Human hair growth - wikipedia Human hair growth This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. ( May 2012 ) The growth of human hair occurs everywhere on the body except for the soles of the feet, the lips, palms of the hands, some external genital areas, the navel, scar tissue, and, apart from eyelashes, the eyelids. Like skin, hair is a stratified squamous keratinized epithelium made of multi-layered flat cells whose rope - like filaments provide structure and strength to the hair shaft. Hair follows a specific growth cycle with three distinct and concurrent phases : anagen, catagen, and telogen. Each phase has specific characteristics that determine the length of the hair. The body has different types of hair, including vellus hair and androgenic hair, each with its own type of cellular construction. This varied construction gives the hair unique characteristics, serving specific purposes, mainly warmth ( redundant in modern humans ) and protection. Most humans develop the longest thickest hair on their scalps and ( mostly observed in males ) faces. This hair will usually grow to several feet before terminating, but many humans develop much longer hair. Contents 1 Growth cycle 1.1 Anagen phase 1.2 Catagen phase 1.3 Telogen phase 2 Growth inhibitors and disorders 2.1 Chemotherapy 2.2 Alopecia - related syndromes 2.3 Radiation therapy to the head 2.4 UV - B 3 Treatments for hair loss 4 See also 5 References Growth cycle Play media Hair - follicle cycling Hair grows at different speeds and different lengths. Its composition causes different colors and textures, which influence how long the hair strands grow. Marianne Ernst, a German `` Long hair model ''. The three stages of hair growth are the anagen, catagen, and telogen phases. Each strand of hair on the human body is at its own stage of development. Once the cycle is complete, it restarts and a new strand of hair begins to form. The rate or speed of hair growth is about 1.25 centimetres or 0.5 inches per month, or about 15 centimetres or 6 inches per year. Anagen phase The anagen phase is known as the growth phase. This is the phase where the hair physically grows approximately 1 cm per month. It begins in the papilla and can last from two to six years. The span at which the hair remains in this stage of growth is determined by genetics. The longer the hair stays in the anagen phase, the longer it will grow. During this phase, the cells in the papilla divide to produce new hair fibers, and the follicle buries itself into the dermal layer of the skin to nourish the strand. About 85 % - 90 % of the hairs on one 's head are in the anagen phase at any given time. Catagen phase The catagen phase, also known as the transitional phase, allows the follicle to, in a sense, renew itself. During this time, which lasts about two weeks, the hair follicle shrinks due to disintegration and the papilla detaches and `` rests, '' cutting the hair strand off from its nourishing blood supply. Signals sent out by the body ( that only selectively affect 1 percent of all hair of one 's body at any given time ) determine when the anagen phase ends and the catagen phase begins. The first sign of catagen is the cessation of melanin production in the hair bulb and apoptosis of follicular melanocytes. Ultimately, the follicle is 1 / 6 its original length, causing the hair shaft to be pushed upward. While hair is not growing during this phase, the length of the terminal fibers increase when the follicle pushes them upward. Telogen phase During the telogen or resting phase ( also known as shedding phase ) the follicle remains dormant for one to four months. Ten to fifteen percent of the hairs on one 's head are in this phase of growth at any given time. In this phase the epidermal cells lining the follicle channel continue to grow as normal and may accumulate around the base of the hair, temporarily anchoring it in place and preserving the hair for its natural purpose without taxing the body 's resources needed during the growth phase. At some point, the follicle will begin to grow again, softening the anchor point of the shaft initially. The hair base will break free from the root and the hair will be shed. Within two weeks the new hair shaft will begin to emerge once the telogen phase is complete. The process results in normal hair loss known as shedding. Growth inhibitors and Disorders In most people, scalp hair growth will halt due to follicle devitalization after reaching a length of generally two or three feet. Exceptions to this rule can be observed in individuals with hair development abnormalities, which may cause an unusual length of hair growth. Chemotherapy Most chemotherapy drugs work by attacking rapidly dividing cells. Rapid cell replication is one of the hallmarks of cancer ; however, hair follicle cells also grow and divide quickly. Consequently, the chemotherapy drugs usually inhibit hair growth. The dose and type of medicine will determine the severity of hair loss. Once the course of chemotherapy has ended, new hair growth may begin after three to 10 weeks. Alopecia - related syndromes Main article : Baldness Alopecia is a hair loss disease that can occur in anyone at any stage of life. Specifically Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease that causes hair to spontaneously fall out. It is mainly characterized by bald patches on the scalp or other parts of the body, and can ultimately cause baldness across the entire body. This disease interferes with the hair growth cycle by causing a follicle to prematurely leave the anagen, or active growth, phase and enter the resting, or telogen phase. The hair growth in the affected follicles is lessened or stopped completely. Traction alopecia is caused by adding too much strain on the hair on one 's head. Tight ponytails and other styles that require added tension to the hair are often what cause this disease. It can also occur on the face in areas where the hair is often styled. Plucking or waxing one 's eyebrows frequently, for example, can yield suppressed hair growth in the area. On the scalp, the hair is usually known to be lost around the hair line, leaving the densest amount of hair at the crown. Small vellus hair will often replace the hair that is lost. Radiation therapy to the head Human hair follicles are very sensitive to the effects of radiation therapy administered to the head, most commonly used to treat cancerous growths within the brain. Hair shedding may start as soon as two weeks after the first dose of radiation and will continue for a couple of weeks. Hair follicles typically enter the resting telogen phase and regrowth should commence 2.5 to 3 months after the hair begins to shed. Regrowth may be sparser after treatment. UV - B UV levels of either 20 or 50 mJ cm in the UV - B range have been shown to inhibit hair growth, reduce hair melanin and damage hair follicles. Treatments for hair loss Minoxidil Increases length of anagen ( hair growth portion of hair cycle ) phase and enlarges miniaturised hair follicles Indicated for androgenetic alopecia Finasteride Inhibits 5 alpha reductase, which blocks the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone, which is an androgen involved in hair loss ( specifically, androgenetic alopecia ) Indicated for androgenetic alopecia in men See also Evolution of hair References Jump up ^ Therapeutic Guidlines Limited ( November 2015 ). `` Hair Loss Disorder ( revised 2017 Nov ) ''. eTG Complete ( Internet ) ; Melbourne Australia. Retrieved 17 February 2018. Jump up ^ Ruszczak, Zbigniew ( 2012 ). `` Hair Disorders and Alopecia ''. In Elzouki, Abdelaziz Y. ; Harfi, Harb A. ; Nazer, Hisham M. ; Stapleton, F. Bruder ; Oh, William ; Whitley, Richard J. Textbook of Clinical Pediatrics. pp. 1489 -- 508. doi : 10.1007 / 978 - 3 - 642 - 02202 - 9_146. ISBN 978 - 3 - 642 - 02201 - 2. Jump up ^ Braun - Falco, Otto ( 2000 ). Dermatology ( 2., completely rev. ed. ). Berlin : Springer. p. 1101. ISBN 9783540594529. Jump up ^ Araújo, Rita ; Fernandes, Margarida ; Cavaco - Paulo, Artur ; Gomes, Andreia ( 2010 ). `` Biology of Human Hair : Know Your Hair to Control It ''. Biofunctionalization of Polymers and their Applications. Advances in Biochemical Engineering / Biotechnology. 125. pp. 121 -- 43. doi : 10.1007 / 10_2010_88. ISBN 978 - 3 - 642 - 21948 - 1. PMID 21072698. Jump up ^ Lu, Zhongfa ; Fischer, Tobias W ; Hasse, Sybille ; Sugawara, Koji ; Kamenisch, York ; Krengel, Sven ; Funk, Wolfgang ; Berneburg, Mark ; Paus, Ralf ( 2009 ). `` Profiling the Response of Human Hair Follicles to Ultraviolet Radiation ''. Journal of Investigative Dermatology. 129 ( 7 ) : 1790 -- 804. doi : 10.1038 / jid. 2008.418. PMID 19158839. ^ Jump up to : `` The University of Notre Dame Australia : : EzProxy Login ''. amhonline-amh-net-au.ipacez.nd.edu.au. Retrieved 2018 - 07 - 18. Development of skin Skin Overview Epidermis Ectoderm Neural crest Ectomesenchyme Mesenchyme Dermis Dermatomal mesenchyme Skin appendage Hair Growth Nail Human hair List of hairstyles / facial hairstyles Classification by type Lanugo Androgenic Terminal Vellus by location Nose Ear Eyebrow Eyelash Underarm Chest Abdominal Pubic Leg Human hair color Hair color Black Blond Brown ( varieties : Chestnut Auburn ) Red ( varieties : Auburn Titian ) White / Grey Hair coloring Blue rinse Grecian Formula Hair dye stripping Hair highlighting Henna Hydrogen peroxide Blue hair Other Disappearing blonde gene Fischer -- Saller scale Fischer scale Melanocortin 1 receptor Hairstyles Afro Afro puffs Asymmetric cut Bald Bangs Beehive Big hair Blowout Bob cut Bouffant Bowl cut Braid or Plait Brush cut Bun ( odango ) Bunches Burr Businessman cut Butch cut Buzz cut Caesar cut Chignon Chonmage Chupryna Comb over Conk Cornrows Crew cut Crochet braids Croydon facelift Curly hair Curtained hair Devilock Dido flip Digital perm Dreadlocks Duck 's ass Extensions Feathered hair Finger wave Flattop Fontange French braid French twist Frosted tips Hair crimping Harvard clip High and tight Hime cut Historical Christian hairstyles Hi - top fade Induction cut Ivy League Jewfro Jheri curl Kinky hair Kiss curl Layered hair Liberty spikes Long hair Lob cut Marcelling Mod cut Mohawk Mullet 1950s 1980s Pageboy Part Payot Pigtail Pixie cut Pompadour Ponytail Punch perm Princeton Professional cut Queue Quiff Rattail Razor cut Regular haircut Regular taper cut Ringlets Shag ( Shaggy hair ) Shape - Up Shimada Short back and sides Short brush cut Short hair Spiky hair Straight hair Standard haircut Surfer hair Taper cut Tonsure Updo Undercut Waves Wings Facial hair Beard Chinstrap Designer stubble Goatee Moustache Fu Manchu handlebar horseshoe pencil toothbrush walrus Shenandoah ( Chin curtain ) Sideburns Soul patch Van Dyke Hair loss Cosmetic Removal waxing threading plucking chemical electric laser IPL Shaving head leg cream brush soap Razor electric safety straight other Alopecia areata totalis universalis Male - pattern hair loss Hypertrichosis Management Trichophilia Trichotillomania Pogonophobia Haircare Products Brush Clay Clipper Comb Conditioner Dryer Gel Hot comb Iron Mousse Pomade Relaxer Rollers Shampoo Spray Wax Haircare Techniques Backcombing Crimping Curly Girl Method Hair cutting Perm Shampoo and set Straightening Documentaries My Nappy Roots : A Journey Through Black Hair - itage ( 2008 ) Good Hair ( 2009 ) Related Topics Afro - textured hair ( Kinky hair ) Bearded lady Barber ( pole ) Eponymous hairstyle Frizz Good hair ( phrase ) Hairdresser Hair fetishism ( pubic ) Hair follicle Hair growth Hypertrichosis Trichotillomania Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Human_hair_growth&oldid=855727497 '' Categories : Human hair Hidden categories : Articles needing additional references from May 2012 All articles needing additional references All articles with unsourced statements Articles with unsourced statements from April 2016 Articles with unsourced statements from May 2018 Articles contradicting other articles Talk Contents About Wikipedia Edit links This page was last edited on 20 August 2018, at 12 : 19 ( UTC ). 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Question: how long is the telogen phase of hair growth
Answer: one to four months