Hair Growth Cycle

There are approximately 100,000 hair follicles on your scalp and the average person typically sheds between 50 - 100 hairs every day, as part of the natural hair growth cycle.

Your hair is attached to your scalp at the base of the follicle by the hair root. This is where the hair grows and is continuously nourished by small blood vessels delivering oxygen and nutrients to the cells. The actual thickness of the hair depends on the size of the hair follicle from which it grows. Like all the hair on our body, each hair on our head follows its own independent 3 phase growth cycle:

• Anagen: The active growth phase
  90% of hairs are in active growth at any one time. The growth phase lasts for approx 4 years

• Catagen - The transition phase
  During this phase the hair stops growing and the follicle shrinks. This short phase lasts 2-4 weeks.

• Telogen - The resting phase
  This is a period of rest and inactivity when the hair has reached the full extent of its growth and the hair falls out. Normally, no more than 10% of hair is in this phase at any one time, which can last up to 3 months before the cycle is repeated.

Unfortunately, through Female Pattern Hair Loss the hair follicle shrinks (miniaturization) and the hair becomes finer. In addition, the growth phase (Anagen - approx. 4 years) becomes shorter and the resting phase (Telogen - approx. 3months) progressively longer, which inevitably leads to sparse hair growth and ultimately to hair loss.

LA Science Follicle Stimulating Shampoo and Anti Hair Loss Serum deliver unique growth-factor-mimicking peptides directly into the follicle to extend the growth phase and shorten the resting phase. By doing so, it effectively prolongs the hair life-cycle and significantly increases the volume of hair on the head.

Hair loss in women

Female Pattern Hair Loss

Recent research suggests that up to 60% of post menopausal women and approximately 13% of pre menopausal women suffer some degree of hair loss. This hair loss is usually attributed to hormonal changes; however, hereditary hair loss is still the major cause of thinning hair in both men and women.
Female Pattern Hair Loss is characterised by an increased production of testosterone and differs to the male pattern in that women usually experience a general thinning of the hair with the predominant hair loss occurring over the top of the head.

Due to the diverse causes of female hair loss, it is important not to ‘self diagnose’ and to seek medical advice in the first instance in order to eliminate any potential illness, allergies or diet deficiencies. Please read the LA Science Hair Loss Triggers page for further information.