THE THREE MAIN PHASES OF HAIR GROWTH

1. Anagen Phase – The Growth Stage

This is the active growth phase of the hair. During this stage, the cells in the hair follicle divide rapidly and the hair continues to grow.

This phase usually lasts between 2 and 7 years, and it largely determines the maximum length the hair can reach. On average, hair grows about 1–1.3 cm per month.

On a healthy scalp, approximately 85–90% of the hair strands are in this phase.

During this period, several factors are extremely important:

• proper nutrient supply

• good blood circulation to the hair follicles

• adequate cellular energy supply

If any of these are insufficient, hair growth may slow down or stop earlier than expected.

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2. Catagen Phase – The Transition Stage

This is a short transitional phase lasting only a few weeks, during which hair growth stops.

Cell division in the hair follicle slows down, the hair strand detaches from its nutrient supply, and the follicle gradually enters a resting state.

This phase typically lasts 2–3 weeks, and only a small percentage of hair strands are in this stage at any given time.

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3. Telogen Phase – The Resting Stage

During this phase the hair no longer grows, but it remains in the scalp.

The telogen phase usually lasts 2–4 months, after which the hair falls out and a new hair begins to grow in its place.

Losing 50–100 hairs per day is completely natural.
The problem arises when too many hairs enter this phase at the same time.

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What Can Cause Hair Loss?

Hair loss can have many different causes, and often several factors are involved at the same time.

The most common causes include:

Stress

Long-term stress can disrupt the natural hair growth cycle. In such cases, many hair strands prematurely enter the telogen phase, which may lead to increased hair shedding a few months later.

Hormonal Changes

Certain life situations can significantly affect hair growth, such as:

• after childbirth

• during menopause

• thyroid disorders

Hormonal changes can cause the growth phase of the hair to shorten.

Nutrient Deficiencies

Hair is one of the fastest-dividing tissues in the human body, which means it is highly sensitive to nutrient availability.

Key nutrients include:

• amino acids

• zinc

• B-vitamins

• certain minerals

If the body does not receive enough of these nutrients, hair growth may slow down and the hair strands may become weaker.

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When Hair Doesn’t Fall Out – It Breaks

In many cases the problem is not classic hair loss, but rather poor hair quality.

In such situations, the hair is often:

• thin

• structurally weak

• prone to breakage

• unable to grow long

This happens because the hair strand is not built with a strong enough structure.

The main structural component of hair is keratin, which is formed from amino acids. If the hair follicle does not receive enough of these building blocks, the hair strand becomes weaker.

The result:

• hair breaks more easily

• the ends become thinner

• the hair cannot grow long

For this reason, many people feel that their hair “doesn’t grow”, while in reality it is growing continuously — the strands simply break during the growth process.

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Hair Health Starts from Within

The condition of the hair does not depend only on external hair care. The function of the hair follicles is strongly influenced by the body’s nutrient supply.

Healthy hair growth requires:

• adequate nutrient intake

• a balanced lifestyle

• support for the optimal function of the hair follicles

Hair health is therefore not determined only on the surface of the hair — it actually begins at the level of the hair follicles, beneath the scalp.