Understanding Hair Growth Cycles
If you’ve been trying to get your hair under control or even grow it out, then one of the things that you’ve probably heard about more than once, is growth cycles. Okay, what does that mean, and how does it affect your hair, exactly? Well, the first thing you need to know is that the hair grows from the follicle, or root, which is right beneath the skin. Contrary to popular belief it does NOT grow from the pores. The hair in the follicle is then fed through blood vessels, which provide it with the nourishment it needs. Anyone who uses a ceramic flat iron or any other implement knows that hair can be a bit of a pain, and that there is more to it than meets the eye. Let’s take a look at the different hair growth cycles and most importantly, what they mean to you.
Hair Growth Cycles and What They Mean to You
As we said before, hair grows from the follicle rather than the pore, and it happens in three different stages. We’re going to talk a bit about these phases and how they work. A
nagen Phase – This is the growth phase, starting in your papilla, and lasts anywhere from two to six years. Your genetics will determine how long the stage lasts, but in most cases, it stays for anywhere from two to six years. In this phase, the cells in the papilla will divide to produce new fibers, and then the follicle will bury itself into your dermal layer. 85% of the hairs on your head are in the anagen phase at any time. For this reason, you’re going to see some hairs that are longer than others which can be problematic but entirely workable.
Catagen Phase – Only 1% of the hair on the body is affected by the catagen phase at any given time, but one of the first signs is the loss of melanin production in the hair bulb. This is also known as the transitional phase and it allows the follicle to renew itself. This phase only lasts for about two weeks, and at this time the follicle will shrink, ultimately causing the hair shaft to be pushed up. Keep in mind that the length of terminal fibers will increase during this phase.
Telogen Phase – This is the resting phase, and the follicle will stay dormant between one to four months. Only ten percent of the hairs on a person’s head is in this growth phase at any point, and the cells in the follicle channel will proceed to grow normally. They may, in fact, accumulate around the base of the hair, keeping the hair in good shape without putting any additional strain on the body. The hair will eventually cease being in the telogen phase, starting to grow once again. Generally, the Telogen phase is known as ‘shedding’ and is perfectly natural.
Later in Life
Later in life, the length of the anagen stage will decrease, which means your hair could become weaker following every single cycle. That said, it is critical that your diet consists of specific vitamins and nutrients just to ensure normal growth. Remember, if your hair enters the resting phase early, then you could see excess shedding, which is never a good thing. Knowledge of hair growth cycles is critical if you’re going to use a ceramic flat iron or any of the other HSI professional tools – keep that in mind and make sure that you’re taking advantage of the information that we’ve provided you. Your hair is an essential part of your look, make sure you know how it works and most importantly, know how to treat it right!