Hair is a very important part of our body. One that we are proud of usually and also worried about the most. The growth and loss of hair seems to be a very natural process, but there are different phases of hair growth. These phases help in understanding individual stage better and prevent any loss of hair.
The phases of hair growth are namely anagen, catagen, telogen and the final exogen. The initial three phases are focused on growth and maturation of hair while the last one is shedding of the hair. It is often noted that each of these phases are influences by variety of factors like age, nutrition and health of the individual.
1. Anagen
This is the initial stage in the hair growth. This is also the longest one lasting for about 3 to 5 years. Different people experience different growth spurt in this phase. Even with different hairs all over the body, the growth rate is different. The phase marks growth of hair out of hair follicles and the continuous growth up until cutting or natural lifespan. In a usual sense, over 90% of your hair on head are in this phase.
2. Catagen
This is known as the transition phase. It begins when the anagen phase ends and lasts for up to 10 days or more. This phase is marked shrinking of hair follicles resulting in a slower hair growth rate. It is noted that less than 5% of your total hair are in this phase at a given time.
3. Telogen
This stage is widely known as the resting phase. This phase lasts for around 3 months at a time with over 15% of your hair in this stage. This phase is rightly names as resting, as the hair is not necessarily growing or falling off. It is also a phase in which hair follicles form new hairs which are passed on to their catagen phase eventually.
4. Exogen
This is widely known as a shedding phase. Scientists have actually separated the telogen and exogen phases as shedding time for hair. The phase is marked with hair loss along with washing and brushing. The normal rate of hair loss a day during this phase is 50 – 100 strands. This stage lasts preferably for over 2 to 5 months.
Maintenance of hair through these four phases is extremely important. Healthy hair is usually a sign of balanced hormone levels, good nutrition, exercise and other factors of healthy lifestyle. The other factor that influences hair is the routine of hair care. Make sure you are using the right shampoo, conditioner for your hair. The right hair care strategies will help with different hair types and their overall growth. A healthy lifestyle of low stress, proper diet, and gentle hair care should help promote healthy hair growth for a long time.