The 4 Stages of Hair Growth Cycle

The growing of hair may seem like a simple process, but it consists of four distinct phases – anagen, catagen, telogen, and exogen. The first three phases involve the growth and maturation of hair, while the last stage is where we start shedding hair to let new hair take its place.

It is essential to properly understand these four stages to understand how to stop hair falling out and have steady and rich hair growth.

Anagen: This is the first stage of the hair growth cycle, also called the growing or active phase. It generally takes 3 to 5 years for an average person’s hair to grow – which is why it is the most extended phase of the hair growth cycle. In this stage, your hair follicles basically push your hair out to grow until they reach their lifespan or are cut and fall out.

Catagen: This stage starts when the growth stage of the hair ends. In this stage, the hair is cut from the active blood supply, your hair follicles shrink, and the growth slows down – it lasts around ten days.

Telogen: Telogen is also called the resting phase, where hair strands remain in the follicle but do not grow actively. In this stage, hair doesn’t grow or fall out. It usually lasts around three months. In Telogen, new hair forms in follicles that are pushed out in the anagen phase.

Exogen: The last stage of the hair growth cycle is called the Exogen phase, where hair falls out from the scalp. This stage goes on for 2 to 5 months. During this phase, hair shedding is helped by washing and brushing of the hair, and it is normal to shed 50-100 hair every day.

How to keep your hair healthy throughout the growth cycle

Having dense and healthy hair hugely depends on your age, hormones, and genetics, which is majorly beyond our control, but there are some strategies you can follow to keep your hair healthy:

Healthy diet: Proteins play an essential role in our hair’s growth, and that’s why you must increase your protein intake. Some protein-rich foods you can eat to keep your hair healthy are lean meats, fish, beans, and legumes. Along with proteins, it is also important to have a proper intake of Vitamin C, Vitamin D, and Iron and Zinc to ensure healthy hair growth.

Proper hair care routine: If you want to keep your hair healthy, it is extremely important you choose the right shampoo, conditioner, and serum for which you need to have a proper understanding of the type of hair you have. Once you know your texture of hair – oily, rough, or dry – you can choose the hair products that best suit your hair type. Furthermore, try avoiding hot water to wash your hair and never comb it when wet. Hair is the most sensitive when they are wet, which is why it is important to towel dry it gently.

Use hair masks: Using hair masks once a week will keep your hair smooth and hydrated. Moreover, if you style your hair using heat tools regularly, it is better if you start using these hair masks once or twice a week to keep the hair moisturized and healthy. How to choose these hair masks? With various options available in the market, choosing a suitable hair mask can be tricky. You can narrow down your choices by looking at the key ingredients. The most healthy and nourishing ingredients for your hair are argan oil, coconut oil, and aloe.