The Four Stages of the Hair Growth Cycle

January 28, 2025

Achieving healthy, beautiful hair starts at the root! Did you know that your scalp is home to approximately 5 million hair follicles, each going through a fascinating and extensive growth cycle? Knowing these phases will help you understand hair growth and how to take care of your scalp and hair properly. While the intricacies of the hair growth phases might seem overwhelming, we're here to break it down for you!

Think of each phase as a different season of the year: Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter. Just as nature transitions through seasons, so does your hair, each phase contributing uniquely to its growth and vitality.

Let’s take a deeper dive into each phase:

Growing Phase (Anagen): Blooming Spring 🌷
Much like the vibrant blossoms that adorn the landscape during spring, the Anagen Phase is your hair's time to shine. Picture this phase as the blooming stage, where your hair experiences continuous growth for an impressive 3-5 years.

During the Anagen Phase, your hair grows around half an inch a month (about 6 inches a year), and faster in the summer than in winter.

Regression Phase (Catagen): Transitioning Summer 🌞
When Summer begins, your flowers will stop their finest blossoming and start preparing for the next season. Unlike Anagen, the Catagen Phase is a lot shorter and only lasts about 10 days. Here, each hair follicle is cut off from any new hair growth to stop it from growing.

Resting Phase (Telogen): Autumn Slumber 🍂
In the fall, nature slows down, and so do your flowers. Enter the Telogen Phase, a time of rest for your hair. This stage lasts around 3 months or 100 days. Just as the leaves settle in place during autumn, your hair takes a similar approach—pausing its growth and peacefully remaining in position.

10-15% of your hairs are estimated to be in the Telogen Phase at any given moment.

Shedding Phase (Exogen): Winter's Retreat ❄️
Winter marks the fading and falling of petals and leaves, symbolizing the Exogen Phase for your hair follicles. Shedding is a natural process where old hair makes way for new growth. Like the transition from one season to the next, this phase signals the cycle's renewal.

Each hair follicle is independent and goes through the growth cycle at different times — otherwise all your hair would fall out at once! Instead, you only shed a certain number of hairs a day – 80 to 100 hairs on a healthy head of hair.

How to Achieve Better Roots

Happy, healthy hair begins at the root, so take a moment to check in with your scalp and think about how your scalp and hair have been feeling. Do you struggle with dandruff, a dry flaky scalp, itchiness, or irritation? Or maybe you're noticing more hair shedding than usual? Regardless of your hair or scalp type, Better Roots is designed to work in perfect harmony, delivering the optimal results your scalp and hair deserve.

We believe the best hair longevity routine is one you'll stick with—because consistency
is where the magic happens. Better Roots gives you 6 ways to incorporate clean, clinically-proven hair longevity actives into your routine. Choose your journey and embrace your hair's potential.

(*Most Impactful Formulas)

RootBoost Complex
One daily capsule ensures you're not deficient in any key nutrients essential for healthy hair and boosting hair regrowth potential.

Pre-Shower Scalp Oil + Hair Oil
This ceramide-rich, multi-tasking oil creates a balanced, hydrated, and healthy scalp environment to support hair regrowth, reduce excess shedding, and prevent hair breakage.

Growth Support Shampoo
This Growth Support Treatment Shampoo stimulates hair follicles for enhanced growth. Its potent blend of three scientifically backed actives provides essential nutrients to optimize follicle function, unlocking your hair's full potential for thicker, stronger, and healthier strands.

Growth Support Conditioner
A weightless strengthening conditioner with four clinically-proven ingredients that repair and strengthen, reducing breakage up to 3x for thicker, stronger, and healthier hair growth. This clean, innovative formula also reduces frizz, leaving your hair with a high-gloss, mega-watt shine.

*RootBoost Serum
A daily scalp serum with 12 clinically-proven active ingredients that nurture hair follicles and refresh scalp skin cells for thicker, fuller hair while delaying graying. It also maintains a well-hydrated, soothed scalp.

*Growth Support Styling Foam
A styling foam with 4 clinically proven active ingredients that promote healthy hair growth while delaying and reducing grays. It delivers weightless volume with natural movement and definition, eliminates frizz, and protects against heat and UV damage.

A Few Extra Helpful Tips That’ll Have Your Scalp and Tresses Loving You!

Scalp Massage: Not only does a scalp massage reduce stress, but it also promotes blood circulation. They help get rid of product build-up and dead skin cells, which can cause flakes and irritation. All you simply need to do is use the tips of your fingers to rub all around your scalp for about 5-10 minutes. You can even use a scalp massager brush as a helping tool!
Clean your hair brushes regularly to remove any hair, product buildup, and debris. This helps to maintain a clean and healthy scalp, as well as prevent the transfer of dirt and oils back onto your hair. Simply remove the hair from the brush bristles and soak the brush in warm, soapy water. Gently scrub the brush with a toothbrush or cleaning brush, rinse thoroughly, and allow it to air dry before using it again.
Supporting your mental health is important for a healthy scalp and your overall well-being. Implementing techniques such as yoga, meditation, and deep breathing are effective in reducing stress.