business. That the hair stops growing after the ends reach a certain length. This doesn't make sense to me. Most people's hair continues to grow well into old age. So as long as the hair, mostly the ends, is taken care of, your hair will get longer. I don't quite understand how someone's hair, after a certain point, just says forget about it and calls it a night. Maybe I'm understanding this incorrectly?
You guys don't actually believe in this terminal Length
- Thread starter Harina
- Start date
Please do a search on this - it's been hashed out 50-11 times.
My bad! Off to do a search.
dontspeakdefeat
Hair Coach
It has to do with the different stages of growth on your head. Not all hair on your hair grows in the same stage. Everyone's growth cycle is different. I am sure most people can grow between 2-4 feet of hair easily. The longer the growth cycle the longer you can grow your hair. The shorter the growth cycle, well you know what that means.
You may also have a long growth cycle but a shorter growth rate and vice versa. There are many factors in terminal length but most of us can grow a healthy head of brastrap, waistlength or even hip length hair with no problems.
Hair Growth Cycle
Hair on the scalp grows about 0.3 to 0.4 mm a day. Our bodies contain all the hair follicles that will ever grow from the day we are born. Over time, some may change in size, but new hair follicles do not normally develop unless they are specifically induced to do so. Losing about 50-100 strands of hair every day is absolutely normal as it is a result of the natural hair growth cycle. This indicates that when an old hair dies, the growing phase starts again for a new hair to replace it.
At any given time, hairs are in various stages of growth. The hair growth cycle can be divided into 3 phases- catagen, telogen, and anagen.
Anagen
It is the phase of active growth. A new hair is formed which pushes the old club hair up the follicle and eventually out. During this phase the hair grows about 1 cm every 28 days. On the human scalp, the anagen phase of each hair follicle lasts for about 2 to 6 years.
The length of your anagen phase determines the length of your hair. Some people experience difficulty growing their hair long. This is particularly because they have a short active phase of growth. On the other hand, people with long hair have a long anagen phase. So, the longer is your anagen phase, the longer your hair will grow.
Catagen
This phase marks the follicular regression and at any given point 3% of hairs on the scalp are in this phase. This phase lasts approximately 2-3 weeks. During this time the hair stops growing and the hair follicle shrinks and part of it starts to die. This is the beginning of the formation of what is known as a “club” hair.
Telogen
Telogen is a resting phase and 10-15% of all scalp hairs are in the telogen phase. This phase normally lasts for about 3 months. During this phase the hair follicle is completely at rest and the club hair is completely formed. About 25 to 100 telogen hairs (club hairs) are shed normally each day.
Every single hair follicle goes through these three stages of hair growth. Noticeable hair thinning or baldness is partly a result of a short anagen phase and a particularly long telogen phase, which eventually leads to the shutting down of hair follicles completely which marks the end of their growth cycle.
You may also have a long growth cycle but a shorter growth rate and vice versa. There are many factors in terminal length but most of us can grow a healthy head of brastrap, waistlength or even hip length hair with no problems.
Hair Growth Cycle
Hair on the scalp grows about 0.3 to 0.4 mm a day. Our bodies contain all the hair follicles that will ever grow from the day we are born. Over time, some may change in size, but new hair follicles do not normally develop unless they are specifically induced to do so. Losing about 50-100 strands of hair every day is absolutely normal as it is a result of the natural hair growth cycle. This indicates that when an old hair dies, the growing phase starts again for a new hair to replace it.
At any given time, hairs are in various stages of growth. The hair growth cycle can be divided into 3 phases- catagen, telogen, and anagen.
Anagen
It is the phase of active growth. A new hair is formed which pushes the old club hair up the follicle and eventually out. During this phase the hair grows about 1 cm every 28 days. On the human scalp, the anagen phase of each hair follicle lasts for about 2 to 6 years.
The length of your anagen phase determines the length of your hair. Some people experience difficulty growing their hair long. This is particularly because they have a short active phase of growth. On the other hand, people with long hair have a long anagen phase. So, the longer is your anagen phase, the longer your hair will grow.
Catagen
This phase marks the follicular regression and at any given point 3% of hairs on the scalp are in this phase. This phase lasts approximately 2-3 weeks. During this time the hair stops growing and the hair follicle shrinks and part of it starts to die. This is the beginning of the formation of what is known as a “club” hair.
Telogen
Telogen is a resting phase and 10-15% of all scalp hairs are in the telogen phase. This phase normally lasts for about 3 months. During this phase the hair follicle is completely at rest and the club hair is completely formed. About 25 to 100 telogen hairs (club hairs) are shed normally each day.
Every single hair follicle goes through these three stages of hair growth. Noticeable hair thinning or baldness is partly a result of a short anagen phase and a particularly long telogen phase, which eventually leads to the shutting down of hair follicles completely which marks the end of their growth cycle.
Woah, too much science for me.
So each follicle (or strand?) of hair goes through these three phases.
The club hair is the hair we see on everyone's head?
What I don't understand is after the hair has reached the last phase (Telogen?), there will eventually be a renewal of the three phases. The hair will start to grow again. Say one strand of hair is still there from the telogen phase, and it begins to grow again through the anagen phases, will that one strand of hair not continue to grow. Or is that the club hair that will eventually be pushed out (or shed)?
So each follicle (or strand?) of hair goes through these three phases.
The club hair is the hair we see on everyone's head?
What I don't understand is after the hair has reached the last phase (Telogen?), there will eventually be a renewal of the three phases. The hair will start to grow again. Say one strand of hair is still there from the telogen phase, and it begins to grow again through the anagen phases, will that one strand of hair not continue to grow. Or is that the club hair that will eventually be pushed out (or shed)?
If it wasn't for this paragraph found in another thread, I probably wouldn't believe any of it. It makes sense to me. I'm gonna stopping bumping this thread and talking to myself.
"IMO the phrase, terminal length is misleading.
I believe that our hair grows for a certain period of time. At the end of the growth period the hair starts to shed. So if your growth period is 5 years, you will grow hair until it reaches the 5 year mark. The hair will then go in to a resting phase, and after that will fall and be replaced with new hair. Now because of this, it may seem as if your hair is growing to a certain length when in truth it is growing for a certain amount of time... and then it starts to shed.
It has already been proven that we have growth and resting phases.
If there was no such thing as terminal length our eye lashes/brows and body hair would be out of this world LOL. It doesn't make sense that we have terminal length on every other inch of our bodies but not our heads.
I believe this theory applies to animals also. Animals with hair and/or fur only grow hair to a certain length.
However I think that for the average person, terminal length is at least MBL. I believe that the vast majority (with a healthy lifestyle and proper hair care) can surpass BSL"
"IMO the phrase, terminal length is misleading.
I believe that our hair grows for a certain period of time. At the end of the growth period the hair starts to shed. So if your growth period is 5 years, you will grow hair until it reaches the 5 year mark. The hair will then go in to a resting phase, and after that will fall and be replaced with new hair. Now because of this, it may seem as if your hair is growing to a certain length when in truth it is growing for a certain amount of time... and then it starts to shed.
It has already been proven that we have growth and resting phases.
If there was no such thing as terminal length our eye lashes/brows and body hair would be out of this world LOL. It doesn't make sense that we have terminal length on every other inch of our bodies but not our heads.
I believe this theory applies to animals also. Animals with hair and/or fur only grow hair to a certain length.
However I think that for the average person, terminal length is at least MBL. I believe that the vast majority (with a healthy lifestyle and proper hair care) can surpass BSL"
dontspeakdefeat
Hair Coach
That's exactly right. The facts vary but humans shed anywhere from 50 to 200 hairs a day. Wow!
MizzBrown
Well-Known Member
BUMP!!
Anyone here reached their terminal length? I think I have. I've been on this board far too long to only have the growth that I have.
I'm gonna do a length check w/ comparison pics this March when I get it straightened/blow out, and then decide if I just want to get a hair cut since I know it wont retain anymore length past a certain point.
Has anyone realized that have they reached this point?
Anyone here reached their terminal length? I think I have. I've been on this board far too long to only have the growth that I have.
I'm gonna do a length check w/ comparison pics this March when I get it straightened/blow out, and then decide if I just want to get a hair cut since I know it wont retain anymore length past a certain point.
Has anyone realized that have they reached this point?
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