
While there are hairy people of every ethnicity, some ethnicities are known to be hairier than others. If you’ve ever wondered which ethnicity is hairiest, this article is for you.
By the end of this article, you will know about the hairiest ethnicities, why they are so hairy, and more.
Table of Contents
- 1 The Hairiest Ethnicities: What Ethnicity Has the Most Hair?
- 1.1 Thickest Body Hair
- 1.2 Most Facial Hair
- 1.3 The Hairiest Man
- 2 Why Do Some Ethnicities Have More Hair? Genetics
- 3 Why You May Be Hairy
- 4 Is Hairiness Attractive?
- 4.1 The Popular Consensus: Less Hair is Better
- 4.2 Hairiness is Seen as Less Attractive
- 4.3 Related Articles
*For the purposes of this article, the term “hairiest” refers to the hair’s density. By definition, hair density is the number of hairs on the body as a whole. It does not concern the thickness of the hairs.
The Hairiest Ethnicities: What Ethnicity Has the Most Hair?
According to Personal Health via the New York Times, Caucasians are the hairiest ethnic group, with Semitic and Mediterranean people being the hairiest out of all Caucasians.
On the other end of the spectrum are American Indians and Asians, who have the least hair on their bodies out of all ethnicities. All of the other races fall somewhere in between. These claims are echoed by the American Journal of Physical Anthropology.
What’s interesting is that if you ask random people who they think are the hairiest, they don’t usually say “Caucasians” – they often guess Iranians, Indians, or Italians.

Thickest Body Hair
Now that you know which ethnicity is the hairiest overall, let’s look at which races have the thickest body hair. According to Researchers at the University of Tokyo, Japanese and Chinese people have the thickest individual hair fibers out of all people. The runner-up for thickest body hair is Black people.

Most Facial Hair
Unsurprisingly, Caucasians have the most facial hair. You may have expected that, considering that they have the most body hair overall.
Black people also have a considerable amount of facial hair. These two races top the list of ethnicities that have the most facial hair. Asians, on the other hand, usually don’t have much facial hair at all.

The Hairiest Man
'Wolf Man' Is 95% Covered In Hair | BORN DIFFERENT
Interestingly enough, the hairiest man in the world is not a Caucasian man. He’s Larry Gomez, AKA “Wolf Man,” a Hispanic man living in California.
A shocking 98% of his body is covered in thick hair. However, it has been determined that he suffers from a rare genetic disorder called hypertrichosis, which stimulates the growth of excessive body hair.
Why Do Some Ethnicities Have More Hair? Genetics
Scientists have tackled the question, “Why do some ethnicities have thicker hair than others?” and have come up empty. But, when it comes to an individual’s hair density, genetic factors (the opposite of genetic hair loss) are thought to play a sizeable role.
It comes down to several genes that control your hair’s thickness and density.
Let it be known that just because hairiness is common in people of your ethnicity doesn’t mean that you’ll be hairy. The genetic makeup of your parents and ancestors has a more significant influence on whether you’ll be hairy or not.
Why You May Be Hairy

Hairiness is common among people of all races, though certain races have more hairy members than others.
If you are hairy and wondering why that’s the case, you’ll be surprised to know that hairiness can be caused by more than genetics. Here are some other reasons why you are hairy:
- Your medicine is to blame. Certain medications have the annoying side effect of excessive hair growth. Some of the most common medications that cause unwanted hair growth include anti-seizure drugs or steroids. If you suspect that your medications may be to blame for your hairiness, consult your doctor to see if there’s a suitable replacement for that medication.
- There’s a problem with your adrenal gland. When your adrenal glands aren’t functioning correctly, you may experience sudden hair growth. There are several conditions associated with adrenal issues. We advise that you see a doctor if you’re concerned about your hairiness.
- You’ve gained weight recently. If you’ve noticed sudden hair growth after putting on a few pounds, the extra weight could be to blame. The problem is that when you gain weight, your testosterone levels may rise and lead to this hair growth. If you are trying to reduce your hair growth, try to lose weight by eating healthy foods and exercising regularly. Once you get the extra weight off, your testosterone levels may go back to normal. Consult a doctor if you have any concerns about your hormones, of course!
- Your hormones are out of whack. Some women who are hairier than others are actually suffering from a condition called hirsutism. It’s a condition marked by excessive hair growth, especially where males tend to grow hair, like on the upper lip or chin. Doctors believe that this condition is caused by abnormally high testosterone levels, which are seen in select health conditions.
- You’re expecting. Pregnant women often experience excessive hair growth due to the plethora of hormones coursing through their bodies. Unfortunately, many hair-removal treatments haven’t been proven safe for pregnant women. So, you can shave the hair off or make peace with it until after you’ve given birth.
It’s essential to see a doctor whenever your notice that you’re getting hairy and there’s no obvious explanation. Your doctor will run some tests to rule out hormonal and adrenal conditions and other health threats to pinpoint the reason for the excessive hair growth.
They will then draft a plan of treatment. Under medical supervision, you can regain control of your hair growth levels and feel more confident about your body.
Is Hairiness Attractive?
There has been widespread debate surrounding whether hairiness is attractive. Some find a hairy man irresistible, while others find extra hair repulsive, but on the whole, a bit of hair is considered acceptable on a man. Contrarily, when it comes to women, the majority of men prefer their mate hairless.
The Popular Consensus: Less Hair is Better
The trend is tipping toward the hairless side as the media continues to push the Manscaping agenda. Think of how many times you saw a film or an ad featuring a man as hairless as a Sphynx cat – we’ll bet you’ve seen a lot.
This image of an attractive man is now mainstream, convincing men from all walks of life to shave or wax their hair away regularly.
Women, driven by others’ preferences or their own, continue to take measures to keep body hair away. Some shave or wax religiously, while others go so far as to use expensive laser treatments to get rid of the hair for good.
Hairiness is Seen as Less Attractive
Judging by the rising popularity of hair removal treatments and the imagery depicted on widespread media, hairiness is not seen as attractive.
Yet, you’ll still come across some people who prefer a more natural look without any outside intervention (shaving, waxing, lasering).
Either way, in the spirit of acceptance, we encourage you to embrace your body the way it is, provided there isn’t a medical condition causing you to be abnormally hairy.
If you’ve had enough of your hair and want to get rid of it, you have the following options:
- Shave
- Use hair removal lotion
- Try a laser hair removal
- Hair Electrolysis
- Get your facial hair threaded
- Try a prescription cream
See a dermatologist to talk through these options and find the one that’s best for you.
Related Articles
- How to Get Rid of Leg Hair
- Hair Grows Uneven
- Get Rid of Armpit Hair Without Shaving or Waxing
- Hair Growing Faster Than Normal
Now you know some interesting information about different ethnicities and how hairy they are. You also know some of the most common drivers of hairiness, including genetics and hormonal imbalances.
We hope that this article has given you the information you need, whether you were curious about which races are hairiest/least hairy, why you may be so hairy, or whether hairiness is attractive.
Kenneth Byrd( Co-founder and Owner )
Kenneth Byrd holds a BS in Accounting and Management Information Systems and an MBA from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He is a serial hair blogger that has been writing about hair care since 2008, when he co-founded Curl Centric® and Natural Hair Box. Curl Centric is a website operated by a husband and wife team that encourages healthy hair care. At Curl Centric, we aim to help our readers take control of their hair care journey and make good decisions about products, hairstyles, and maintenance techniques. We also have strict editorial integrity; here’s an explanation of our editorial guidelines and how we make money.
FAQs
Why do some races have more body hair than others? ›
But the evolutionary reasons why hairiness varies with ethnicity are unclear. Caucasian people are generally hairier than the Japanese, for example, even though testosterone levels are the same. The difference seems to be in how sensitive the hair follicles are to those testosterone levels.
Which ethnicity has the most hair? ›Caucasians have the highest hair density among the ethnicities studied.
What race is the least hairy? ›Oriental peoples have the least amount of noticeable hair; Southern European and Mediterranean groups, the most. Black people have more hair than Orientals but less than Northern Europeans and Scandinavians. There are also sexual differences. Men tend to be hairier than women, and have the ability to grow a beard.
What ethnicities have thick hair? ›More than 90% of Han Chinese, 70% of Japanese and Thai people, and 60% to 90% of Native Americans carry the “thick hair" version of the gene. Meanwhile it's almost nonexistent in people of African and European descent. Both age and sex can also affect your hair shaft thickness.
What races don't grow facial hair? ›Ethnicity
Your originality can affect the growth pattern of your facial hair [1]. A study on The male beard hair and facial skin – challenges for shaving reveal that Chinese, Mexican, and Native American men tend to have less facial hair than Caucasian men [2].
Hirsutism is excess hair growth on the body or face. It's caused by excess hormones called androgens. For women, the hair may grow in places where men often have a lot of hair, but women often don't. This includes the upper lip, chin, chest, and back. It can run in families.
What ethnicity loses hair the most? ›Certain races have higher rates of hair loss compared to others. Caucasians have the highest rates out of all the ethnic groups. On the opposite end of the spectrum, Native American Indians, Inuits, and Chinese have the lowest rates.
Do Hispanics have more hair? ›Our results show that Americans of Hispanic descent have a lower hair density than their Caucasian counterparts, but a higher density than individuals of African descent.
Why is African hair so different? ›There are two reasons why we believe African hair texture is genetic. Firstly, the texture is universal in Africans, while nearly absent from other ethnic groups. Secondly, it is consistently passed down to the children in each new generation.
What race is less likely to bald? ›While studies have suggested almost all Caucasian men will eventually face some degree of male pattern baldness -- and around half can expect to lose their hair by middle age -- Asian men, and East Asians in particular, have historically experienced the lowest incidence of hair loss in the world.
Which race has the fastest growing hair? ›
Asian hair shows the fastest growth rate in comparison to the other two hair types. African hair has the lowest growth rate.
Are Asians less hairy? ›Asians have shorter, straighter, thinner, and less body hair than Caucasians and black individuals. Since a case reported by Itin et al. in 1994, research studies of knotted body hair have rarely been reported.
What race has the thickest skin? ›Asian and black skins have a thicker dermis than white skin, the thickness being proportional to the intensity of pigmentation. This increased dermal thickness, along with photoprotection from an increase in the size and number of melanosomes, may account for a lower incidence of facial rhytides in Asians and blacks.
Why is African American hair so thick? ›Individuals with black and brown hair typically have thicker hair strands but an overall lower density of hair. While blonde hair individuals usually have finer hair strands but a high density of those hairs. This is believed to be due to the amount of melanin in the hair.
Which body hair is the thickest? ›The thickest strand of human hair is 772 micrometres (0.03 inches) and was plucked from the beard of Muhammad Umair Khan (Pakistan), in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan, as verified on 3 March 2021. The hair was discovered on Muhammad's chin as part of his beard.
What race grows the best facial hair? ›Ethnicity
People from Mediterranean countries tend to be able to grow thick beards compared to people from other regions. According to a 2016 study , Chinese men generally have less facial hair growth than Caucasian men.
Caucasians and African Americans can usually grow thicker beards, while Asian men have a harder time developing a full beard.
Why can't Asians grow thick beards? ›It has been proven that the levels of DHT and testosterone affect the growth of the hair on the face. And as they struggle to grow a full beard Asian men's levels of testosterone are believed to be lower.
Is it healthier to have body hair? ›The main purpose of body hair is to help regulate our temperature in addition to keeping dirt out of our body (in areas such as our eyes and nostrils).
Is too much body hair good? ›Excess facial or body hair is often a symptom of an underlying medical problem. See your doctor for assessment if over a few months you experience severe or rapid hair growth on your face or body or signs of virilization.
Which race has the healthy hair? ›
Caucasian, Asian and Indian hair samples were put to the test for the World's Best Hair study. Their results put an end to any splitting of hairs over the issue: in terms of health, the Indian hair is the best, topping other ethnic groups on all four counts.
What culture has the healthiest hair? ›Japan, Spain and Sweden are widely known for having people with healthy hair, but there are also other countries like India, France and Russia that are also known for helping people keep their hair natural and not messing with any artificial coloring.
Does African American hair texture change with age? ›By default, your tresses undergo several changes as you age that may be related to diet, hormonal fluctuations or any medications you take. And as textured hair tends to be drier, these changes, coupled with improper care, can weaken your strands.
Does race affect hair growth? ›Regardless of race, the larger the diameter of the hair fiber, the faster the rate of hair growth. Although there are no differences in the hair-growth cycle among Asian, African, and Caucasian hair subgroups, African hair has been found to grow at a slower rate, likely due to its smaller-diameter fibers.
What state has the most hair? ›Vermont is apparently the hairiest, followed by Maine, Oregon, New Hampshire and West Virginia. On the other end of the spectrum, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Nevada, Alaska and South Dakota rank the smoothest.
What hair type do Latinas have? ›Latina hair can be found in all different forms - straight, wavy, curly, etc. because women of Latina descent come from all over the world and that's why their gorgeous hair comes in an array of various types and textures.
Why is African hair weak? ›So, why is Afro-textured hair so fragile? With its tight curls and twists, is more prone to breakage for several reasons. Its shape increases tangling and makes combing harder. The shape also creates internal stresses when the hair is unbent, untwisted or stretched that lead to fracturing.
Why is black hair most common? ›Most people have two functioning copies of the MC1R gene, one inherited from each parent. These individuals have black or brown hair, because of the high amount of eumelanin. It is estimated that more than 90 percent of people in the world have brown or black hair.
Why black hair is the best? ›Black Hair is Easier to Maintain
The darker the hair, the higher the concentration of melanin, therefore, black hair has the highest concentration. The benefit of having excess melanin in hair is it's less prone to sun damage, which is important to Sri Lankans as we are constantly under the sun.
According to one of the largest studies on male pattern baldness from the University of Bonn, short guys are at a higher risk of going bald as compared to their taller counterparts. Apparently, some of the genes that result in a man being on the shorter side are also linked to premature balding.
Which country has least baldness? ›
Which country has the least bald men? On the other hand, China is a country where the number of men who go bald is the least. Some other countries like Japan, Thailand, South Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Malaysia also have low levels of male pattern baldness.
What is Caucasian hair? ›Caucasian hair can be smooth, wavy or curly. Its colorimetry can vary from blond to dark brown. It grows obliquely, and grows about 1.2 centimeters per month. Caucasian hair has an oval shape. The density of Caucasian hair is the highest of the three ethnic groups, so it is the most dense.
What race has curly hair? ›Curly hair is not certain to a race or ethnicity, it appears all over the world in many forms. White, brown, black and everything inbetween! There is also a scale on which curly hair is classified (2a-4c).
What race Has Longest Hair? ›You see, the women of the Red Yao tribe have some of the longest hair in the world – as in their hair is almost the same length as their height!
Why Korean hair so thick? ›The reason Asian hair tends to be thicker is that it has around 10 layers of cuticles. Cuticles are the small areas around the inner protein structure of your hair–they are there to protect those proteins.
Why do Asians look younger? ›Traditionally, Asians have been thought to age more gracefully than Caucasians. The resistance to aging in the Asian patient was credited to the thicker dermis of Asian skin that contains greater collagen and the darker pigment that protects against photoaging.
Do Asians have the thickest hair? ›Geneticists at the University of Tokyo and several other institutions in Japan, Thailand, and Indonesia have now used the HapMap to explore why Japanese and Chinese people have thick hair: The cross-sectional area of East Asian hair fibers averages about 30% larger than that of Africans and 50% larger than that of ...
Do Asians need deodorant? ›The A allele is very common in East Asians, and as expected, most people in this population don't need to use deodorant. And so they don't use it—it's estimated that only 7% of North East Asians regularly use deodorant.
What race is the most muscular? ›Ethnicity effects
Among the women, African Americans had the largest expected mean SM values, followed by Whites, Hispanics, and Asians. A similar pattern is present in men, in whom African American men had the largest SM and Whites the smallest SM estimates.
They found the darkest skin in the Nilo-Saharan pastoralist populations of eastern Africa, such as the Mursi and Surma, and the lightest skin in the San of southern Africa, as well as many shades in between, as in the Agaw people of Ethiopia.
What culture has the darkest skin? ›
(The native people of Bougainville, Papua New Guinea, have some of the darkest skin pigmentation in the world.) Although these people are widely separated they share similar physical environments.
Why is black hair so difficult? ›In fact, African hair actually produces more oils than Caucasian and Asian hair. However, due to the tight curls, the oil doesn't spread evenly along the hair fiber. Without lubrication, the fibers can become dry. This causes the strands to become more brittle, which contributes to the hair's texture.
How common is black hair in Caucasian? ›What is the most common hair color in Caucasian? About 75% have natural black hair, this being a dominant hair color. About 17% have brown hair, depending somewhat on where you draw the defining line.
Where does curly hair originate from? ›Curly hair is determined by factors you inherit from your biological mother and your biological father. There's no single gene that determines the way that your hair looks. The way your hair looks when you're born is also a clue into the genetic information you'd pass to your own children if you have them.
What hair color is the thickest? ›A: In very general terms, the darker the hair, the thicker it is and the lower the density (hairs per area). For example, Asians have the darkest hair, the highest hair diameter and the lowest density. Scandinavian blonds have very high hair density and the fine (diameter) hair.
What age is hair the thickest? ›"Your hair bundles peak at around 12 years old." Then, sadly, as you age, bundles of four become bundles of three, bundles of three become bundles of two, and it's all downhill from there. End result: hair appears thinner and less full.
Are thick hair good or thin? ›Thicker strands of hair are more likely to have a defect, making them more prone to breakage, the researchers believe. Lustrous, thick hair may be desirable but it is not necessarily the strongest. Scientists said thin hair tends to be stronger than thicker locks, after looking at the way they break.
Why don't Asians have body hair? ›this actually goes back 35,000 years ago from a genetic mutation. the EDAR gene which is the gene that is responsible for developing the skin. was actually found to be mutated in Asians. this gene is responsible for making a protein that creates hair.
Why do I have more body hair than other females? ›Hirsutism is linked to hormones called androgens. It can happen if the level of these hormones increases or if your body becomes more sensitive to them. The most common cause is polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). This is a condition affecting the ovaries that can also cause symptoms such as acne and irregular periods.
Why are some body hairs thicker than others? ›Hair follicles come in different shapes and sizes, affecting hair texture and width. Some people have wider follicles-and therefore, thicker hair strands-than other people.
Who is the hairiest man in the world? ›
Larry Gomez was born with hypertrichosis. With 98% of his body covered in hair, he's known as “Wolf Boy.” “I have to live with this because I have it,” he says. The condition caused him to be bullied as a child.
Why do Asians have the thickest hair? ›The cuticle layer in Asians is thicker with more compact cuticle cells than that in Caucasians. Asian hair generally exhibits the strongest mechanical properties, and its cross-sectional area is determined greatly by genetic variations, particularly from the ectodysplasin A receptor gene.
Why we should not remove body hair? ›Choosing whether or not to shave your body hair is a very personal decision, and there may be pros and cons to each choice. There are some benefits to not shaving like better sex, a reduced chance for skin infections, and a more regulated body temperature.
Why is Indian hair so thick? ›Q- Why do Indians have thick hair? Regular oil massage, use of DIY homemade packs and usage of natural ingredients like gooseberry, henna, shikakai are the key reasons behind Indian thick hair. Apart from this, natural yoga techniques like Balayam have been used by many to increase hair regrowth.
Is excessive body hair genetic? ›Familial hirsutism (which means excess hair is inherited) is perfectly normal and is not associated with any underlying medical condition.
Is having thick hair a good thing? ›Thicker strands of hair are more likely to have a defect, making them more prone to breakage, the researchers believe. Lustrous, thick hair may be desirable but it is not necessarily the strongest. Scientists said thin hair tends to be stronger than thicker locks, after looking at the way they break.
Is hair thickness genetic? ›Genetic factors appear to play a major role in determining hair texture—straight, wavy, or curly—and the thickness of individual strands of hair. Studies suggest that different genes influence hair texture and thickness in people of different ethnic backgrounds.
Where is body hair thickest? ›Aprocrine glands have an abundance of hair follicles, which is why underarm hair can grow so thick. As for the rest of your body hair, the hair is rooted in eccrine sweat glands, which primarily control temperature. Hair follicles are more dispersed here, so it's much finer.
Who is the hairiest man in USA? ›“Some people ask if it's itchy," Larry Gomez says. "No, this is my normal life." Larry Gomez is teaching the world about loving the hair he's in. With 98 percent of his entire body covered, the California man is officially the world's hairiest.
Why do men have so much body hair? ›Hormones called androgens, which are present in both sexes, stimulate body hair (known as vellus hair) to darken and coarsen. Men have higher levels of androgens than women, so their body hair tends to be more prolific.
Who has the most chest hair in the world? ›
The longest chest hair (male) is 28.20 cm (11.10 in), and was achieved by Vittorio Lullo (Italy) in…