The hair growth cycle: how your hair grows
Every hair on your body goes through the same four phases in the hair growth cycle: it grows, stops, rests and falls out. Because not every hair is in the same phase at the same time, hair never grows equally fast everywhere. This also explains why laser hair removal takes several sessions.
- Growth
- ±1 cm per month
- Shedding
- 50–100 per day
- Growth phase
- 80–90% of your hair
What is the hair growth cycle?
The hair growth cycle is the natural life course of a hair. Every hair grows, rests and then falls out, after which a new hair forms. The cycle repeats itself like this throughout your life.
Follicle
The small pocket in your skin from which a hair grows. That is why it is also called the hair root.
Papilla
At the base of the follicle, tiny blood vessels feed the hair so that it can grow.
Hair shaft
The visible part above your skin, made of the protein keratin.
The four phases of the hair growth cycle
Tap a phase to see what happens to your hair at that point.
Growth phase (anagen)
The hair is actively growing and gets nourishment from the papilla. About 80 to 90 percent of the hair on your head is in this phase. On your body, however, the growth phase is much shorter, which is why leg and underarm hairs never get as long.
Only in this phase does the hair respond to laser hair removal.
Transition phase (catagen)
The hair then stops growing and detaches from its blood supply. This is how it prepares for the resting phase.
A short in-between phase of about two to three weeks.
Resting phase (telogen)
The hair no longer grows, while a new hair is already forming in the follicle. At any given moment, around 10 to 15 percent of your hairs are resting.
That is why you see new hairs appear again some time after a laser treatment.
Shedding phase (exogen)
The old hair lets go and falls out, while the new hair is already growing underneath. After that, the cycle starts again.
On average you lose 50 to 100 hairs from your head per day, and that is completely normal.
What influences your hair growth?
Not everyone has the same hair growth, because several factors play a role. Hormones in particular have a strong effect, for example during puberty, pregnancy or the menopause.
What plays a role
- Genetics and your age
- Hormones, such as during the menopause
- Diet, health and certain medicines
- Even the season has an effect
How to support healthy growth
- Get enough sleep and limit stress where you can
- Eat a varied diet, with protein, iron, zinc and vitamin C
- Drink enough water and avoid strict crash diets
You can read more about healthy eating at the Voedingscentrum (Netherlands Nutrition Centre), for example.
Do you notice a sudden, strong change in your hair growth or hair loss? Then feel free to discuss it with your GP.
The hair growth cycle by body area
The growth phase does not last equally long everywhere. That is why the hair on your head gets long, while body hair stops growing early.
Hair on your head
The growth phase lasts for years, so the hair can grow long.
Eyebrows
A short growth phase, which is why they naturally stay short.
Underarms and legs
Here too the growth phase is short, but the hair is often thicker.
Intimate area
The hair is usually coarser and darker, so laser works well here.
What does the hair growth cycle mean for hair removal?
Because your hairs are in different phases, we schedule both laser and waxing in a fixed rhythm of four to six weeks. This way we always target the hairs that are active at that moment.
Laser hair removal
The laser only works on hair in the growth phase, because that is when it contains a lot of pigment. That is why several sessions are needed to reach all the hairs.
Waxing
With waxing, we remove the hair root and all. By waxing regularly, more and more hairs fall into the same rhythm, so you stay smooth for longer.
How the laser disables the hair root in the growth phase is shown with illustrations on the page how laser hair removal works.
Difficult words briefly explained
- Melanin
- The pigment that gives your hair its colour. This pigment also absorbs the laser energy.
- Keratin
- The protein your hair is made of, just like your nails.
- Anagen, catagen, telogen, exogen
- The technical terms for the growth, transition, resting and shedding phases.
Frequently asked questions about the hair growth cycle
What phases make up the hair growth cycle?
The hair growth cycle consists of four phases: the growth phase, the transition phase, the resting phase and the shedding phase. Every hair goes through these phases, after which the cycle starts again.
How fast does hair grow?
On average, hair grows about one centimetre per month, so around twelve centimetres per year. The pace varies from person to person, though, as your age and health also play a role.
How long does the growth phase last?
On your head, the growth phase lasts two to seven years. On your body, that phase is much shorter, which is why body hair never gets as long.
How many hairs do you lose per day?
On average you lose 50 to 100 hairs from your head per day, because they are in the shedding phase. Usually a new hair grows back straight away, so you barely notice it.
Does hair grow back faster or thicker if you shave it?
No, that is a stubborn myth. Shaving only cuts off the end of the hair, which makes it feel coarser. It does not change the hair growth cycle or the thickness of the hair.
Why are several laser sessions needed?
The laser only works on hair in the growth phase. Because not every hair is in that phase at the same time, we treat again every four to six weeks. This way we always reach the hairs that are active at that point.
Why does body hair grow less long than the hair on your head?
That is because the growth phase on your body is much shorter. The hair on your head keeps growing for years, while leg and underarm hairs stop after a short time.
Is your question not listed? Then take a look at the FAQ page or send us a WhatsApp.
Want to know what suits your hair?
Aleksandra is happy to help you work out whether laser hair removal or waxing best suits your hair and skin. The studio is temporarily closed, but we can already answer your question via WhatsApp.