To better understand hair growth, professional hairstylist Sophia Porter breaks down the four main stages: anagen, catagen, telogen, and exogen. Anagen is the growth stage, “where your hair grows and the maximum length is determined,” Porter says. This can last two to seven years, depending on the person, and is the longest stage in the hair-growth process. Next up is catagen, or the regression and transition stage. In this phase that lasts about seven to 10 days, hair growth slows and the follicles shrink. According to Porter, 10 to 15% of the hairs on the scalp are going through the telogen stage at a time. During this chapter of growth, old hair is resting and new hairs are growing. And finally, exogen is when the hair is shed from the follicle. “On average, a person loses about 50 to 150 hairs a day,” Porter says. So, don’t be alarmed if you see a few strands in your hairbrush. Don’t worry if this seems overwhelming to understand. The most important thing to note is that hair growth, like all things in life, is a process, and you should, in fact, see growth if your hair and body are healthy (more on this below). Hill says genetics and hormones have the most significant impact on hair growth, but there are other factors to keep in mind. Hormone change can be due to health, pregnancy, or stress. And if we’re being honest, some people just have fast-growing hair in their genes (#blessed). Of course, the overall health of your body can make a difference. Chronic illnesses, fevers, and medications can affect how the hair grows. Then, there are lifestyle factors like stress; diet and vitamin deficiency play a role in hair growth, too. “It’s very important to have a balanced diet and maintain a healthy lifestyle to keep hair growth at its optimum level,” Porter says.
