Have you ever wondered why the hair on your arms is light and barely noticeable, while your underarm or bikini area hair is thicker and darker? The answer lies in the two main types of body hair: Vellus and Terminal. Understanding the difference between them is essential—especially if you’re considering permanent hair removal.

🌿 What Is Vellus Hair?

Vellus hair is the soft, light, and fine hair that covers much of your body. These hairs are usually short and barely visible, acting as a natural protector of the skin. Common on the face, neck, chest, and back, vellus hairs serve as a mild insulator and play a subtle role in temperature regulation.

✅ Everyone has vellus hair, though its density and color can vary from person to person.

✅ These hairs originate from follicles with sweat glands that secrete less oil and lack a medulla—the core structure that promotes length and strength.

🌿 What Is Terminal Hair?

Terminal hair, on the other hand, is the coarser, thicker, and darker hair we see in areas like the scalp, underarms, legs, and pubic region. These hairs grow from follicles with more active apocrine sweat glands, which tend to produce more pigment and oil.

💡 Terminal hair plays a role in body temperature regulation and tends to be more hormonally influenced—especially by androgens.

It’s not uncommon to find a few terminal hairs in areas dominated by vellus hair, especially in individuals with hormonal imbalances like PCOS.

🪒 Why Hair Type Matters for Permanent Hair Removal

When considering permanent hair removal, knowing whether your hair is vellus or terminal is critical. Not all hair types can be treated the same way.

✅ Terminal Hair: Best Candidates for Removal

• Laser hair removal is highly effective for dark, coarse terminal hairs, especially on areas like legs, underarms, and bikini lines.

• Electrolysis is ideal for any color of terminal hair and is FDA-approved for permanent hair removal.

⚠️ Vellus Hair: Trickier to Treat

• Laser hair removal typically does not work on vellus hair, since these hairs lack enough pigment.

• Electrolysis may be an option for thicker vellus hairs, but not all can be treated effectively.

• It’s best to schedule a consultation with an experienced Electrologist to determine which of your vellus hairs may be viable for removal.

📌 Key Takeaway

If you're thinking about investing in permanent hair removal, understanding the difference between vellus and terminal hair can help you set realistic expectations and choose the right treatment. At Permanent Choice, our trained technicians can assess your hair type and recommend the most effective plan tailored to your needs.

👉 Ready to learn more? Contact us today or book a consultation to see which of your hairs are treatable!

📞 Or call us at (952) 898-1111 to learn more!