Hair Growth Cycle

Feroche Esthetics Newsletter April 2010 Vol. #1, Issue #3

You may have heard me say that there are three stages of hair growth: anagen, catagen, and telogen. Two hairs can be growing next to each other and be at different stages of growth. It takes approximately 4 to13 weeks for hair to grow from the papilla to the surface of the skin. Repeat visits are normally necessary to get hair on the same growth cycle, eventually increasing your time between waxing treatments.

• Anagen-the growth stage during which new hair is produced. New keratinized cells are manufactured in the hair follicle during the anagen stage. Activity is greater in the hair bulb, which pushes down into the dermis and swells with cell mitosis.

• Catagen-is the regression (falling out) stage of hair growth. In the Catagen stage, the hair shaft grows upward and detaches itself from the bulb.

• Telogen-during the telogen stage, the hair is at its full size and is erect in the follicle. It shows above the skin’s surface. The hair bulb is not active, and the hair falls out. The bulb then moves upward into the dermis and begins to grow a new hair. The cycle then begins again.