The Hair Growth Cycle

Healthy hair is constantly changing. Although it may appear that your hair grows continuously, each individual hair follicle follows its own natural cycle of growth, transition, rest, and shedding. These cycles occur independently of one another, which is why you can lose hair every day without noticing a reduction in overall hair density.

Anagen (Growth Phase)
The anagen phase is the active period of hair growth and typically lasts between two and seven years, although this varies from person to person and is influenced by genetics. Around 85 to 90 percent of healthy scalp hairs are in this phase at any given time. The longer a hair remains in anagen, the longer it has the potential to grow.

Catagen (Transition Phase)
Catagen is a short transitional stage that lasts approximately two to three weeks. During this phase, the hair follicle gradually shrinks and separates from its blood supply, signaling the end of active growth.

Telogen (Resting Phase)
The telogen phase lasts for approximately two to four months. During this time, the hair remains anchored within the follicle but is no longer actively growing. While the follicle rests, it begins preparing to produce a new hair beneath the surface of the scalp.

Exogen (Shedding Phase)
Exogen is the stage during which the resting hair is naturally released from the follicle. Shedding between 50 and 100 hairs each day is considered normal for most healthy adults. As one hair is shed, a new hair is often already beginning to emerge from the same follicle, allowing the cycle to continue uninterrupted.

Problems arise when this natural cycle becomes disrupted. In some conditions, a larger-than-normal number of hairs enter the resting and shedding phases at the same time, leading to noticeable hair loss. In others, hair follicles gradually produce finer and shorter hairs over time, eventually resulting in visible thinning. Certain inflammatory conditions can permanently damage the follicle, preventing new hair from growing altogether.

Understanding how the normal hair growth cycle works provides the foundation for understanding why hair loss occurs. Every diagnosis affects the hair cycle in a different way, which is why identifying the underlying cause is essential before deciding on the most appropriate treatment.

If you feel you are experiencing unnatural shedding, thinning or patchy hair loss and are worried about future hair loss  please  consult with a hair loss specialist. Early diagnosis and treatment gives you the best options at preserving your existing hair, repairing and reviving weakened and damaged follicles and avoids potential permanent loss. Read more about androgenetic alopecia, the most common form of hair loss.