Hair contains various unique features and it is beyond what we know or we are told about it. Being knowledgeable about the anatomical structure of your hair, its lifespan or different growth phases enables you to analyze your own hair and understand the needs of your hair much better.
Hair is the general name given to the cluster of hair strands found on the scalp which surrounds the upper part of the human skull. It is distinguished from other hairs in our body in terms of its structure, position, growth rate and growth limit.
An adult person, on average, has between 100.000 and 150.000 hair strands. In exceptional cases, this number can reach up to 300.000 to 350.000 strands. An average of 40 to 100 hair loss per day is considered normal. Sometimes that can be up to 150 strands of hair.
How Does Hair Grow?
Hair follicles undergo growing in a repeating cycle. Every strand of hair that grows out of the root develops and then falls out, but the hair follicle produces a new strand after this cycle and incorporates it in the same process. Human hair goes through an average of 20 hair cycles.
Hair cycles consist of 4 phases as “growth, transition, resting and shedding”.
The growth phase, in which the hair grows actively, takes about 5 years. The time the hair is in the growth phase decreases with age. 2% of our hair is in the transitional phase where hair growth
stops, and this period lasts for a maximum of 2 weeks. Hair clusters that survive the transitional phase pass into the resting phase that will typically last 3-4 months. The hair that goes into the resting phase is weaker and thinner. When they get into the shedding phase, they separate from the root and fall out.
How Does Hair Growth Cycle Work?
The chemical elements of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen and sulfur, which are necessary for our hair, form the chemical compound called keratin and our hair is composed of these elements.
Human hair grows 0.3 – 0.4 mm per day. So, under normal conditions, our hair grows 9 mm per month. However, there are still many variables that affect the pace of hair growth.
Our hair goes through certain stages. We can talk about these three main stages below:
1)Growth Phase (Anagen):
This phase lasts 3 years. In other words, the hair shaft maintains its growth, vitality and shine and keeps growing for 3 years.
2) Regression Phase (Catagen):
This phase lasts 3 weeks. After the growth phase, hair enters the regression phase. At this stage, the hair loses its vitality, shine and structure. In other words, hair stops growing and detaches itself from the blood supply and is then named a club hair. Sometimes, new hair can grow without shedding the old hair.
3) Resting Phase (Telogen):
This phase lasts 3 months. After the regression phase, the follicle, where the hair strand falls, goes into the resting phase and at the end of this phase, a new strand of hair is formed through cell division. This process goes on throughout our lives. The average hair cycle consists of 85-90% growth, 1-2% regression, 8-10% resting phase. According to these findings, the lifespan of a hair strand is 3,5- 4 years. However, if the person has healthy hair due to genetic factors and pursues a balanced diet since childhood, this period can be up to 7 years.
A healthy hair cycle goes through all these phases and ensures regrowth and growing longer in a healthy way. Genetic predisposition, some skin diseases, chronic diseases, most of the medications used in cancer treatment, burns and traumas can cause hair shedding and loss.
As Clinic Center we treat thousands of patients every year with our experienced hair transplant specialists. Every person/patient has different case and they are back home as happy after the operation. You can check some Clinic Center happy patient’s results and you can contact us if you have any questions.
