oil? Say hello to greasy, flat hair and an increased risk of scalp issues and bacterial infections.

Excess sebum can also trap dirt and unwanted chemicals, leading to dandruff or folliculitis.

Other sources of hair damage that can weaken hair include:

• UV rays

• Excessive heat styling

• Harsh chemicals

Male pattern baldness (AKA androgenetic alopecia) happens when a testosterone by-product called dihydrotestosterone (DHT) damages hair follicles, injuring the stem cells. This damage disrupts the hair growth cycle, leading to thinning and hair loss.

Hair grows in three stages: the anagen phase (growth), catagen phase (maturity), and telogen phase (resting phase).

In androgenic alopecia, DHT keeps hair follicles stuck in the resting phase, preventing new growth.

Unfortunately, once the damage is severe, you can’t reverse it. That’s why treatment options aim to protect remaining terminal hairs from further harm.

FDA-approved hair loss treatments like finasteride block DHT, while topical products like minoxidil foam and minoxidil solution promote healthy blood flow follicles along the hairline and crown.

Terminal hair sounds scary. But you don’t need to stress over this particular type of hair follicle. Everyone has some degree of terminal hairs covering their body.

Let’s recap what we know about this type of hair:

• Terminal hairs are a natural part of your body from birth. You’ll grow more of these thicker, coarse hairs in adulthood.

• Terminal hairs are what replaces the thin, peach fuzzy follicles that cover most of your body in childhood. Terminal hair on your face and body is largely influenced by your genetics and hormones.

• Androgenic alopecia causes terminal hair loss. If you’re worried about going bald, terminal hairs should be your focus.

• A dermatology professional or other healthcare provider can help. Noticing hair thinning? A healthcare professional can recommend effective, FDA-approved hair loss medications like minoxidil and finasteride.

Have more questions? Want to know how to protect the terminal hairs that protect your head? Reach out today for a hair loss consultation with one of our hair loss experts.