The Hair Growth Cycle

If you go for laser hair removal, you are going to hear a lot about your hair growth cycle. Many of us have no idea that hair grows in cycles. We think that hair grows, then it falls out and that is that. However, hair grows in cycles and the hair we have when we are 10, is not the same hair we have when we are 20, 30, 40 or 50. It is very important to know your hair growth cycle so that it can be easier for you to have your hair removed in the most efficient manner. Not including the shedding phase when the hair falls out, there are three main phases to hair growth in the hair growth cycle.

The Anagen Phase

The first stage of the hair growth cycle is the Anagen Phase. This is the phase when your hair is growing, usually by about half a foot every single year. Usually, about 87 percent of the hairs on your body are in the Anagen Phase at any one time. Your hair grows non-stop during this phase and the growing will continue for about two to seven years. During this stage, your blood is providing your hair with nutrients and minerals that allows your hair to grow. The more nutrients and minerals you have, the faster your hair will grow.

The Catagen Phase

The next stage in the hair growth cycle is the Catagen Phase. This is when your hair stops growing and begins to rest. It is a very short phase and it only lasts about two to four weeks. During this phase, your hair will detach itself from the follicle so it will no longer be getting nutrients from the blood stream. Over the two to four weeks, your hair will shrink to about one-sixth the size and it will push upwards to the top of the skin surface. At any one time three percent of your hair is in this stage.

The Telogen Phase

This is the last phase before your hair falls out. This is when your hair falls out and is replaced by new hair from the follicle below. The hair is literally pushed out by the hair beneath. About 10 percent of your hair will be in this phase at any one time and you will shed about 100 hairs every single day. Usually this phase will last about three months and the hair will become weak and thin as it gets ready to fall out. Once the hair falls out, the hair below it will take its place.

The reason that you have to go for multiple treatments with laser hair removal is because the technician can remove most of the hair but if your hair is in the Telogen Phase, then there will be about 10 percent of the hair that is going to be re-growing. This is the reason why you have to have your laser hair removal sessions done on a yearly basis after the initial batch of sessions.

Read more answers to your questions at our laser hair removal FAQ page.