THE HAIR CYCLE

 

 

VITAL CYCLE

 

Healthy hair growth is part of a natural pattern. Everyday new hair is grown and everyday hair is shed, this growth pattern is constant. On average each person has between 100.000 to 150.000 hair follicles where hair grows and then later is shed.

 

There are 3 phase in the vital cycle:

 

1* PHASE Anagen - Growth

Anagen is the period of active growth when the cells in the germinal matrix at the base of the hair are constantly dividing and pushing up and will progressively become hard and flat (Keratinization). Hair grows actively, on average 1,5/ 2 cm per month. The majority of the hair is Anagen.

 

2* PHASE Catagen - Transition

It is the stage when growth slows and stops, but the hair is still retained in the follicle. It is a short stage, which lasts from 3 to 4 weeks, as the follicle separates from the base of the hair shaft and a club hair formed.

 

3*  PHASE Telogen - Resting

This stage lasts approximately three months. The club hair stays in the shortened follicle, held by the inner root sheath. It is shed at the end of the telogen stage, when the follicle lengthens to restore contact with the blood supply or dermal appilla.

The new hair then starts to form, pushing out the old hair and entering the anagen stage, and the cycle is continued. This is defined by the A/T * ratio.

The term hair loss is used when the quantity of hair follicles in Telogen exceeds those in Anagen.

 

*if weekly loss exceeds 50-70 per day

 

 

The Vital Cycle