September 30, 2021
How the Hair Growth Cycle Works
If you’ve noticed thinning hair, you probably have a lot of questions and concerns. For most people, the first question is why. Millions of men and women experience hair loss, and there can be several different causes. But all of these causes are understood easier when you also understand the hair growth process. Knowing the cause of your hair loss is the first step in finding the right hair restoration solution for your needs.
Hair follicles
The follicle is at the base of every strand of hair. It’s where the cells made of keratin protein divide and multiply, pushing out the hair strand. At the very bottom is the hair bulb, where new cells are formed and where blood vessels bring in nourishment. Follicles also have hormone receptors, which receive the hormones that can change the way your hair grows.
Hair growth stages
There are several stages of hair growth that everyone experiences. Normally, all your follicles are in different stages of growth, so a little hair sheds every day even for people who are not experiencing hair loss.
- Anagen – This is the growth stage, where all the cells separate, and hair grows. It lasts for years on scalp follicles, which is why the hair on your head can grow so long.
- Catagen – This is a transitional phase between the growth and resting periods. It lasts several days, about 10 or so. Your follicles shrink during this stage, which causes each strand of hair to begin to detach from the follicle.
- Telogen – This phase lasts for several months and it’s also a transitional phase. While your hairs that have separated are still in place and don’t normally fall out in this stage, new hair cells are developing deep in the hair bulb so that the follicle is ready for the next growth stage.
- Exogen – This is the phase where hair begins to fall out. That happens because your new hair cells are beginning to form a shaft that pushes against the old hair shaft until it finally is pushed out of the scalp.
Hair loss
Hair loss is a normal part of the hair growth cycle, which is why everyone can expect to find a few hairs in the shower drain. But sometimes, follicles enter a prolonged resting stage and shrink so much that hair no longer grows in those follicles. That’s when you’ll start to notice hair loss because so many follicles in one part of your scalp are resting that there aren’t enough new hairs to cover the gaps.Although there are many reasons why this happens, one of the primary reasons is a combination of hormones and heredity. If you have hereditary hair loss like male or female pattern baldness, you’ve probably inherited weaker follicles that are more susceptible to the hormones, particularly testosterone. When a hormone balance shifts, excess hormones can cause your follicles to enter that resting phase.
Hair loss solutions
All this may make it seem like you have no control over hair loss. But thankfully, researchers have studied hair growth for many years and have developed hair restoration treatments that work, helping to restore function in your hair follicles or, in some cases like transplantation, move healthy follicles to other parts of the scalp to fill in your hair.At the Hair Restoration Institute, we’ll assess your hair loss and your health and talk with you about your hair loss goals, then we’ll develop a plan with one or more hair restoration solutions. Everyone’s hair restoration plan is different, but yours might include:
- FUT or FUE hair transplantation
- Dermal Lens hair replacement systems
- PRP treatments
- Laser light treatments
- Custom wigs
- Scalp micropigmentation
- Hair loss prevention products
Understanding how hair loss happens is the first step in taking control. Make an appointment at the Hair Restoration Institute for your complimentary consultation with one of our hair loss medical professionals. We’ll assess your individual hair loss needs and develop a plan to help restore your hair. Find us at 8030 Old Cedar Ave S Ste 202 in Bloomington, MN, or call 612-588-HAIR (4247) for a private, complimentary consultation.
