Things to Know - Hair Loss - Stages of Hair Growth & Hair Loss
Below you will find the most common questions and corresponding answers. Click on any of the below links and you'll be directed to that section. We have tried to be as thorough as possible with each answer by providing helpful links where appropriate.
STAGES OF HAIR GROWTH & HAIR LOSS
Stages of Hair Growth
Hair grows in different stages and at the different rates all over the body. The four stages of the hair growth cycles are;
Known as the "growth" phase; can last 2-6 years, depending on genetics. Each hair is attached by its "bulb" or root to the blood supply in the follicle and continues to grow. About 85% of the hair on your head is in this phase at one time.
The transitional stage the hair detaches itself from its blood supply and starts to shrink and the hair completely stops growing. This stage lasts about 2 weeks. Hair is pushed up to the epidermis (top layer of skin).
The resting stage. The hair and follicle remain dormant anywhere from1-4 months. The new hair that is forming underneath the previous hair starts to grow and push the hair out of the skin completely.
The hair follicle starts to form a new hair as the old hair expelled from the skin. The phase continues and the cycle will start again.
Hair Loss
Hair loss can start with a few extra hairs in the skin or in your comb. Later, it can progress to a bare scalp. Baldness typically refers to excessive hair loss from your scalp and can be the result of heredity, certain medications or an underlying medical condition. Anyone -men, women and children can experience hair loss. Approximately 42 million women in the U.S. suffer from hair loss. Some people prefer to let their baldness run its course untreated. Others may cover one of the medications and surgical procedures that are available to treat hair loss.
Most people normally shed about100 hairs a day. But without 100,000 hairs in the scalp, this amount of hair loss shouldn't cause noticeable thinning. Gradual thinning is a normal part of aging.
However, hair loss may lead to baldness when the rate of shedding exceeds the rate of regrowth, when new hair is thinner than the hair shed or when hair comes out in patches. The client's stage of hair loss should be determined by the hair specialist during the initial consultation. This is a time when we determine the client's options. During the beginning stages of hair loss, the client may not require a full hair system, "wig" and an addition piece or "topper" can successfully cover the less dense areas.(Hair loss is not always the reason for women to need/want more hair).