Hair Follicle Formation
Have you ever wondered just how does hair grow? Knowing about hair follicle formation and hair growth can be an aid to better hair care.
Hair follicle formation1 takes place before the start of the hair growth cycle. A shedding exogen phase occurs apart from the hair growth cycle. During this phase, one of several hairs from a single follicle may exit.
The Three Phases of Hair Growth
All human hair growth follows a specific cycle of three phases:
- Anagen or growth phase
- Catagen or regressing phase
- Telogen or resting phase
Each phase has several sub-phases. The actual time these phases last, varies from person to person. Different hair color and follicle shape affects the timings of these phases.
Anagen Phase of Hair Growth
Most of the time, 90% of hair follicles are in the anagen or active growth phase. During this period, the cells in the hair root are rapidly dividing, adding to the hair shaft. The hair grows about one-half inch every 28 days. The scalp’s active growth phase lasts for 2-7 years. Genetic play a huge part in determining how long this stage will last.
Catagen Phase of Hair Growth
When the anagen phase ends, the follicle then starts the catagen or regressing phase. This is a transitional stage that signals the end of the active growth of the hair follicle. Usually, about 10-14% of hair follicles are in the catagen phase. This phase lasts approximately 2-3 weeks, while a club hair is formed.
Telogen Phase of Hair Growth
Normally, only 1-2% of hair follicles are in the telogen or resting phase. This phase lasts approximately 3 months. When a club hair is formed, this signals the end of the telogen phase. Club hair is a dead, fully keratinized hair. About 51-100 club hairs are shed daily from a normal healthy scalp.
Knowledge really is power. Now that you know about hair follicle formation and hair growth:
Be empowered to take care of your hair and grow it to its full potential.
1Hair Follicle, source on file.
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