If you are looking to boost hair growth, it can help to understand its process fully. While the hair growth cycle might seem simple, there are four main stages, and knowing what these are can help you solve common issues and help your hair to flourish.
The first three phases involve the actual growth of the hair, while the fourth phase is when your “old” hair sheds, ready for the cycle to begin again. Here we look more in-depth at the stages and what you can do to maintain good hair health.
Stage 1 – The Anagen Phase
The anagen phase is the most active phase and is when the cells in the root of your hair divide rapidly, generating hair growth and forming new hair strands. This phase lasts an average of three to five years, and your hair grows between 0.5cm-1.7cm every month. Those with long hair tend to have a longer active phase of growth which explains why some people’s hair stops once it reaches a certain length.
Stage 2 – The Catagen Phase
The catagen phase is the second phase in the cycle and tends to be known as the transitional phase. This is because it’s when active hair growth stops and is separated from the bottom of the follicle. Around 3% of your hair is in this phase at any time and tends to last around ten days.
Stage 3 – The Telogen Phase
The Telogen phase is the resting period when your hair strands remain in their follicles. Although they are no longer growing or connected to your blood supply, they don’t fall out at this time. This stage lasts around three months and affects about 10-15% of your hair at a time.
Stage 4 – Exogen Phase
The exogen phase is the final stage in the hair growth process and is when you shed your hair from the scalp. This is often thought of as an extension of the telogen phase as hair is no longer growing and instead preparing for a new cycle. The exogen phase lasts around two to five months, and you can expect to shed around 50 to 100 hairs a day.
Tips for Maintaining Good Hair Growth
If you experience hair thinning or hair loss, this could be because your hair growth cycle has been disrupted. This could be due to illness, poor nutrition, or an imbalance in your body. To help your hair grow and assist with the hair cycle, there are some things you can do.
Eat a balanced diet packed with iron, fiber, vitamins, and protein
Minimize stress as this can cause your hair to reach the telogen phase much faster and stay here for longer
Choose hair care products that are kind to your hair and scalp
Massage your scalp to aid with blood flow
Have regular trims to get rid of split ends and thinning hair strands
If you’re struggling with hair loss, Genesis II can help. Click here to schedule a free consultation.
Photo Credit: Engin_Akyurt Via Pixabay
