Understanding the hair cycle is important for both lash professionals and their clients! Understanding this can help your consultations and make suggestions for your clients on how often they need fills or other related lash topics. The hair (lash) cycle is broken down into 3 main phases, the anagen (growth) phase, catagen (transition) phase, and telogen (rest) phase. Here is a break-down of each phase:
Anagen Phase (growth)
This is the phase where your hair cells are rapidly dividing so new hair is formed.
Catagen Phase (transition)
At the end of the anagen phase, your hair goes into the catagen phase. The catagen phase is when the blood supply is cut off, the hair follicle thins and the hair cells stop dividing.
Telogen Phase (rest)
This is the phase where the hair is at rest, neither falling out or growing.
Exogen Phase (shedding)
Some consider the exogen phase of the hair cycle to be part of the telogen phase. This is when the hair sheds and the cycle is repeated starting with the anagen phase.
The durations of these phases can dramatically change during different seasons of the year. Humans tend to shed more during the spring and fall seasons.
It is important to understand the hair cycle and the things that can possibly affect it. Some of the most common things that affect your hair cycle is: Hormones, stress, genetics, medications, medical issues, diet, pollution, smoking, aging, products. Discussing these with your clients can help you manage their expectations on what is possible with their lashes given the circumstances.
For more information, you can visit the National Library of Medicine on hair.
Get more valuable tips and tricks by joining our course at the Lash Dreams Training website