Every day the hair loses an average of 100 hairs per day, which is considered normal. This occurs by its own hair life cycle by which our hair goes through different phases and stages.

What does this hair life cycle consist of? How do the hair follicles act during this process? At blog de Hospital Capilar, a clinic specialized in medicine and hair surgeries in Madrid, Murcia and Pontevedra, we tell you everything you need to know about the different stages our hair goes through.

What does the hair life cycle consist of?

The hair life cycle could be defined as the natural process by which the hair is born, nourished and strengthened, and ends up detaching itself from the follicle to grow again.

It consists of three stages: the anagen phase, catagen phase and telogen phase. Each hair follicle has its own life cycle and, therefore, not all the hair goes through each of the phases simultaneously, but each hair follicle has its own rhythm.

Anagen phase

The anagen phase is also known as the growth phase. This is the longest stage and in it the hair is in full development from its root. The anagen phase can last a minimum of 2 years and reach 4, depending on each person.

The hair follicle during the anagen phase produces new hair, which grows approximately one centimeter each month. 

Catagen phase

The catagen phase, or also called the transition phase, lasts approximately one to three weeks. At this stage, the hair stops growing and begins to slowly separate from the hair follicle, but it does not fall out yet.

Telogen phase  

During the telogen phase of the hair life cycle, the hair follicle enters a resting state in which it stops having activity and, consequently, the hair stops growing. The hair remains in this state for at least three months until it finally falls out. Of course, the hair detaches from the hair bulb but the follicle remains intact.

When the hair has already fallen out and, therefore, has passed its telogen phase, it enters the anagen phase again, starting another life cycle.

When does baldness occur?

The life cycle of hair ends when, after losing, it does not re-enter the anagen phase and, therefore, stops growing. When this occurs in several hair follicles at the same time our doctors indicate that this is when hairless areas begin to appear, thus giving rise to alopecia.

Depending on type of alopecia in question this will be caused by different causes. Genetics or hormonal factors are some of the factors that can cause a loss of density.

In cases in which we notice a more intense hair loss without appreciating bald areas, it would be a telogen effluvium in which many hair follicles coincide in the telogen phase and, therefore, we notice a greater fall. However, this type of hair loss is usually reversible, although it is advisable to go to a specialized hair clinic if you notice a lack of density.