Question: How long does the anagen phase last?

When a hair is in the anagen phase and has become visible above the surface of the skin, how many weeks (approximately) will it be in the anagen phase before it dies? Does anyone know?

I think it depends on the area of the body? If you state that you might get a more accurate answer!

Really? I didn’t know that. The two areas I’m interested in are the face and the legs.

We can only speak of GUIDELINES for hair growth cycles. Researchers know more about scalp hair because it has been well-studied, but as for other areas of the body, this information is not complete or highly accurate as there are many variables that affect each individuals anagen/telogen ratio’s and hair growth rates.

With that said, hair on the leg/thighs is 80% in the telogen phase (resting) and 20% in the anagen phase (growing). The resting stage lasts about 24 weeks and the growing stage, 16 weeks AND there are about 60 follicles per square cm.

As for the face, here is the data:

Cheeks / 30-50% resting / 50-70% growing / About 900 follicles, per square cm.

Chin / 30% resting/ 70% growing / 10 weeks telogen / 1 year anagen / 500 follicles per square cm.

Upper lip / 35% resting/ 65% anagen / 6 weeks telogen / 16 weeks / 500 follicles per square cm.

Again, these are useful guidelines and more research is needed.

Dee

Thank you so much for the information Dee. You answered my question for me.

Dee, 900 follicles per square cm can’t mean 900 hars (!) per square cm, can it? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

Dee, 900 follicles per square cm can’t mean 900 hars (!) per square cm, can it? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

I cant imagine so. The scalp only has 100-180 hairs per sqcm. hmm.

Sorry guys. I just went back and edited the cheek info. instead of the original 900 hairs per square cm., it should have read 900 follicles per sq. cm. I must have been multi-tasking at the time when I wrote that one. Thanks for pointing that out. You hairtell readers are so smart! I rounded that out to 900 as the chart actually stated 880 follicles per square cm., so good news is, you actually have less than 900!

Yes, that sounds horrible, but that doesn’t mean that each hair follicle has a hair growing out of it or ever will. There are a tremendous amount of follicles that have the potential to come to life and given the proper condition and the right amount of hormonal stimulation, they certainly can come to life. Thank goodness these empty follicles are far more plentiful than the follicles that are the active anagen and telogen variety that produce a hair or we would all look like JO-JO the dog-faced boy or Lionel, the Lion-Faced Man. Check these guys out at: http://freaks.monstrous.com/famous_freaks.htm

Dee

Hi snnck.

I looked on the chart for scalp hair and it states that there are 350 follicles per square cm. so the actual follicles that are growing a hair could figure into the 100-180 range. There is a difference between empty, inactive follicles and active, producing follicles. Just keep in mind how general this observed information is, but it is still useful.

Dee

Hi snnck.

I looked on the chart for scalp hair and it states that there are 350 follicles per square cm. so the actual follicles that are growing a hair could figure into the 100-180 range. There is a difference between empty, inactive follicles and active, producing follicles. Just keep in mind how general this observed information is, but it is still useful.

Dee

Thanks Dee, I read somewhere that 95% of scalp hairs are in the anagen phase at any given time though. Unless I am confused on the definition of inactive follicles, correct me if I am wrong but doesn’t that mean follicles in the telegan stage?

An inactive follicle cannot be in the telogen or resting stage because there is no hair in an inactive follicle.

There are growing follicles, resting follicles and lots and lots and lots of potential inactive follicles that have never grown hair. These potential follicles can be awakened to grow hair in the future with the proper stimulus,though.

The chart I am referencing states that scalp hair is %85 in the growing stage. So your %95 statement can be correct, too, as they are both in the same ball park. See what I mean by general information on hair growth cycles?

An inactive follicle cannot be in the telogen or resting stage because there is no hair in an inactive follicle.

There are growing follicles, resting follicles and lots and lots and lots of potential inactive follicles that have never grown hair. These potential follicles can be awakened to grow hair in the future with the proper stimulus,though.

The chart I am referencing states that scalp hair is %85 in the growing stage. So your %95 statement can be correct, too, as they are both in the same ball park. See what I mean by general information on hair growth cycles?

Yep, I see now! I am intrigued by these inactive follicles, I have never heard of them. What sort of stimulus could activate growth these inactive follicles? What purpose do they serve?

Also when hair is permanatley killed via electrolysis, are they considered inactive follicles? What could trigger re-growth? I’ll have to watch out.

thnx!

The inactive potential follicle can be awakened by male hormones, which are found in both men and women by the way, and certain drugs can also be the stimulus. For those follicles that don’t have a hair, they can still function to secrete oil to lubricate your skin and prevent moisture loss.

Once a hair follicle is completely damaged/destroyed by electrolysis, no matter what the body does to try and repair it will be fruitless. There will be no regrowth. If a hair follicle is partially damaged and some hair germ cells are left behind, then a thinner and perhaps lighter hair will probably return. That’s why we preach like a preacher, "BE CONSISTENT WITH YOUR TREATMENTS so we can catch new growth or any regrowth after it first appears. Soon, we catch up with all the offending hair and there isn’t much to treat as you get near the end and we’re clapping and singing “Oh Happy Day” together complete with tears of joy.

Dee

Once a hair follicle is completely damaged/destroyed by electrolysis, no matter what the body does to try and repair it will be fruitless. There will be no regrowth.

What if one gets on Minoxidil or Propecia to stop hair loss / regrow hair in the future, after electrolysis?

Microscopic scar tissue is created after electrolysis. The nourishment is cut off and thus, will not allow the same hair follicle to produce and grow a hair again if it was adquately destroyed. A neighbor hair follicle that was not selected by the electrolysis probe may still produce and grow a hair with the proper stimulus, though.

Microscopic scar tissue is created after electrolysis. The nourishment is cut off and thus, will not allow the same hair follicle to produce and grow a hair again if it was adquately destroyed. A neighbor hair follicle that was not selected by the electrolysis probe may still produce and grow a hair with the proper stimulus, though.

Ok cool, so if it is really killed by electrolysis, there is no chance for regrowth whatsoever, thanks <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Now what if the electrolysis left fine baby ‘peach fuzz’ hairs after the sessions, could a hair growth stimulator make that grown darker, thicker, and longer?

Maybe. If that particular hair is sensitive to some kind of stimulus,it could grow bigger. As long as there are hair germ cells and the follicle is still functioning as a hair follicle, yes, that is a possibilty.

[quote]Once a hair follicle is completely damaged/destroyed by electrolysis, no matter what the body does to try and repair it will be fruitless. There will be no regrowth.

[/quote]

I have taken 6-7 20min sessions for my upper lip
But hair is coming back in 2-3 weeks
According to what you said above ,there shouldn’t be any hair regrowth
I never shaved that palce
How many more treatments i need ?
Do i have imbalanced harmones ?Do i need to check that with doctor before taking this electrolysis Sessions?
Any suggestions and help regarding this will be appreciated

I don’t know how many more treatments you need. If you are talking about hair on your upper lip only, no other problem areas on your body, I really wouldn’t go running to an endocrinologist to have your hormone levels checked.

Shaving has nothing ,nil, noda, to do with your hair growth.

I don’t have any idea how much hair you have. Reading your past posts, it looks like you started treatment in September? You really need to go through 3 hair growth cycles, so we are talking a minimum time investment of 9-12 months. If your person treats the hair follicle with the right amount of current for the right amount of time in the right stage of growth, that hair is a goner - it can’t come back.

You have more hair than you think. What you saw on the surface of your upper lip before you had your first treatment is probably about a 1/3 of the active hair that you really have. Remember, hair grows in cycles and it takes time to get all the offending hair to come to the surface just one time. Just give this a chance, as 6-7 treatments over five months time only gets you half way home.

For most average cases , it takes me at least 6-8 treatments just to get to first clearance and thereafter, as we reach the end there maybe 5-6 more treatments to finish things off. Some cases require less treatments, some require more. That describes my practice, but your practitioner may be different. There are a lot of variables to this business of removing hair.

Besides patience, you need to keep tabs on how well your upper lip heals during this process. Hopefully, all is well in that department.

Do you know the difference between pores per square and follicles per square? Because a pore can hold 13 to 16 follicle which if activated we would look like bear.

Our scalps have a anegen life of 7 plus years. 75% shows 25% rests. I have read the facts if you want proof research it yourself.