What is the hair growth cycle?

What is the hair growth cycle?

Marilyn Sherlock (Trichologist) gives expert video advice on: Can you effect the speed of the hair growth cycle?; How long does it take for hair to grow?; How can hair breakage be prevented? and more...

The hair growth cycle is a 5 year one, generally, for Europeans. It can be as little as two years, or as much as seven years, depending on your race. That is the actual growing phase, which we call the anagen phase. At the end of that anagen phase, the blood supply to the hair is severed. The hair then rests for two weeks in what we call the catagen phase. At the end of that two weeks, the hair then moves onto the third and final phase, which is the telogen phase. The hair is then, at that stage, waiting to fall out. It can't get out because of its shape and the way its attached to the hair follicle, so it sits there for approximately three months, and then either falls out or is pushed out by the next hair follicle.