Growing long, beautiful hair takes time and care. We know that your scalp plays a vital role in creating a healthy environment for your hair to grow. It’s now time to look at where that growth starts—the root.

The root of it all

The follicle is what houses the hair shaft—the part of the root that rests just above the surface of your skin with about a hundred thousand on your scalp—making up that gorgeous head of hair.

As we age, our hair follicles naturally space out. That’s why in our youth, we seem to have more dense, full hair.

Hair growth cycles

Hair grows at a rate of about half an inch a month, and each strand goes through three stages of growth. You may, however, feel like you’re losing more hair at certain times, and this could simply be due to more of your hair going through the final telogen stage at once.

There are many perfectly natural reasons for losing a lot of hair at once, but first, let’s look deeper into the three stages of hair growth.

Anagen Phase

At the base of the follicle, the hair bulb actively produces a protein called keratin that pushes the existing hair shaft up and out of the scalp. This process is known as the “growing” period, or the anagen stage, and is the longest of the three but it's important to note that the length of the anagen phase can vary among individuals. Genetics can play a large role in how long the anagen stage lasts, as well as the condition of your scalp, haircare, and overall health. Even the wrong haircare products can weaken the hair follicles and lead to a shorter anagen phase, which is why it’s essential to nourish the hair and scalp with quality hair care products like Hair La Vie.

So, if you want to grow really long and lush hair, you’ll need to focus on your anagen cycle to support growth and renewal.

Catagen Phase

The “resting” phase of hair growth is called the catagen phase. This is when your hair is transitioning from anagen and growth to telogen and you’ll see some normal shedding. The time period for this is very short and only lasts a couple of weeks.

The follicle regresses, narrows, and shrinks, which reduces the delivery of nutrients and oxygen to the hair shaft. The hair shaft becomes disconnected from the hair root bulb, ceasing further growth and losing its anchor within the scalp. It’s completely normal to see a few hairs in your brush.

During catagen, all hair growth has stopped. The outer root sheath then adheres to the root of the hair to become what is known as “club hair” because of the club shape it forms.

It’s completely normal to see a few club hairs in your brush as opposed to broken hairs, and this can even help you determine if you’re shedding hair naturally or if it’s breaking prematurely.

Telogen Phase

Following the dormant phase, the follicle enters what is the final shedding phase. Below the surface, the hair follicle undergoes a transition as it prepares for the next cycle. Towards the end of the telogen phase, the hair shaft is gradually pushed out of the follicle. During this phase, your hair will fall out or “shed.”
The duration of the telogen phase typically lasts for around 2 to 4 months. It's important to note that individual hair follicles enter the telogen phase at different times, which is why a mix of growing and shedding hairs is normal at any given time.
It's perfectly normal for your hair cycles to fluctuate based on external factors. Things like normal stress and an abrupt change in your diet can cause enough of a shock for this to happen. The key takeaway is that disruptions in your hair cycle are manageable.

Once the hair has fallen out, the anagen cycle will begin again, and new hair will begin to grow. You can help give your new hair a healthy start by adding a product like Clinical Formula Hair Vitamins from Hair La Vie to your hair care regimen that will give you optimal support on your 90 day journey.

Factors that affect hair cycling

Several factors can impact the duration of each phase of the hair cycling process. Your genetics determine the general length of the growth phase, while age influences the overall duration of hair growth cycles, with shorter growth cycles as you age. Hormonal imbalances and nutrition play a crucial role, as a balanced diet supports healthy hair follicles. Understanding and addressing these factors are important for promoting optimal hair growth.

How long does hair cycling take?

Each phase has a different duration, and the entire process can vary from person to person. The anagen phase is the active growth phase that can last as little as a few months and with the right support, can last up to 2 years. The catagen phase is a transitional stage that lasts approximately 2 to 3 weeks, and the telogen phase is the resting phase, lasting around 2 to 4 months. All in all, you want to be clued into your body and aware of different factors that may contribute to your hair cycle and your hair journey, especially when trying new hair products. Always remember that it's important to be consistent with nutrition and nourishing hair care for at least 90 days.

Final thoughts

Knowing the three stages of hair growth gives you a deeper understanding of how your hair functions and how incredibly vital the anagen growth phase is.

If you’re looking to give your hair the jumpstart it deserves, it's important to keep all this in mind. The good news is your hair will continue to grow—it just takes time and the right products.