Hormonal Signals

Without the "male" androgen hormones (almost all humans have some androgen), you wouldn't be able to grow head or body hair. Androgen sends a signal to hair follicles to begin growing body hair at puberty. Because there is more androgen in males, they tend to have more body hair than females.

Hair Cell Production

Body hair grows out of your skin when older hair cells are pushed out of the hair follicle by new hair cells. These older hair cells, the ones visible on our skin, die after emerging.

Hair Follicle Life Cycle

There are three stages in the life cycle of a body hair: 1. The growth or anagen phase. The length of this phase determines the length of the body hair. 2. The transition or catagen phase. During this phase, the hair follicle shrinks and the part of the hair outside of the skin breaks off. 3. The resting or telogen phase. Your hair cells are still alive, but they are not growing.

Different Regions of the Body Grow Hair Differently

Body hair can be found on the arms, legs, feet, face, chest, nipples, navel, armpits and pubic area. In each of these places, the hair follicles have different sensitivity to androgen and different programming about what length, texture and even what color to make the body hair.

Nourishment for Body Hair

You can ensure healthy body hair by consuming nutrients good for your skin, hair follicles and living hair cells. These nutrients include vitamins A and B12, omega-3 fatty acids, high-quality proteins, zinc and selenium.

Source:

Nourishing Your Hair

About the Hair Life Cycle