If you struggle with hair loss, you may wonder why you can't keep those hairs on your scalp while everyone around you seems to retain a healthy head of hair. In reality, everybody loses hair continuously, with disturbances in the average human hair growth cycle often accounting for the differences in people's hairlines.

Let's examine this growth cycle in detail, including its four main stages, how it can contribute to baldness, and what you can do to maintain good hair health throughout this ever-repeating process.

Stage 1: Anagen

All hair growth occurs during anagen. In this first phase of the cycle, cell division in the root forms a hair shaft. After that, the hair grows longer and longer as new hair cells form. This process can go on for several years.

Stage 2: Catagen

At some point, a hair stops growing as the cells in the root stop multiplying. It then enters the second phase, known as catagen. The hair loosens from the follicle as the follicle shrinks during this relatively short transition.

Stage 3: Telogen

Telogen, the third phase of the hair growth cycle, signals the beginning of the hair loss process. In this three-month phase, the follicle begins creating new hair beneath the current hair still attached to your scalp. This new hair will replace its predecessor.

Stage 4: Exogen

Exogen counts as the final phase of the cycle, or at least as the conclusion of the telogen phase. In this stage, the hair finally falls out. Different hairs on your head will follow this cycle according to different schedules.

Supporting the Cycle: Hair Health Tips

Now that you see how the hair growth cycle influences the length and thickness of your hair, you'll understand why you need to support this cycle's stages for hair health. For instance, if you've experienced telogen effluvium following your pregnancy, you may need extra nutritional support to help your hormonal balances return to normal. Ask your doctor about the value of getting more vitamins B, C, and E, along with supplemental zinc and iron.

Stress can disrupt the hair growth cycle by speeding up the transition from anagen to telogen, resulting in telogen effluvium. It can also cause your immune system to attack your hair follicles, creating a sudden form of hair loss called alopecia areata. Some people even react to stress by yanking their hair out before the exogen stage, a problem known as trichotillomania.

If you suffer from a stress disorder, you may benefit from getting more sleep, exercising, and performing stress-relieving activities such as meditation. Don't hesitate to seek professional counseling if you need more help tackling an underlying emotional or mental health challenge.

The right combination of preventative wellness habits and professional assistance can help nourish your hair from one growth cycle to the next. Contact New-U to learn more or request our services. To schedule a free consultation click here.

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