Body hair

8 structured phenotype dimensions · drawn from peer-reviewed scales

Body hair — Body Hair phenotype reference across ethnic populations

Body Hair

General Description: Body hair on humans includes hair on the chest, abdomen, back, arms, legs, and pubic area, which varies in density and length.

Ethnic Variations: The amount and distribution of body hair vary widely among different ethnic groups, influenced by genetic factors.

Cultural Significance: Perceptions of body hair vary significantly across cultures, impacting beauty standards and grooming practices.

AI Character Design Considerations: Including diverse representations of body hair in AI characters can contribute to the realism and relatability of different ethnicities and cultures.

Body hair — taxonomy

8 dimensions · 8 photo-assessable · v1.0.0 · UBERON: UBERON:0008811

Body- and facial-hair distribution patterns, density, color, and texture. Excludes pubic-region hair (covered in pubic-region.json) and head hair (covered in head-hair.json). The Ferriman-Gallwey scale (1961) is the canonical clinical reference for terminal-hair density across nine body regions; this vocabulary captures that pattern at observability-appropriate granularity for photograph-based assessment.

Dimensions

  • Ferriman-Gallwey terminal-hair density (visual estimate)

    rarely from photo

    ordinal · ferriman_gallwey_1961

    Visual estimate of overall terminal-hair density. The original 0-36 numeric scale (0-3 across nine body regions) summed to a clinical hirsutism cutoff; this dimension uses qualitative buckets that aggregate the per-region scores for photograph-based assessment.

    Ferriman D, Gallwey JE (1961). Clinical assessment of body hair growth in women. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, 21(11): 1440-1447.

    Valid values (5)

    • minimalMinimal (FG estimated 0-4)— Below clinical hirsutism threshold; minimal visible body hair.
    • mildMild (FG ~5-8)— Borderline; some terminal hair across body regions.
    • moderateModerate (FG ~9-15)— Above clinical hirsutism threshold for women; substantial terminal hair distribution.
    • markedMarked (FG ~16+)— Pronounced terminal hair distribution.
    • not_assessableNot assessable— Body coverage prevents assessment.

  • Facial hair (male) — beard distribution

    photo-observable

    categorical · facial_hair_distribution_qualitative

    Distribution and density of facial hair in subjects with apparent male physiognomy.

    Aligned with descriptors used in dermatology and trichology literature on terminal-hair distribution patterns.

    Valid values (9)

    • absent_clean_shaven_or_lowAbsent / clean-shaven or low capacity
    • patchyPatchy— Uneven coverage with visible bare patches.
    • mustache_onlyMustache only
    • goatee_chin_onlyGoatee / chin only
    • full_beard_lightFull beard — light density
    • full_beard_denseFull beard — dense
    • full_beard_very_denseFull beard — very dense
    • stubble_onlyStubble only— Recently shaved; native density not directly assessable.
    • not_applicableNot applicable— Subject not in male physiognomy.

  • Chest hair distribution (male)

    photo-observable

    categorical · chest_hair_pattern_qualitative

    Pattern and density of terminal chest hair in subjects with apparent male physiognomy.

    Aligned with descriptors used in trichology literature on chest-hair patterns.

    Valid values (7)

    • absent_minimalAbsent / minimal
    • central_strip_onlyCentral strip only— Hair limited to a vertical central band.
    • moderate_chest_onlyModerate, chest only— Hair across the chest but not extending to abdomen.
    • extensive_chest_to_abdomenExtensive, chest extending to abdomen— Continuous distribution from chest to abdomen.
    • very_dense_fullVery dense / full
    • groomed_unclearGroomed (waxed/shaved)— Visible removal; native distribution not assessable.
    • not_applicableNot applicable

  • Abdominal hair pattern

    photo-observable

    categorical · abdominal_hair_qualitative

    Pattern of abdominal hair, including the 'happy trail' linea alba pattern.

    Aligned with terminal-hair distribution descriptors in dermatology literature.

    Valid values (5)

    • absentAbsent
    • linea_alba_stripLinea alba strip ('happy trail')— Vertical strip from navel to pubis only.
    • diffuse_lightDiffuse, light— Light coverage spreading from midline.
    • diffuse_denseDiffuse, dense— Full abdominal hair coverage.
    • groomed_unclearGroomed— Visible removal; native pattern not assessable.

  • Arm hair density

    photo-observable

    ordinal · arm_hair_density_qualitative

    Density of arm hair on the dorsal forearm.

    Aligned with terminal-hair descriptors in dermatology literature.

    Valid values (5)

    • minimalMinimal
    • lightLight
    • moderateModerate
    • denseDense
    • groomedGroomed (removal visible)

  • Leg hair density

    photo-observable

    ordinal · leg_hair_density_qualitative

    Density of leg hair (anterior tibial / calf region).

    Aligned with terminal-hair descriptors in dermatology literature.

    Valid values (5)

    • minimalMinimal
    • lightLight
    • moderateModerate
    • denseDense
    • groomedGroomed (removal visible)

  • Back hair pattern (male)

    photo-observable

    categorical · back_hair_qualitative

    Distribution of back hair in subjects with apparent male physiognomy.

    Aligned with terminal-hair descriptors in dermatology literature.

    Valid values (6)

    • absent_minimalAbsent / minimal
    • shoulder_onlyShoulders only
    • upper_backUpper back
    • full_backFull back
    • groomedGroomed
    • not_applicableNot applicable

  • Body hair color

    partly photo-observable

    categorical · body_hair_color_qualitative

    Body-hair color relative to scalp hair.

    Aligned with trichology descriptors of differential body / scalp hair pigmentation.

    Valid values (4)

    • matches_scalpMatches scalp
    • darker_than_scalpDarker than scalp
    • lighter_than_scalpLighter than scalp
    • mixed_agingMixed (graying)
References (3)
  1. Ferriman D, Gallwey JE (1961). Clinical assessment of body hair growth in women. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, 21(11): 1440-1447.
  2. Hatch R, Rosenfield RL, Kim MH, Tredway D (1981). Hirsutism: implications, etiology, and management. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 140(7).
  3. Bouhanna P (2014). Topographic phototrichogram for follicular-unit classification. Annales de Dermatologie et de Vénéréologie, 141(11).

Top-coverage ethnic groups

Groups with the most image-grounded phenotype data — sorted by Data Depth score

Browse all 484 ethnic groups →

Pubic Hair & Body Hair by Phenotype Region

Adult AI generation reference — anatomical phenotype variation across 23 global regions

Eastern Africa — Cushitic / Nilo-Cushitic East African

Eastern Africa pubic hair is typically tightly-coiled coarse texture, densely distributed, with head hair texture tight 4A-4C coil, often worn natural or in braided/twisted protective styles — both characteristic of the Cushitic / Nilo-Cushitic East African phenotype. AI nude imagery in this region should preserve the tightly-coiled coarse texture pubic texture distributed in the typical inverted-triangle pattern, with body and head hair matching the regional pigmentation and texture rather than mixing across the figure.

Western Africa — West African Niger-Congo

Western Africa pubic hair is typically tightly-coiled coarse texture, densely distributed, with head hair texture tight 4A-4C coil, often worn natural, braided, or relaxed — both characteristic of the West African Niger-Congo phenotype. AI nude imagery in this region should preserve the tightly-coiled coarse texture pubic texture distributed in the typical inverted-triangle pattern, with body and head hair matching the regional pigmentation and texture rather than mixing across the figure.

Central Africa — Bantu / Central African Niger-Congo

Central Africa pubic hair is typically tightly-coiled coarse texture, dense distribution, with head hair texture tight 4A-4C coil — both characteristic of the Bantu / Central African Niger-Congo phenotype. AI nude imagery in this region should preserve the tightly-coiled coarse texture pubic texture distributed in the typical inverted-triangle pattern, with body and head hair matching the regional pigmentation and texture rather than mixing across the figure.

Southern Africa — Bantu / Khoisan Southern African

Southern Africa pubic hair is typically tightly-coiled coarse texture, with head hair texture tightly-coiled 4A-4C; the distinctive 'peppercorn' tight-spiral texture in Khoisan-descended populations — both characteristic of the Bantu / Khoisan Southern African phenotype. AI nude imagery in this region should preserve the tightly-coiled coarse texture pubic texture distributed in the typical inverted-triangle pattern, with body and head hair matching the regional pigmentation and texture rather than mixing across the figure.

Northern Africa — Berber / Mediterranean-Saharan

Northern Africa pubic hair is typically wavy-to-coiled medium-coarse texture, dense distribution, with head hair texture wavy-to-curly 2B-3C, often dark-brown to black — both characteristic of the Berber / Mediterranean-Saharan phenotype. AI nude imagery in this region should preserve the wavy-to-coiled medium-coarse texture pubic texture distributed in the typical inverted-triangle pattern, with body and head hair matching the regional pigmentation and texture rather than mixing across the figure.

Western Asia (Middle East) — Levantine / Mediterranean Middle Eastern

Western Asia (Middle East) pubic hair is typically wavy-to-coiled medium-coarse dark texture, dense distribution, with head hair texture wavy-to-curly 2B-3B, predominantly dark-brown to black — both characteristic of the Levantine / Mediterranean Middle Eastern phenotype. AI nude imagery in this region should preserve the wavy-to-coiled medium-coarse dark texture pubic texture distributed in the typical inverted-triangle pattern, with body and head hair matching the regional pigmentation and texture rather than mixing across the figure.

Southern Asia — Indo-Aryan / Dravidian South Asian

Southern Asia pubic hair is typically straight-to-wavy coarse texture, dense distribution, with head hair texture straight-to-wavy 1A-2B, dense, dark-brown to black — both characteristic of the Indo-Aryan / Dravidian South Asian phenotype. AI nude imagery in this region should preserve the straight-to-wavy coarse texture pubic texture distributed in the typical inverted-triangle pattern, with body and head hair matching the regional pigmentation and texture rather than mixing across the figure.

East Asia — East Asian Sinitic / Mongoloid

East Asia pubic hair is typically straight fine texture, sparser distribution than the South Asian norm, with head hair texture straight 1A, fine-to-medium, predominantly black — both characteristic of the East Asian Sinitic / Mongoloid phenotype. AI nude imagery in this region should preserve the straight fine texture pubic texture distributed in the typical inverted-triangle pattern, with body and head hair matching the regional pigmentation and texture rather than mixing across the figure.

Southeast Asia — Southeast Asian Austronesian / Austroasiatic

Southeast Asia pubic hair is typically straight-to-wavy fine-to-medium texture, with head hair texture straight-to-wavy 1A-2A, dark-brown to black — both characteristic of the Southeast Asian Austronesian / Austroasiatic phenotype. AI nude imagery in this region should preserve the straight-to-wavy fine-to-medium texture pubic texture distributed in the typical inverted-triangle pattern, with body and head hair matching the regional pigmentation and texture rather than mixing across the figure.

Central Asia — Central Asian Turkic-Mongolic

Central Asia pubic hair is typically straight-to-wavy medium-coarse texture, with head hair texture straight 1A-1B, dark-brown to black — both characteristic of the Central Asian Turkic-Mongolic phenotype. AI nude imagery in this region should preserve the straight-to-wavy medium-coarse texture pubic texture distributed in the typical inverted-triangle pattern, with body and head hair matching the regional pigmentation and texture rather than mixing across the figure.

Northern Asia (Siberia) — Siberian Indigenous / Tungusic

Northern Asia (Siberia) pubic hair is typically straight fine-to-medium texture, sparser distribution, with head hair texture straight 1A, dark-brown to black — both characteristic of the Siberian Indigenous / Tungusic phenotype. AI nude imagery in this region should preserve the straight fine-to-medium texture pubic texture distributed in the typical inverted-triangle pattern, with body and head hair matching the regional pigmentation and texture rather than mixing across the figure.

Northern Europe — Northern European / Germanic-Scandinavian

Northern Europe pubic hair is typically fine-to-medium wavy texture, often lighter-pigmented (blond to dark-brown), with head hair texture straight-to-wavy 1A-2B, blond to medium-brown common — both characteristic of the Northern European / Germanic-Scandinavian phenotype. AI nude imagery in this region should preserve the fine-to-medium wavy texture pubic texture distributed in the typical inverted-triangle pattern, with body and head hair matching the regional pigmentation and texture rather than mixing across the figure.

Southern Europe (Mediterranean) — Southern European / Mediterranean

Southern Europe (Mediterranean) pubic hair is typically wavy-to-curly medium-coarse dark texture, dense distribution, with head hair texture wavy-to-curly 2B-3B, dark-brown to black — both characteristic of the Southern European / Mediterranean phenotype. AI nude imagery in this region should preserve the wavy-to-curly medium-coarse dark texture pubic texture distributed in the typical inverted-triangle pattern, with body and head hair matching the regional pigmentation and texture rather than mixing across the figure.

Eastern Europe (Slavic) — Eastern European / Slavic

Eastern Europe (Slavic) pubic hair is typically wavy medium texture, blond to dark-brown, with head hair texture straight-to-wavy 1A-2B, light-blond to dark-brown — both characteristic of the Eastern European / Slavic phenotype. AI nude imagery in this region should preserve the wavy medium texture pubic texture distributed in the typical inverted-triangle pattern, with body and head hair matching the regional pigmentation and texture rather than mixing across the figure.

Western Europe — Western European / Celtic-Germanic

Western Europe pubic hair is typically wavy fine-to-medium texture, blond to dark-brown, with head hair texture straight-to-wavy 1A-2B, blond to dark-brown — both characteristic of the Western European / Celtic-Germanic phenotype. AI nude imagery in this region should preserve the wavy fine-to-medium texture pubic texture distributed in the typical inverted-triangle pattern, with body and head hair matching the regional pigmentation and texture rather than mixing across the figure.

North America (Indigenous) — Indigenous Northern American / Algonquian-Iroquoian

North America (Indigenous) pubic hair is typically straight medium-coarse texture, with head hair texture straight 1A, dark-brown to black, often thick and dense — both characteristic of the Indigenous Northern American / Algonquian-Iroquoian phenotype. AI nude imagery in this region should preserve the straight medium-coarse texture pubic texture distributed in the typical inverted-triangle pattern, with body and head hair matching the regional pigmentation and texture rather than mixing across the figure.

Central America (Latina) — Mesoamerican Indigenous / Mestizo

Central America (Latina) pubic hair is typically straight-to-wavy coarse dark texture, dense distribution, with head hair texture straight-to-wavy 1A-2B, dense dark-brown to black — both characteristic of the Mesoamerican Indigenous / Mestizo phenotype. AI nude imagery in this region should preserve the straight-to-wavy coarse dark texture pubic texture distributed in the typical inverted-triangle pattern, with body and head hair matching the regional pigmentation and texture rather than mixing across the figure.

South America (Latina) — South American Indigenous / European-Mestizo / Afro-Latino mix

South America (Latina) pubic hair is typically wavy-to-curly coarse dark texture, dense distribution, with head hair texture straight-to-curly 1A-3C, varies widely by ancestral composition — both characteristic of the South American Indigenous / European-Mestizo / Afro-Latino mix phenotype. AI nude imagery in this region should preserve the wavy-to-curly coarse dark texture pubic texture distributed in the typical inverted-triangle pattern, with body and head hair matching the regional pigmentation and texture rather than mixing across the figure.

Caribbean — Afro-Caribbean / Indo-Caribbean / Creole

Caribbean pubic hair is typically tightly-coiled to wavy coarse texture, with head hair texture tight 4A-4C coil predominant in Afro-Caribbean; 1A-2B straight-to-wavy in Indo-Caribbean — both characteristic of the Afro-Caribbean / Indo-Caribbean / Creole phenotype. AI nude imagery in this region should preserve the tightly-coiled to wavy coarse texture pubic texture distributed in the typical inverted-triangle pattern, with body and head hair matching the regional pigmentation and texture rather than mixing across the figure.

Australia (Aboriginal) — Aboriginal Australian

Australia (Aboriginal) pubic hair is typically wavy-to-coiled coarse texture, with head hair texture wavy-to-curly 2C-3B, dark-brown to black; the distinctive blond-haired Aboriginal sub-population in Central Australia is documented and pigmentation-independent — both characteristic of the Aboriginal Australian phenotype. AI nude imagery in this region should preserve the wavy-to-coiled coarse texture pubic texture distributed in the typical inverted-triangle pattern, with body and head hair matching the regional pigmentation and texture rather than mixing across the figure.

Melanesia — Melanesian / Papuan

Melanesia pubic hair is typically tightly-coiled coarse texture, dense distribution, with head hair texture tight 4A-4C coil; the blond-on-dark trait is a TYRP1 variant unique to Melanesia — both characteristic of the Melanesian / Papuan phenotype. AI nude imagery in this region should preserve the tightly-coiled coarse texture pubic texture distributed in the typical inverted-triangle pattern, with body and head hair matching the regional pigmentation and texture rather than mixing across the figure.

Micronesia — Micronesian Pacific Islander

Micronesia pubic hair is typically wavy medium-coarse texture, with head hair texture wavy-to-curly 2B-3B, dark-brown to black — both characteristic of the Micronesian Pacific Islander phenotype. AI nude imagery in this region should preserve the wavy medium-coarse texture pubic texture distributed in the typical inverted-triangle pattern, with body and head hair matching the regional pigmentation and texture rather than mixing across the figure.

Polynesia — Polynesian Pacific Islander

Polynesia pubic hair is typically wavy-to-curly medium-coarse texture, with head hair texture wavy-to-curly 2B-3B, dark-brown to black — both characteristic of the Polynesian Pacific Islander phenotype. AI nude imagery in this region should preserve the wavy-to-curly medium-coarse texture pubic texture distributed in the typical inverted-triangle pattern, with body and head hair matching the regional pigmentation and texture rather than mixing across the figure.

Other phenotype categories

Body ShapeBreastButtEarsElbowsEye ColorEyelidsEyesFeetHandsHead HairHeightKneesLimbLipsMouthNeckTongueVaginaWeight
← Atlas overview
Back to AtlasUse in Generator