There are 3 types of hair growing on the human body. These are vellus hairs, terminal hairs and intermediate hairs.

1. VELLUS HAIRS

Vellus hairs are short hairs growing up to a couple of cm’s. A vellus hair is colourless as it contains no pigment.. Vellus hair follicles do not have adjacent sebaceous glands. Vellus hairs are fine and soft, hence are not cosmetically important.

2. TERMINAL HAIRS

Terminal hairs are long hairs that grow on the scalp and in many people on the body. They are produced by hair follicles with adjacent sebaceous glands. Terminal hairs have large, darkly pigmented hair fibers that have a medulla at the innermost part.

3. INTERMEDIATE HAIRS

An intermediate hair shows the characteristics of both vellus hairs and terminal hairs. Intermediate hairs have a medulla and contain some pigment. During the balding process terminal hair follicles and intermediate hair follicles change in such a way that they no longer produce terminal hairs. In these areas, hair follicles grow vellus hairs rather than terminal hairs.