What are the two types of hair follicles?

Author: Bernard Harvey  |  Last update: Tuesday, January 27, 2026

The two major types of hair follicles on the human body are terminal hair follicles and vellus hair follicles. The terminal hair follicles are larger than the vellus hair follicles and extend into the subcutaneous fat by anywhere from 2-5mm from the skin surface during hair growth.

What are the different types of hair follicles?

7.1 Types of Hair Follicles
  • 7.1.1 Lanugo Hair Follicle. ...
  • 2 Vellus Hair Follicle. ...
  • 3 Intermediate Hair Follicle. ...
  • 4 Terminal Hair Follicles.

What is the difference between dormant and dead hair follicles?

Dormant hair follicles are resting, and they are temporarily not growing new hairs. Dead hair follicles are not growing new hair cells and won't be able to be turned back on. The only way to determine what's happening with your hair follicles is for a health care professional to evaluate your hair and scalp.

What's the difference between vellus and terminal hair?

Vellus hair is the light, short, fine hair that covers much of a person's body. Its length and thickness will vary from person to person. The primary role of vellus hair is to protect the skin and keep the body warm. Terminal hair, on the other hand, is the longer, thicker, and darker hair that grows on the head.

What is the difference between primary and secondary hair follicles?

Primary hairs are larger and also referred to as “guard hairs”, whereas secondary hairs are smaller, and comprise the “undercoat”. Species such as horses only have primary hairs; dogs and cats have both primary and secondary hairs.

Barbara O'Neill's SHOCKING Hair Loss Discovery: What They Hid From You!

What is the difference between primary and secondary follicles?

The secondary follicles look very similar to primary follicles, except that they are larger, there are more follicular cells, and there are small accumulations of fluid in the intracellular spaces called follicular fluid (nutritive fluid for the oocyte). These gradually coalesce to form an antrum.

Can hair follicles grow back?

If you damage your hair follicles after an injury, they can repair themselves and your hair will grow back. It could take up to four years before you see new hair growth out of damaged hair follicles, depending on the severity of your injury.

What happens if you remove vellus hair?

Removing your vellus hairs can: Slough away dead skin cells. The majority of techniques used to get rid of peach fuzz on your face can also provide gentle exfoliation and help get rid of the dull, dead cells on the surface of your skin. Regularly exfoliating can help make your skin look clearer, brighter, and smoother.

Why does pubic hair stop growing?

Hormones are chemical messengers that control many functions in the body, including hair growth. During puberty, an increase in hormones called androgens triggers the growth of pubic hair . As a person ages, their body begins to produce fewer androgens. This may result in pubic hair loss.

What wakes up dormant hair follicles?

Reviving dormant hair follicles and promoting healthy hair growth can be achieved through a combination of methods, including scalp massage, essential oils, supplements, low-level laser therapy, PRP therapy, dietary changes, and stress management techniques.

How to activate dead hair follicles?

Massage Your Scalp

Massaging your scalp may seem too simple, but it can help stimulate the hair follicles and encourage growth. It works because it increases blood flow to the follicles, which can activate the dormant ones. Try performing a scalp massage for five minutes on yourself every day.

What is the white stuff on the end of my hair when I pull it out?

What is the White Bulb at End of Hair? The white bulb at the end of your hair is essentially a bundle of protein, known as keratin. The role of the white bulb is to help the hair follicle root to the scalp, which then allows the hair to grow until it is shed.

What is the black thing at the end of a plucked hair?

The black dots are due to remnant of the upper part of the hair root, which remains adherent to the hair-follicle ostium. Hair powder, also known as hair dust, on the other hand, is caused by complete destruction of the hair shaft, leaving a 'sprinkled hair residue' [1].

What are the three types of follicles?

The follicle is the functional unit of the ovary, which is composed of three types of cells: oocytes, granulosa cells, and theca cells.

How to tell if hair is regrowing?

  1. What Does New Hair Growth Look Like? Understanding the signs of new hair growth is crucial for anyone concerned with hair health, whether dealing with hair thinning or loss. ...
  2. Texture Changes. ...
  3. Increased Volume. ...
  4. Darkening Of Hair Follicles. ...
  5. Growth At The Hairline. ...
  6. Itchy Scalp. ...
  7. Shiny, Strong Strands. ...
  8. Rate Of Shedding.

Does plucking pubic hair make it stop growing?

Tweezing your pubes can be time-consuming and painful, but it's generally a low-risk way to get rid of a few stray hairs around your underwear line. This method plucks hair out at the root and can slow hair growth by two to 12 weeks.

Does pubic hair go grey?

The hair follicles contain melanin. As people age, these follicles begin to die off, and there is less melanin in the hair. As the follicles die and melanin decreases, the color of the hair fades to silver, gray, or white. This process happens with hair all over the body, including pubic hair.

How to get rid of old lady facial hair?

No surprise there are many methods to get rid of it: you can epilate, tweeze, wax, sugar, thread, burn, shave or bleach; use creams, lasers, IPL, electrolysis or make-up. Surface removal methods like shaving are quick and easy, but stubble grows back fast.

Can vellus hair turn into real hair?

At puberty, androgen hormones cause much of the vellus hair to turn into terminal hair and stimulate the growth of new hair in the armpit and the pubic area. In men, this change in vellus hair also occurs on the face (beard) and the body.

Does anyone regret dermaplaning?

While many rave about the immediate radiance, some experience dermaplaning regret due to unexpected side effects or unrealistic expectations.

How to awaken dormant hair follicles?

Here's how to reactivate hair follicles and get your hair growing again.
  1. Finasteride. ...
  2. Minoxidil. ...
  3. Scalp Massage. ...
  4. Essential Oils. ...
  5. Hair Products for Hair Regrowth. ...
  6. Microneedling. ...
  7. Corticosteroid Injections. ...
  8. Platelet-Rich Plasma Therapy.

What does thyroid hair loss look like?

Severe and prolonged hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism can cause loss of hair. The loss is diffuse and involves the entire scalp rather than discrete areas. The hair appears uniformly sparse.

Can thin hair become thick again in females?

Hair thinning can result from a variety of factors, including genetics, hormonal changes, diet, stress, and health conditions. The good news is, in many cases, thin hair can be revitalised and regain density, depending on the underlying cause.

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