Hair Growth Stages

All of us would always want to look good and attractive. Let’s all face it; we don’t want to go out of our house looking untidy, especially our hair. Our hair is the only part of our body that everyone spends more time and money in salons to keep it presentable and healthy as possible. We see them grow, trimmed and even fall. Have you ever wondered what happens in your hair growth?

Our hair grows about a centimeter a month, roughly about half an inch. Hair growth undergoes three stages. First is the anagen phase is the growth phase in which the growth cells in the papilla rapidly divides and produces hair shafts which becomes keratinized as it gets out of the follicle into the pore, then the follicle grows deeper to get nourishment. This phase lasts for two to eight years. People who have long anagen phase can grow very long hair. Next is the catagen or the transitional phase. This is a renewal process wherein the follicle is degraded and stops growing hair but does not fall out. The hair follicle shrinks, the lower part is destroyed, the dermal papilla breaks away, the bulb detaches from the blood supply and the hair shaft eventually is pushed up as the follicle disintegrates. The last phase is the telogen phase or the resting phase. During this time, the hair still does not grow but remains attached to the follicle while the dermal papilla is in a resting phase. This phase lasts for two to four months and about 10%-15% of all hairs are in this phase at any one time. After the telogen phase, the hair goes back to the anagen phase making a cycle. New hair shaft is formed and the old hair is pushed out and lost.

Knowing the hair growth has its benefits. There is a variety of factors that could cause hair loss, whether it may be permanent or temporary. Having knowledge about the phases that your hair undergoes makes you easily understand the diagnosis of your hair loss and the treatment you must choose to renew your hair and how it affects your hair. That way you can continue having beautiful hair for the rest of your life.