Chiara Trinidad
How to Turn Vellus Hair Into Terminal
Vellus hair is those soft and downy strands that grow in several parts of the body, specifically the chin and along the upper lips. Although most women prefer to have them removed altogether, boys tend to have different concerns. Their goal is to learn how to make vellus hair terminal, therefore allowing them to start sporting a beard.
Vellus and Terminal
The difference between terminal and vellus hair is fairly distinct. Physically speaking, vellus tends to be wispier and almost transparent. Some people call them “peach fuzz” and are mostly prominent on the face. Terminal hair on the other hand is coarse and dark – much like the one found on your head. Since it is highly visible, this is the type of hair that most people want removed.
Can Vellus Hair become Terminal Hair?
The transformation from vellus hair to terminal is possible but is not really something that can be coaxed. Typically, it is hormonal triggers that force the change between different hair types. Teenage boys who are keen to learn how to thicken vellus hair only need to wait for the change to take place. In most cases, the vellus hair appearing on the chin of teenage boys is simply on the first stage of terminal hair transformation. The length of time for it to change however is not really determinable.
There have been reports on how to convert vellus hair terminal in different forums, some of those being confirmed by first-hand users. There are those who addressed the hormonal problem directly while others chose to use the old-school shaving technique. Reports reveal that although there have been some slight change in the vellus hair, a full terminal transformation didn’t really happen. Some individuals have also used over-the-counter creams and prescribed medicine for the problem. In some cases, the hair has become noticeably darker after several months of studious cream application.
Note that change from terminal to vellus hair is also possible and mostly seen in male pattern baldness. Again, this is a response to hormonal changes in the body and should not be too much of a concern for younger males.
References:
Principles and Practice of Endocrinology and Metabolism
Vellus Hair Growth Cycle
Hair often follows a specific growth pattern that allows you to estimate physical changes. From lanugo to vellus to terminal, individuals can predict and even control these shifts depending on their personal desires.
What is the vellus hair growth cycle?
The three types of hair (lanugo, vellus and terminal) all spring up from the same follicle which means that at any time, you might find yourself sporting terminal hair on a body part that used to have vellus hair. The growth cycle of the latter is fairly straightforward, starting from anagen to catagen to telogen. The anagen is the growth stage wherein the follicle is fully formed, followed by the regression stage and finally – the resting stage. Note that different hair follicles operate in different cycle timelines, allowing you to always have a patch of hair covering your body.
The different stages of hair growth may have different timelines depending on the specific body part they are growing in. For example, beards tend to stay in the anagen stage between 4 to 14 weeks with a telogen stage of 10 to 18 weeks.
What is the significance of this?
So what would knowing the vellus hair cycle growth really do for you? For one thing, it can help you control and predict when vellus hair would drop off, turning facial vellus hair to terminal hair. This is actually possible since vellus to terminal transformation is often affected by several factors – hormones being at the top of the list. By knowing how long vellus hair is supposed to stay, you can time their growth and allow them to continue or shave them as necessary.
What is the difference between terminal and vellus hair?
Physically speaking, the difference between these two hair types is quite distinct. Terminal hair often shows up later on in the life cycle with a thicker and darker strand. A good example of terminal hair would be those found on the head or those that grow as beards. Vellus hair on the other hand is thin, wispy and almost transparent. They are often called “peach fuzz” and found in different parts of the adult face including the upper lip and head.
References:
How to Get Rid of Vellus Hair on Face
Vellus hair is defined as light colored, peach fuzzy hair that often covers the body of an individual during childhood. However, vellus hair can still show up in adults – especially women. Although they aren’t easily noticeable, the presence of vellus hair can be incredibly bothersome for most women, particularly on the cheek area. Typically, this makes it harder for them to apply their makeup, producing a less than perfect feature.
Nowadays however, it’s possible to get rid of peach fuzz for a smoother complexion. For women who are having this particular problem, following are some known remedies regarding the problem.
Waxing
Waxing can be done at home or at the salon, whichever you prefer. It involves placing a wax removal item on the skin, covering it with a patch and pulling towards the opposite direction of hair growth. It can be painful, but it takes longer for the hair to grow since they are basically pulled by the roots. There are currently several products that can be used for waxing, but most of them are for darker hair found on the legs. If you intend to use them on vellus hair, it’s best to use products specially formulated for peach fuzz such as Surgi-wax Assorted Maple Honey Wax Strips For Face Upper Lip, Chin & Cheek, 16 Strips (Pack of 3) by Surgiwax. The mentioned product has a fairly good feedback rating and offers strips that cover not just the upper lips but also the chin, brow and cheeks.
Epilation
Epilation refers to the removal of body hair including the roots. The word itself may refer to different procedures including waxing or plucking. Typically though, epilation involves the use of an electrical device that is run over the hair. It efficiently pulls out large quantities of hair at the same time. Since vellus hair tends to be thinner and smoother however, it usually necessitates a special kind of epilator to target peach fuzz. A good example would be the Epilady Esthetic – Delicate Facial Epilator by Epilady. It has been specifically designed for facial hair and is much more sensitive than regular counterparts. The product has gotten good reviews too and is lightweight.
Threading
Threading is a practice that originated in Eastern countries and is most often used for eyebrow shaping. It’s extremely popular in females today because it takes until 6 weeks to grow back again. Threading used a spool of thread, rolling it around the eyebrows and capturing individual strands along the string. Once trenched, the string is pulled upwards, taking the hair and roots along with it. The thoroughness of the technique also makes it perfect for the removal of vellus hair. Although threading is most often done in a salon, you have the option of doing it yourself at home. There’s a product called R.E.M. Spring Facial Hair Remover by R.E.M. Spring that offers the same results as threading. It’s fairly easy to use and works the same way with the same level of accuracy. Users simply have to roll the spring along the area with vellus hair and it attaches to the strands, pulling them out by the roots.
Laser Hair Removal for Vellus Hair – Advantages and Risks
Vellus hair is often mistaken as lanugo hair, but the two are actually different from each other. The two are basically the same size but lanugo often comes first only to be replaced by vellus hair later on. Visually speaking, they are short and downy with no medulla to speak of. They’re also not pigmented and ordinarily ignored since they’re not really easily traceable.
However, due to the tendency of vellus hair to show up in areas that ordinarily do not have hair (eyelis, bald scalp, forehead), it isn’t surprising that some people attempt to have them removed. There are actually many accepted ways on how this is done nowadays starting from the topical methods to laser treatment.
Laser Hair Removal for Vellus Hair
Vellus hair is most effectively removed using laser treatment or electrolysis. In fact, laser and electrolysis for vellus hair are the only two permanent ways to get rid of any hair type today. It works by affecting the very core of hair growth, therefore permanently stopping the furtherance of vellus hair. It is interesting to note that during the early years of laser hair treatment, the FDA sectioned that laser hair devices may not be promoted as either “painless” or “permanent”. Nowadays however, the introduction of better technology has paved the way for a permanent solution through electrolysis for vellus hair.
Does it Really Work?
Laser hair removal has been proven time and again as an effective way to permanently remove body hair – including the vellus type. The treatment works by passing through the outer layer and damaging the hair roots. With the roots gone, the hair would be unable to grow, therefore making sure that no further emergence of vellus hair will be seen. Originally, this type of hair treatment is targeted only for people with dark hair since the laser targets the pigments of the skin specifically. Since vellus hair tends to be light and downy, dermatologists weren’t really keen on using them before. With the recent advancements in skin technology however, laser hair treatment become more vellus-hair friendly. Nowadays, it isn’t a problem for people with different skin tones and hair types to undergo laser hair removal.
What are the Risks?
Laser hair removal for vellus hair is not without risks. Some of the most common side effects include a change in skin tone and even skin burns on the processed area. Temporary skin discomfort is also common, especially if you have extra sensitive skin. Women who have undergone vellus laser hair removal may complain about red blisters on their skin resulting from the treatment. It’s also not a one-time process, requiring you to undergo several sessions in order to permanently remove the vellus hair. This shouldn’t stop anyone though – a good way to minimize the risks is by carefully choosing the doctor that will perform the treatment.