Ever wonder what’s actually going on beneath the surface of your scalp? Whether you’re growing out your natural length, prepping for extensions, or just curious about why shedding happens, understanding your hair growth cycle is a total game-changer.
Let’s break it down into three stages, in a simple kind of way.
- Anagen- the Growth Stage (aka the hustle era)
This is where the magic happens. During the anagen phase, your hair is actively growing from the follicle. Each strand has its own timeline, but this phase typically lasts 3-8 years.
What’s happening here:
Your follicles are fully alive and pumping out keratin.
Most of the hair on your head (about 85-90%) is in this stage.
Longer Anagen phase = longer hair potential.
How to support it:
Nourishing scalp care (think gentle exfoliation + hydration).
A balanced diet with protein + vitamins, minerals.
Regular trims to keep ends healthy so growth shows.
2. Catagen- The Transition Stage (the short, moody middle phase)
This one is quick- only 2-3 weeks.
What is happening here:
Growth stops.
The follicle shrinks and detaches from the blood supply.
Only about 1% of your hair is in this phase at any given time.
3. Telogen – The Rest + Shedding Stage (the release era)
This phase lasts 3-4 months and includes resting and shedding.
What’s happening:
Hair chillin’ at the surface of your scalp. not growing.
Entually, it sheds to make room for new anagen growth.
10-15% of your hair is right now.
When shedding increases:
Stress, illness, hormonal shifts, crash diets, GLP1’s, or certain medications can push more hair into telogen – a temporary condition called Telogen Effluvium. It usually resolves when the trigger passes.
Healthy hair isn’t about forcing growth – it’s about supporting each phase and keeping your scalp in the best environment possible.
Till next time, babes….
