hair growth stages

 We're born with all the hair follicles we will ever have & approximately 100,000 of those are on your scalp. Hair starts as a root made up of cells of protein, in the bottom of the follicle. Through circulation, blood vessels in your scalp feed the root, creating more cells. Once formed, the hair is pushed through the skin, passing an oil gland along the way which gives hair its luster & softness. This cycles happens is phases known as anagen, catagen, telogen & exogen.

ANAGEN is the active growth phase of hair follicles, which lasts 2-8 years. During this phase the root of the hair is dividing rapidly & adding to the hair shaft. Keratin & color pigment cells accumulating in your follicles while forming the root bulb & the hair shaft create a shadow on the scalp, making it easy to identify this phase of growth.

Next your hair enters the CATAGEN phase. For approximately 2-4 weeks, you will notice thin, soft hairs known as vellus hairs or more commonly “peach fuzz”. This is not permanent hair, but an early sign that the new strands are on their way. Catagen hair is soft & very fragile, so it is important to be gentle, consider limiting brushing & styling, especially while dry. 

The final 2-4 months of the growth cycle is a two-part resting phase. The first part of the last stage is known as TELOGEN. This is when individual hairs are released & fall out, or “shed.” You will start to notice sturdy, coarse hairs that grow about ½-1½ inches a month. The follicle will then remain inactive for about 3 months before entering exogen. 

During the EXOGEN phase, which lasts approximately 72 days, 88-100 strands are pushed from the scalp, daily making room for new strands.  When exogen ends, the cycle will begin again. You can speed the exogen phase up by washing & brushing your hair daily.

The Ross Essentiials™ formulas work in conjunction with hairs natural cycles to promote quick repair & healthy growth. We focus on infusing all-natural essentials into one bottle, minimizing the overall effort in keeping your natural hair healthy. Our products replenish the scalp’s natural balance, create a happy growing environment & increase retention, all needed to get the long, lustrous hair you want.