This is a guide to understanding the hair growth cycle. Each strand of your hair is formed in a hair bulb which is in your hair follicle. The follicle is where the hair is made. Throughout all of the combing, washing, heat, and tugging that your hair shaft endures (the part of the hair you can see), the hair continues to grow out of the bulb. The hair then falls out of the bulb, the follicle experiences a brief resting period and begins to grow a new hair. This is the basic hair cycle.

Stages of the Hair Cycle

Each of your hairs go through three specific stages. These stages are:

• 1. Anagen Phase or the growing phase.
• 2. Catagen Phase or the intermediate phase.
• 3. Telogen Phase or the shedding phase.

Let’s look at each phase in more detail.

The Anagen Phase is when a new hair starts to grow in the hair bulb. This growth stage typically last from 2 – 7 years. Hair usually grow at a rate of 1 centimeter per month.

The Catagen Phase is the period that the follicle takes a rest and stop making hair. This commonly last approximately 1 – 4 weeks. During this time the follicle moves closer to the surface of your scalp.

The Telogen Phase is when new hair starts to grow from the follicle, pushing out the old hair. This old hair is shed during normal hair care, like washing, combing or even removing your hat. This shedding phase last approximately 3 – 4 months. This is simliar to when a child’s old teeth are shed and replaced by new teeth.

Hairs are lubricated by a natural oil (sebum) produced by the sebaceous glands of your follicles.

Tags: anagen, catagen, nappy hair care, natural hair growth cycle, telogen
Filed under: Nappy Hair