Anyone with any hair loss will tell you how befuddling hair growth can be. If only it were as simple as watering the hedgerows, we’d all be walking around full heads of luscious locks.
A part of why it can be so confusing is that there isn’t just one hair growth cycle stage. In fact, there are four distinct stages in the hair growth life cycle – anagen, catagen, telogen, and exogen.
Understanding these isn’t crucial – you can tackle hair loss without knowing your telogen from your catagen. But it can help you if you’re on a hair regrowth journey understand exactly what is happening.
So, here’s a run-down of the four hair growth cycle phases, the factors that can influence them, and what you can do to help your growth.
Anagen phase – the growth stage
The anagen phase is the active growth period of hair follicles, during which the hair shaft is formed and extends.
This phase can last from 2 to 7 years, depending on individual genetics and health factors.
Approximately 85%–90% of the hairs on one's head are in the anagen phase at any given time.
During the anagen phase, your hair grows around half an inch a month, which is about 6 inches a year. Fun fact: Anagen phase hair grows faster in the summer than in winter.
Catagen phase – the transition stage
The Catagen phase is a short transitional period that lasts about 2–3 weeks.
During this phase, hair growth stops, and the hair follicle shrinks and detaches from the blood supply, forming what is known as club hair.
This phase allows the follicle to renew itself before entering the next stage.
Telogen phase – the resting stage
At about three weeks after the onset of the catagen stage, old hairs start to enter a resting stage called the telogen phase.
This resting period of the hair follicle lasts about four weeks. During this phase, hair remains in the follicle without growing.
Exogen Phase – the shedding stage
The exogen phase is the final phase of the hair growth cycle, however, it’s more of an extension of (or a part of) the telogen phase.
Losing 50 to 100 hairs per day during the exogen phase is completely normal.
The exogen phase can last several months, with new hairs growing in the follicles as old hairs fall away.
Factors that influence the hair growth cycle
Genetics plays a big role in how the hair growth cycle works. However, stress can also play a role with chronic stress pushing more hairs into the telogen phase, leading to increased shedding – a process called telogen effluvium.
This is because the excess stress in your system tricks your body into mistakenly attacking your hair follicles, which can lead to hair loss or thinning.
Telogen effluvium is less gradual than male pattern hair loss and doesn't manifest in the same way. For example, patchy areas can appear at any part of your scalp and won't regress consistently, like androgenetic alopecia. This is a clear indicator that stress is the reason for your hair loss.
Health conditions like nutritional deficiencies, hormonal imbalances, and certain medical conditions can also disrupt the hair growth cycle.
Sons Hair Growth Complex and the hair growth cycle
Sons’ Hair Growth Complex is a multivitamin specifically formulated by Sons’ team of experts to provide you with the nutrients you need for healthy hair.
One of its main ingredients is Anagain, which is sourced from pea sprouts and rich in phytonutrients. Studies have found it increases hair growth in the anagen phase by 78%.
It also contains magnesium which helps regulate the hair growth cycle, and saw palmetto, which inhibits the uptake of a hormone called DHT that contributes to a shortened hair cycle.
All of our blog articles are reviewed by our Medical Director before publication.
