Terminal hairs are thick, long, and dark, as compared with vellus hair.^[1] During puberty, the increase in androgenic hormone levels causes vellus hair to be replaced with terminal hair in certain parts of the human body.^[2] These parts will have different levels of sensitivity to androgens, primarily of the testosterone family.^[3]

The pubic area is particularly sensitive to such hormones, as are the armpits which will develop axillary hair.^[4] Pubic and axillary hair will develop on both men and women, to the extent that such hair qualifies as a secondary sex characteristic,^[5] although men will develop terminal hair in more areas. This includes facial hair, chest hair, abdominal hair, leg and arm hair, and foot hair.^[6] Human females on the other hand can be expected to retain more of the vellus hair.^[7]

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