Each strand of human hair has a life span of 2 to 7 years before it falls off and is replaced by new hair. This entire process takes place in four(4) stages - The Growing stage (Anagen), the transitional stage (Catagen), the resting stage and the shedding stage. The duration of each stage of growth depends on various factors, including: Genetics, age, nutrition & health.
The length of your hair has nothing to do with its texture or curl pattern. For so long, we have believed the MYTH that natural curls just don't grow. We are going to debunk all that by studying the science behind hair growth.
Right now, as you read this, more than 90% of your hair strands are in the growing stage. These strands are growing the fastest and that length can be maintained or even increased with a healthy hair routine. The rest have either stopped growing or are shedding.
Stimulating the follicles of hair strands in the growing phase can help to increase hair growth and even density. Massaging your scalp regularly with the Organic Beauty Intense Growth Serum is 1 guaranteed way to stimulate those follicles. It contains Peppermint oil which is a vasodilator, and that means that it increases blood flow to the hair follicles and increases hair growth.
Hair grows an average of 0.5cm a month but with the serum, you can double that. Check out this amazing review from one of our favorite influencers @blkcurlsbuy . She was so excited to see so much new growth in only 2 weeks and since her hair was colored, the progress is highly visible.
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Hair Strands that are not in the growing phase benefit most from length retention practices. These include: Keeping hair moisturized (deep-condition after every wash), detangling carefully, trimming your ends regularly moisturizing, and careful detangling.
Information is power and understanding what is happening with your hair helps you know how to care for it and attain your hair goals.
STAGES OF HAIR GROWTH
1. Anagen: This is the growing stage for the hair which lasts from 3 to 5 years and depends mostly on genetics. The hair strands at this stage grows at a rate of 1cm per month. Thus the longer a hair strand stays in the anagen phase, the longer it grows.
2. Catagen: This is the transitional stage after growth in which the hair detaches from the bottom of the follicle and blood supply but still remains still thus slowing hair growth. It lasts 7 to 14 days and 5 percent of our hair are in catagen phase at any given time.
3. Talogen: It's the resting stage in which hair strands do not grow, and neither do they fall off. Instead, new growth starts in the hair follicles freed in the catagen phase. The resting phase lasts about 3 months with 10 to15 percent of hair strands in this phase at one or another.
4. Exogen: This is the shedding phase. 50 to 100 strands of hair are shed daily while growth takes place in the follicles (early anagen). This is perfectly normal and has a span of up to 3 months.
SUMMARY
All your hair strands are at different growing stages at any given time with 90% of them in the growing stage (Early Anagen). In this stage, the hair strands pushed out from the hair follicles will continue to grow fast for 3-5 years. Stimulating the scalp with massages and essential oils will help maximize this growth. In the Transitional stage, growth slows down, then stops completely while new growth starts in the free follicles (Resting stage). After rest, it begins to fall off (Shedding stage).
All these are happening to all the hair strands on the scalp at various times simultaneously. The more time a larger part of the hair spends in the growing stage, the longer the general hair length.
Written By,
Rita Okechukwu