Are you wondering “how to tell if hair is in anagen phase?” Well, this is the phase when the hair grows rapidly, making it much longer, healthier, and bouncier. Hair shedding is minimal during the anagen phase. However, to get the best medical assistance for coping with increasing hair loss and breakage, consult Dr. Arvind Poswal from Dr A’s Clinic, the best medical facility for hair transplants.
Are you trying to understand if your hair is in its active growth phase or not? This blog will be your precise guide to learning about the anagen phase, its visual signs, characteristics, factors affecting this stage, and the checking methods.
Understanding the Hair Growth Cycle
Before you proceed to learn more about the anagen catagen and telogen phase and determine if your hair is in that phase, it is essential to derive comprehensive knowledge about the hair growth phase. The hair growth phase can be primarily categorized into:
Anagen
The anagen phase is referred to as the active growth phase. On average, the duration of this phase is 2 to 6 years. However, the duration may vary among individuals due to multiple factors like diet intake, physical activity, health conditions, etc. This phase occupies approximately 80 to 90% of the hair on the scalp.
Catagen
The catagen phase comes after anagen. In this phase, the hair growth slows down and prepares for the resting phase. On average, the catagen phase lasts around 2 to 4 weeks. 1 to 4% of the hair falls in this phase.
Telogen
The telogen phase is the resting phase of hair. In this phase, hair growth gets stunted, and the follicles rest. Around 10 to 20% of the hair on the scalp falls in this phase.
Exogen
The final phase of the hair growth cycle is exogen. In this phase, hair shedding occurs, giving way to new hair growth. The duration of exogen may greatly vary among individuals based on lifestyle factors, medical conditions, etc. If you experience excessive hair fall, it might suggest that your hair is in its exogen phase. Visit the best hair transplant specialists at Dr. A’s Clinic to get brief guidance and treatments on reducing hair fall in this phase.
How to Tell if Hair is in Anagen Phase: Visual Signs According to Hair Type?
The hair exhibits specific visual signs during the active growth phase. Here are some vivid visual signs that signify the anagen phase according to individual hair types:
Fine Hair
People with fine hair will notice an increase in hair volume and reduced limpness. The hair will appear much more lively.
Medium Hair
People with medium hair will notice signs like enhanced texture and reduction in frizziness.
Coarse Hair
Individuals with coarse and rough hair will witness visual signs like improved manageability and less breakage.
Curly Hair
Your curls will be much more defined during the anagen phase, with comparatively less frizz and breakage.
Physical Characteristics
The major physical characteristics of anagen hair are as stated below:
Active Growth
Since this is the active hair growth phase, you will see your hair growing rapidly. The average rate of hair growth during this phase is 0.3 to 0.4 mm/day. So, you will see your lengths getting elongated without breakage or damage.
Healthy Appearance
Your hair will look much fuller and have a healthy appearance in the anagen phase. The thickness and volume of your hair will be incredibly elevated. Dr. A’s Clinic in Delhi offers comprehensive treatment options for promoting healthy hair growth. Visit us today to get the best services!
Reduced Shading
In the anagen phase of hair growth, you will experience much less shading compared to other stages. As a result, your hair will be much fuller and thicker.
New Hair Growth
If you see new hair growth, it will indicate the onset of the anagen phase. This will happen because the hair follicles produce new hair cells on the scalp. Also, the hair follicles will be visible on the scalp.
Lustrous Hair
Dullness and dryness together make hair incredibly unappealing. However, when your hair transitions to the anagen phase, you will see your hair becoming much more lustrous and shiny, adding much more to your physical appearance.
Healthy Scalp Color
During the anagen phase, your scalp will have a much healthier color. Usually, a healthy scalp is light pink or flesh-colored.
Reduced Dandruff and Flaking
Dandruff is a common problem that makes hair care routine much more complicated and lengthy. However, when your hair is in the anagen phase, you will experience less dandruff build-up on the scalp with minimal or no flakiness.
Reduced Scalp Irritation
The scalp can become much irritated during telogen or exogen, resulting in increasing redness and irritation. However, your scalp will be much more relaxed and soothed during the active phase of the hair growth cycle.
Progressive and Synchronised Growth Patterns
The growth patterns during the anagen phase are much more prominent. You will notice your hair lengths growing in a linear pattern and experience synchronized growth, that is, growth from all dimensions of the hair and not just one side.
Factors Affecting Anagen Phase
Now that you know how to tell if hair is in anagen phase, here are some factors that can greatly affect the extent of the anagen phase among individuals:
Internal Factors
The internal factors responsible for impacting the active hair growth are:
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Genetics
Individuals with a family history of hair loss are more likely to experience a shorter anagen phase compared to individuals with no such record. Genetic predispositions also play a major role in increasing or decreasing anagen phase.
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Hormones
Androgen and estrogens are particularly responsible for inducing healthy hair growth. Any fluctuations in the body’s level of hormones can affect the anagen phase of hair growth.
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Age
The duration of the anagen phase gradually decreases with a decrease in age. Therefore, individuals above the age of 40 might experience greater hair fall and breakage.
External Factors
The following external factors can impact this phase:
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Stress
Stress is one of the most important factors affecting the hair growth cycle. You should practice proper stress management techniques to improve the anagen phase.
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Hair Care
Not following the appropriate hair care techniques and using the right anagen hair products can make hair much more prone to breakage. The experts at Dr. A’s Clinic suggest tying your hair loosely and limiting the usage of heat styling tools to improve hair growth during this phase.
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Environmental Toxins
Environmental toxins like UV radiation, chemicals, and pollution can considerably impact the hair growth cycle, making it much shorter.
Lifestyle Factors
The lifestyle factors mentioned below can greatly affect the anagen phase:
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Smoking
Smoking reduces blood flow to the scalp, thereby shortening the anagen phase.
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Sleep Quality
The anagen hair follicles need sufficient rest to nurture and grow. Thus, proper sleep patterns are essential to extend the anagen phase.
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Exercise
Regular physical activity can greatly boost hair growth and extend the anagen phase by improving blood circulation to the scalp. Being lethargic can create harmful impacts on your overall growth patterns.
Nutritional Factors
The following nutritional deficiencies are responsible for affecting this phase:
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Protein Deficiency
Protein is incredibly important for active hair growth. Individuals with protein deficiency may experience a shorter anagen phase.
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Vitamin D Deficiency
Vitamin D makes the hair stronger and healthier. Thus, vitamin D deficiency in the body can lead to a degraded anagen phase.
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Biotin Deficiency
Biotin is an essential nutrient for enhancing the strength of hair strands. Significant deficiencies in biotin can hence impact the anagen phase negatively.
Medical Conditions
Individuals with the following medical conditions may experience a shorter anagen phase:
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Skin Conditions
Psoriasis, eczema, and other skin conditions may greatly impact the active hair growth phase, making it shorter.
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Alopecia Areata
It is a severe autoimmune disease responsible for increased hair loss in individuals. It transitions the anagen hair readily to the telogen or exogen phase, making it much weaker and fragile. To avail of the best treatments for alopecia areata, you can consult the hair transplant specialists at Dr. A’s Clinic. Integrated with the latest infrastructure and top-notch medical services, you can expect the best hair transplants here!
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Cancer Treatment
Individuals undergoing cancer treatment approaches like chemotherapy, radiation therapy, etc experience a much shorter anagen phase.
Methods to Check Anagen Phase
The following are the prominent methods used to check the anagen phase:
Clinical Methods
The best clinical methods for checking whether hair is in the anagen phase are:
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Hair Pull Test
This is one of the most efficient clinical methods, and it involves gentle pulling of hair to assess resistance.
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Hair Pluck Test
In this clinical test, the examiner removes hair from the scalp and examines the root and hair growth cycle.
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Trichoscopy
This test involves the use of a microscope to examine the hair and scalp.
Non-Invasive Methods
The most efficient non-invasive methods used by the hair transplant surgeons at Dr. A’s Clinic for tracking the anagen phase are:
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Hair Growth Tracking
This is a proven hair growth tracking method in which the hair length is measured over time.
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Hair Density Analysis
This test involves using specialized tools to evaluate the density of hair.
Advanced Techniques
The anagen phase can be efficiently determined by these advanced techniques:
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Confocal Microscopy
This test involves generating high-resolution imagery of hair follicles to detect growth patterns.
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Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT)
This is a non-invasive imaging technique used to assess the hair follicle from within.
Final Words
We hope by now your doubt regarding how to tell if hair is in anagen phase is cleared! All you need to do is check for the characteristics and visual signs mentioned above to determine whether or not your hair is in its active growth phase. However, if you are struggling to manage your hair loss problems, visit Dr. A’s Clinic in Delhi today for the best custom solutions!
