What are the Stages of Hair Growth?

Unwanted body hair has led to laser hair removal becoming one of the most common cosmetic treatments in the United States. It is a convenient option for the long-term reduction of hair follicles on the body and face. For those who prefer the look and feel of smooth, hairless skin, the cycle of shaving, waxing, or plucking can be tedious and exhausting. Understanding the stages of hair growth helps with understanding the process of laser hair removal treatments from Allegro Medspa of Santa Rosa.

How does laser hair removal work?

The answer to how laser hair removal works explains a lot about the limitations regarding the stages of hair growth! The laser light targets pigment, which absorbs the light and converts it to heat that damages the follicle and inhibits future growth. That’s why the best candidates for laser hair removal are people with fair skin and dark hair.

The stages of hair growth

Most people know laser hair reduction is a great way to permanently decrease hair growth. However, many don’t know the stages of hair growth, and laser hair removal is only effective during the first stage of growth. 

To account for those stages, we strategically schedule laser hair removal treatments 3-4 weeks apart, depending on which area you are treating. Let’s explore that hair growth cycle a little more.

The growth phase

We call the growth phase anagen. Cells in the root area of the hair divide, causing the hair to grow. Hair follicles are most receptive to the laser at this point because they are rich in protein and melanin. As we mentioned above, melanin absorbs the light, producing heat to damage the follicle. About 85% of hair follicles are in the anagen phase at any time. 

The transition phase

After the anagen phase, follicles enter catagen, the transition phase. The hair stops growing at this point. Catagen lasts only 2-3 weeks and only about 5% of body hair will be in catagen phase at any given time. 

The resting phase

The third and final phase of hair growth is telogen, the resting phase. This is the point in which the hair begins to shed, and the cycle restarts. Healthy head hairs remain in telogen for about 100 days, but other body parts have significant variation in how long telogen lasts. About 10% of follicles are in telogen at any given time. 

Because hair follicles are only susceptible to lasers during anagen, we have to schedule multiple laser hair removal treatments set a few weeks apart. This allows us to catch the follicles during the right phase of the cycle.

Related: Discover Laser Hair Removal Near Me

Ready to forego the stages of hair growth and embrace smooth skin that lasts?

Rid yourself of razors and stop wasting time and energy on shaving, waxing, and bleaching! Schedule a consultation to find out more about laser hair removal treatments at Allegro MedSpa of Santa Rosa. Laser hair removal at our facility in Northern California helps you enjoy smoother skin by treating unwanted follicles on the face and body.

We are here to help fulfill your medical spa needs. Give us a call at (707) 537.2123 or get started with a virtual consultation. Don’t forget, you can always shop online for skincare products! We carry Obagi, Alastin, SkinBetter, SkinMedica and more trusted, effective brands. 

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