If you’ve noticed a few extra hairs in your hairbrush or strands in the shower, don’t worry. Shedding is a completely normal and healthy part of the hair growth cycle, with fallen strands making way for new hair as part of the body’s natural renewal process.
Understanding the hair growth cycle
The hair growth cycle features 4 phases—3 stages of growth followed by a shedding period:
Anagen Phase
The active growth phase, during which cells divide at the root to form strands. On the scalp, this phase lasts 3-7 years on average, determining the potential length of hair, typically growing just over 1cm a month.
LED red light therapy is commonly used as part of a scalp-care routine and is designed to support the appearance of healthy-looking hair by energising the scalp environment.
Catagen Phase
Lasting only a few weeks, this stage marks the end of hair growth as the follicle starts to shrink and detach from the blood supply essential for growth.
Telogen Phase
The resting phase, lasting 2-3 months, during which the hair follicle is inactive. Each hair is held in place by the root, which develops a club shape to anchor it in place until a new hair begins to form.
By boosting cell activity and blood flow, red light therapy helps during this phase, triggering a return to the anagen phase and new hair growth.
Exogen Phase
As old hairs are released and fall from the scalp. Lasting 2-3 months, this is known as the shedding phase and is an essential part of the cycle, preparing follicles for the growth phase to begin and the cycle to continue.
Factors that affect the hair growth cycle
The length of each stage of the cycle is affected by a combination of internal and external factors which can disrupt its natural rhythm and affect growth.
Genetics
Hereditary hair loss caused by a sensitivity to dihydrotestosterone (DHT), can shorten the growth phase with each cycle. This causes follicles to shrink, producing finer, shorter strands until growth stops completely.
Hormones
Estrogen and progesterone help to extend the growth stage and balance DHT levels. Hormonal changes due to pregnancy, menopause, or changing thyroid function can all cause hormones to fall out of balance, reducing the potential for growth.
Lifestyle
A healthy lifestyle is key to healthy hair growth. Nutrient deficiencies, stress and lack of sleep are all known to slow growth, depriving follicles of nutrients and reducing the body’s ability to regenerate, pushing follicles into the resting phase.
Supporting healthy hair growth with LED therapy
At-home red light therapy devices are designed to support scalp health and the appearance of fuller-looking hair when used consistently as part of a regular routine. By helping to maintain a healthy scalp environment, red light therapy can be a useful addition to a well-rounded haircare routine.
Devices like the CurrentBody Skin LED Hair Growth Helmet help to support the scalp and enhance the look and feel of hair, promoting the appearance of thicker, healthier-looking strands over time.
To supercharge your routine and take your growth to the next level, complement red light therapy with a healthy, balanced diet, rich in protein and vitamins and minerals essential for forming strong, healthy strands. This includes iron, vitamin D and biotin—the building blocks of hair.
For best results, follow LED sessions with a gentle scalp massage to boost circulation, and opt for gentle products and low tension hairstyles to protect new growth.
Maximise your hair growth cycle with LED red light therapy
Instead of repeating the same cycle of growth to shedding and back again, LED technology offers a way to support your scalp and hair as part of a consistent, considered approach to haircare.
