On average, 100 hairs are physiologically shed on a daily basis throughout the human scalp, at random. The hair cycle is also subject to chronological influences. For example, during the autumn months, daily hair shedding may double, while there is diminished shedding in the spring. Both the duration of hair growth and the daily growth rate are greater in summer than winter.
In humans, follicular activity has a mosaic pattern (dysynchronous), with neighbouring follicles being at different stages of the hair growth cycle. At any given moment in time, roughly 90% of the terminal hair is in the growing phase and the other 10% is resting. Consequently, we can summarize that the hair cycle consists of three phases:
ANAGEN (growing) PHASE which is the longest and constitutes about 90% of the growth cycle. This phase lasts 3 to 5 years.
CATAGEN (intermediate) PHASE where hair follicles prepare themselves for resting phase. During this period, follicles detach from the blood vessels and blood supply is cut off. Club hairs, which are often those little short, colorless ones, simply stop growing. This phase lasts around 1 to 2 weeks, while during this phase hair follicles start to collapse.
TELOGEN (resting or shedding) PHASE usually lasts 3 to 4 months, when the follicle “rests” before starting the Anagen phase again. At the end of this period older hairs that have finished their life cycle falling out and they are replaced by newer hair.
So make sure to nourish your scalp by eating a healthy diet, practicing stress management, and getting plenty of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and substances such as essential amino acids (the building blocks of protein), natural vasodilators and plant-based adaptogens.