Hereditary hair loss is a common issue for both men and women and is a genetic condition that is normally passed down through the family. 

To understand more about hereditary hair loss, you will need to understand the process of hair growth. 

The hair has 4 stages of growth which are: 

Stage 1 - Anagen Phase (Growth Phase)

Stage 2 - Catagen Phase (Transition Phase) 

Stage 3 - Telogen Phase (Resting Phase) 

Stage 4 - Exogen Phase (Shedding Phase)

Each stage has its own time range, which can be affected by age, nutrition, and overall health.

Stage 1: Anagen Phase 

This is the longest phase as it takes between 3 to 5 years, during this stage your hair follicles are coming through and will continue to grow until they’re cut or until they reach the end of their life and fall out.

Stage 2: Catagen Phase 

This stage lasts for approx. 10 days, during this stage your hair follicles shrink and your hair growth slows down. The hair will separate from the bottom of the hair follicle but remains in place during its final days of growing. 

Stage 3: Telogen Phase 

This stage lasts for approx. 3 months, during this stage your hairs don’t grow or usually fall out either, which is why it’s called the resting phase.

Stage 4: Exogen Phase

This stage lasts between 2 to 5 months, during this stage your hair is shed from the scalp, often helped along by washing and brushing. You can expect to lose between 50 to 100 hairs per day. It’s also when new hairs are growing in the follicles as old hairs are falling away. 

For strong and healthy hair, the hair follicles require continuous supply of nutrients and oxygen especially during the active growth phase (Stage 1). 

What exactly is Hereditary Hair Loss? 

Hereditary hair loss, also known as androgenetic alopecia is a genetic condition that reduces the amount of time that the hair spends growing, which is a result of hair follicle miniaturization which is the shrinking of the hair strand and eventually, the hair follicle. 

This means that the hair at the temples, hairline and the crown start to thin and recede. 

Hereditary Hair Loss: 

• Runs in the family.
• Mostly affects your scalp but can affect other parts of your body.
• Is harmless but can affect your mental wellbeing.
• There is no cure for hereditary hair loss but there are treatments to help.

Hereditary hair loss doesn’t just affect the hair on your head but can also have a number of psychological impacts including poor self-esteem and heightened self-consciousness which is why we recommend that you put self-care above all else and gain support when you need it. 

Unfortunately, there is no cure for hereditary hair loss, which is why it’s important to act on it as soon as possible and use products that are proven to be effective. 

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