Have you ever wondered how your hair actually grows? It might seem like magic when you see your curls, coils, or waves get longer, but there’s real science behind every inch of growth.

Let’s break it down, strand by strand.

The Basics: What Is Hair Made Of?

Hair is made up of a protein called keratin, the same protein that makes up your nails and the outer layer of your skin. Each hair grows from a follicle, a tiny pocket in your scalp. At the base of the follicle is the hair bulb, where your hair growth begins.

Your scalp is home to around 100,000 follicles, and each one operates on its own schedule—meaning not all your hairs are growing at the same time (thankfully!).

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The 4 Stages of Hair Growth

Hair growth happens in a cycle with four main phases:

1. Anagen (Growth Phase)

This is the main event—where your hair is actively growing. The anagen phase can last anywhere from 2 to 7 years, depending on genetics. On average, hair grows about half an inch per month during this phase.

Fun fact: Around 85-90% of your hair is in this phase at any given time.

2. Catagen (Transition Phase)

This short phase lasts about 2-3 weeks. Hair stops growing and detaches from the blood supply. Think of it as your hair taking a breather.

3. Telogen (Resting Phase)

Your hair chills here for about 1-4 months. It’s no longer growing, but it’s not falling out either—just kind of hanging out.

4. Exogen (Shedding Phase)

This is the final part of the cycle, where old hairs fall out to make room for new ones. It’s normal to shed 50-100 hairs per day—don’t panic!

What Affects Hair Growth?

Several factors can influence how fast and how healthy your hair grows:

• Genetics – Some people are just born with longer growth phases. Thanks, Mom.

• Nutrition – Your hair needs nutrients like biotin, protein, iron, and zinc to grow.

• Scalp health – A healthy scalp = a healthy environment for hair to thrive.

• Stress – High stress can push hair into the shedding phase early.

• Hair care habits – Gentle handling and moisturizing products (like our signature formulas) can help reduce breakage and support length retention.