Understanding the Hair Growth Cycle as You Age (And How It Affects Hair Loss)

You used to have a full head of hair, but these days, coverage is either spotty or thin overall. Here’s the reality: Just as time takes its toll on your skin or on your joints, it has no small impact on your hair and its growth cycles.

As leading experts in hair restoration and hair transplants, our skilled team at Vivida Dermatology has made it our business to understand the science behind hair, some of which we want to share with you here. Let’s take a look.

Hair grows in stages

Four hair growth stages combine to make up the full hair growth cycle. These stages include:

1. Anagen

We refer to this stage as the growth stage, which can last up to 8 years. At any given time, about 85% to 90% of your hair is in this active, growth stage.

2. Catagen

This is the transition phase, which follows the growth stage. Catagen typically lasts about two weeks.

3. Telogen

During this phase, your hair stops growing, but it remains in the follicle. Telogen usually lasts 2-3 months.

4. Exogen

Now we get to the phase that we don’t want — shedding. During telogen, hair falls out and follicles start to develop new hairs. 

Hair growth cycles and aging

Now, let's get into what happens when you age. For starters, your follicles can start to weaken and the hair growth cycles can shrink. As a result, your hair grows and sheds more quickly, and the lifespan of your follicles starts to diminish. Eventually, weakened follicles simply shut down and stop producing hair.

Follicles can also start to produce much finer hair, as well as gray hair. Hair turns gray when the follicles stop lending as much pigment to the hair, which is what gives hair its color. With white hair, all the pigment is gone.

Hormone shifts, such as menopause, also influence your hair as you age. When women lose estrogen, it allows androgen hormones to have more influence, and the imbalance in hormones can suppress hair growth.

This also explains why so many men lose hair, even at younger ages. They’re more influenced by androgen hormones, which, according to one study, “exert an inhibitory effect on the hair follicles in the region of the scalp.”

Find hair restoration options that work for you

We’re leading experts in hair restoration, so no matter what drives your hair loss, we can help with some innovative and effective solutions.

If you’re unhappy with thinning hair or hair loss, come sit down with one of our hair restoration experts to review your options. Contact one of our offices in Las Vegas or Henderson, Nevada, to schedule an appointment.