Our scalp hair grows majorly in 4 phases during its own natural cycle of growth, rest, and shed. The Four Stages of the Hair growth Cycle: Anagen, Catagen, Telogen & Exogen
What is the Anagen Phase?
Also known as the ‘Growth Phase’ or ‘Active Phase’, the Anagen Phase is when the cells in the root of your hair are most rapidly dividing so more new hair is formed. During the Anagen Phase, your hair grows around half an inch a month which is about 6 inches a year, and faster in the summer than in winter. This phase of the Hair Growth Cycle lasts an average of 3-5 years — so a full-length hair growth averaging 18 to 30 inches. The Anagen Phase is generally longer in people of Asian origin, and can last as much as 7 years — meaning your hair may be able to grow up to 3 feet long!
What is the Catagen Phase?
Following the Anagen Phase, your hair cycle enters a short transitional phase known as the Catagen Phase, which signals the end of active hair growth and cuts individual hairs off from the blood supply and from the cells that produce new hair. Approximately 3% of all hairs are in this stage at any time. The catagen phase of the hair approximately lasts 10 days or so.
What is the Telogen Phase?
The third stage of your natural hair growth cycle is the Telogen Phase, a resting period when strands remain in their follicles but are not actively growing. An estimated 10-15% of your hairs are in the Telogen Phase at any given moment. The telogen phase approximately lasts for 3 months or 100 days or so.
What is the Catagen Phase?
The final stage of the Hair Growth Cycle, when individual hair strands are released from their follicles and fall out. Now the whole process can begin again!
What Happens When the Hair Growth Cycle is Disrupted?
Each hair follicle is independent and goes through the growth cycle at different times, otherwise, all your hair would fall out at once! Instead, you only shed a certain number of hairs a day – 80 to 100 hairs on a healthy head of hair. Hair loss, hair thinning and problems with hair growth may occur when your growth cycle is disrupted. This can be triggered by conditions such as metabolic imbalances, illness or improper nutrition. For example, around 12 weeks after restrictive dieting or a high fever, you may experience telogen effluvium which is a sudden diffuse hair fall. This occurs when your anagen (growth) phase is cut short, and many hairs enter the telogen (resting) phase at the same time – resulting in increased hair fall 3 months later during the exogen (shedding) phase. If your Hair growth cycle is constantly disrupted, for example, not supported with good nutrition, you may find that your hair will not grow as long as it used to. This is because your hairs are never allowed to stay in the anagen phase long enough to reach the desired length. Visit MAX hair clinic to know more and learn about your hair loss and remedies.
