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How Your Hair Growth Cycle Affects Permanent Hair Removal

TL:DR Summary

• What is the hair growth cycle and why is it important? The hair growth cycle is the process of how hair grows, rests, and falls out. It is important to understand the hair growth cycle because it affects the results of permanent hair removal methods.
• What are the three phases of the hair growth cycle? The three phases of the hair growth cycle are anagen, catagen, and telogen. Anagen is the active growth phase, catagen is the transition phase, and telogen is the resting phase.
• How does permanent hair removal work? Permanent hair removal works by targeting the hair follicles in the anagen phase and destroying them with heat or light energy. This prevents the hair from growing back in the future.
• Why do you need multiple sessions of permanent hair removal? You need multiple sessions of permanent hair removal because not all hairs are in the same phase at any given time. Only a fraction of hairs are in the anagen phase, which is the optimal phase for permanent hair removal. Therefore, you need to repeat the sessions at regular intervals to catch more hairs in the anagen phase.
• How can you optimize your permanent hair removal results? You can optimize your permanent hair removal results by following the pre-treatment and post-treatment instructions, choosing the right type and frequency of treatment, and having realistic expectations.

Introduction

Though the results of permanent hair removal options tend to be long-lasting, it’s crucial to know how to best manage the hair growth cycle as it can impact the results of your hair removal. If you understand how hair grows on the various parts of the body, you can use the knowledge to more efficiently prepare for outcomes and minimize the length of time needed for your hair removal treatment in Singapore or anywhere else in the world.

“The key to achieving permanent hair growth lies in understanding your hair’s natural cycle.”

What is hair growth?

Hair Follicles on Our Bodies. Hair follicles are present in most locations on our bodies, such as our arms and legs. They also grow on various other parts of the body.

Head Hair vs. Body Hair. The hair on our heads is usually different in length, shape, and texture compared to the hair on our arms or legs. However, each hair strand is the result of the same bodily process.

Keratin: The Building Block. At the base of each hair strand, there is a group of cells whose sole purpose is to form hair from a protein called keratin. Keratin building blocks are added to the hair base in layers, with each layer pushing the growing strand of hair further from the skin.

Hair Growth Cycles. The reason why the hair on our heads grows longer and thicker than that on our arms or legs is due to the differences in hair growth cycles. Each strand of hair on our heads grows according to the normal human hair growth cycle, but the length of the cycle determines if we will start looking younger and if hair will appear thinner on our bodies later.

The different phases of the hair growth cycle

The hair growth cycle consists of a series of events that occur in the scalp over a period of time. It comprises various phases, each with its own goals and requirements for the hair follicle.

• Anagen Phase. The anagen phase is the active growth phase of the hair follicle. During this phase, the hair grows continuously.
• Catagen Phase. The catagen phase is a transitional phase when the hair follicle begins to shrink and hair growth slows down.
• Telogen Phase. In the telogen phase, the hair follicle enters a resting state, and the hair strand is no longer actively growing.
• Exogen Phase. The exogen phase involves the shedding of the hair strand, making way for a new hair strand to grow in the next anagen phase.

The Anagen Phase

The anagen phase is also known as the active phase of hair growth. During this time, the cells within the follicle are actively producing new hair materials from keratin building blocks.

Hair Growth Rate. On average, human hair grows at a rate of about 1 inch, or 5mm, within a 28-30 day period.

Scalp Hair vs. Body Hair. The length and duration of the anagen phase are significantly different for scalp and body hair. Scalp hair’s anagen phase usually lasts about 2-5 years, while body hair’s lasts for only 5-7 weeks.

Genetic Factors. The duration of the anagen phase also differs from one person to another due to genetic factors. This is why some individuals have trouble growing extremely long hair on their heads, regardless of their patience.

The Catagen Phase

Catagen Phase: Rapid Growth State. The catagen phase is the next stage of the hair growth cycle. In this phase, the hair follicle matures, and the hairs forming the shaft grow rapidly.

Hair Growth Limitations. During the catagen phase, hairs are no longer capable of producing length. The fiber at and around the root of the hair remains glued to the strand.

Duration of the Catagen Phase. In general, a healthy head of hair will spend about 2 to 3 weeks in this stage before transitioning to the next stage.

The Telogen Phase

Telogen Phase: The Resting Stage. The telogen phase is the third stage of the hair growth cycle. In this phase, the human hair detaches from the follicle and strands, and it may eventually fall out due to the body’s natural processes.

Duration of the Telogen Phase. For many people, the telogen stage lasts for approximately 12 to 13 weeks, or about 100 days.

Hair Follicles Awakening. During the telogen interval, hair follicles eventually wake up, initiating a new hair growth cycle repeatedly. This unique characteristic of the hair’s life cycle is why hair removal methods, like shaving, plucking, waxing, sugaring, or using depilatory creams, don’t provide permanent results.

Maintaining the Desired Look. To keep the same look, you need to refrain from using hair removal methods too often, as they only provide temporary results.

How the hair growth cycle affects permanent hair removal

The hair growth cycle is something that affects permanent hair removal in a few different ways. For example, during the anagen phase, hair is growing and becoming longer. This is the phase where most hair removal takes place. During the telogen phase, hair falls out and is replaced by new hair. This is the least effective time to remove hair, as it’s when the hair is at its weakest.

Planning Laser Hair Removal Treatments To Account For The Hair Growth Cycle

IPL Hair Removal and the Hair Growth Cycle. Understanding the connection between the hair growth cycle and IPL hair removal helps to explain how permanent hair removal works.

Follicle Requirements for IPL. For IPL or SHR hair removal to be effective, the follicle must have hair inside it, allowing light to be absorbed and converted into heat energy. Follicles that are currently shedding hairs due to the resting phase will not be affected by the treatment.

Hair Follicles at Different Stages. At any given time, hair follicles on our bodies can be in any of the three stages: active growth, transitional, or dormant. When performing IPL or SHR, you are only affecting individual follicles on your skin that currently have hair within them.

Patience for Permanent Hair Removal. To achieve 100% efficacy with regard to permanent hair removal, time and patience are essential. During the telogen phase, which lasts for approximately 100 days, more than 3 months will pass before all dormant hair follicles are treated.

Addressing All Hair Growth Stages. In successive IPL or SHR procedures, more follicles in the anagen and catagen stages will be treated. As the follicles in the telogen phase awaken, they will be addressed next, and so on. This process continues until all follicles in the treated area have returned to the anagen phase.

Permanent Hair-Free Results. Once all the follicles in the treated area have gone through this process, the area will be completely hair-free, permanently, as there will be no more untreated follicles in the area to awaken.

Conclusion

Permanent hair removal is a great way to get rid of unwanted hair and achieve smooth and hairless skin. However, to get the best results from your treatment, you need to understand how your hair growth cycle affects your treatment outcomes. The hair growth cycle consists of three phases: anagen (growth), catagen (transition), and telogen (resting). Only hair in the anagen phase can be effectively treated by light energy, which means that you need multiple sessions to catch all the hair follicles in this phase over time. The optimal interval between sessions depends on the body part and the individual’s hair growth cycle, but generally ranges from 28 to 56 days. To ensure optimal results, you also need to avoid sun exposure, waxing, plucking, or bleaching before and after the treatment.

Wellaholic’s Services and Plans. Wellaholic offers a range of services and plans for permanent hair removal, including unlimited monthly plans, lifetime maintenance plans, post-treatment whitening and hydration, and free consultations.

Book Your Appointment. If you are interested in permanent hair removal, book your appointment with Wellaholic today and discover the difference for yourself! We hope this article has helped you learn more about how your hair growth cycle affects permanent hair removal. If you have any questions or feedback, feel free to leave a comment below or contact us directly. Thank you for reading and we hope to see you soon at Wellaholic!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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