How to know if hair is in telogen phase?

Author: Casey Goodwin  |  Last update: Tuesday, August 5, 2025

During the telogen phase, the hair follicle is completely at rest, and the club hair is completely formed. 4 Pulling out a hair during the telogen phase of the cycle will reveal a solid, hard, dry, white material at the root.

Is my hair in the telogen phase?

The third stage of your natural hair growth cycle is the Telogen Phase, a resting period when strands remain in their follicles but are not actively growing. An estimate of 10-15% of your hairs are in the Telogen Phase at any given moment. How long does the Telogen Stage last? Approximately 3 months or 100 days.

What does a telogen hair look like?

Telogen effluvium is usually diagnosed by its clinical features. Hair thinning involves the entire scalp +/- loss of other body hair. Examination shows diffuse thinning without focal areas of total alopecia and short hairs of normal thickness.

How can you tell the difference between anagen and telogen hair?

An Anagen hair is active, growing hair. From the surface, Anagen hairs tend to be stronger in hair shaft tensile strength and more pigmented (that is, these hairs have more melanin). On the other hand, Telogen hairs are dormant, inactive hairs. These hairs tend to be weaker and less pigmented.

How do you know which phase your hair is in?

The anagen phase is the longest and can last between 3 and 5 years (sometimes even longer). The catagen phase is the shortest stage and usually lasts for about 10 days. The telogen phase typically lasts for 2 to 3 months. The exogen phase lasts approximately 2 to 5 months.

Telogen Effluvium Hair Loss - What is it? How To Fix It Fast

How long does the telogen stage last?

The telogen stage is the rest stage. At the end of this 3- to 4-month phase, some of your hair falls out. Losing up to 100 hairs a day is normal. When a hair falls out, a new hair is grown in the same hair follicle, and the growing cycle begins again.

How fast does telogen effluvium start?

In about 33% of cases, a direct cause cannot be identified.

Usually, telogen effluvium occurs about 4 to 6 weeks after one of these insults and begins to resolve after a few months' time.

How long can hair follicles stay dormant?

Then is the telogen or resting phase. The follicle becomes dormant for around 1 to 4 months. The club hair that has been formed keeps the hair in the follicle for several months, but the hair is no longer in anyway alive or growing.

What does hair loss from stress look like?

No Visible Pattern. With stress-related shedding, hair falls out evenly all over your scalp instead of in a defined pattern. You'll likely notice more hairs than usual coming out while shampooing, combing, or on your pillow, clothing, and bathroom floor.

How to get hair out of telogen phase?

Telogen effluvium should resolve on its own, so you may not need treatment. However, common telogen effluvium treatments may include: Medications: Over-the-counter (OTC) medications you apply to your scalp, such as minoxidil (Rogaine®), promote hair growth.

What can be mistaken for telogen effluvium?

The condition usually affects women over 40 years of age who complain of diffuse alopecia and may be misdiagnosed as having telogen effluvium, and has also been designated 'alopecia areata incognita' (yet another synonymous designation for the same condition proposed by Rebora [30] in 1987).

Why am I losing 200 hairs a day?

Several medical conditions result in losing 200-300 hairs a day. Conditions like alopecia areata, radiation therapy, ringworm infection, and excessive scratching or pulling of hair can be the primary reasons behind hair loss.

How to tell the difference between new hair growth and breakage?

"If the flyaways are in just one section, it's most likely breakage." "New growth may stick out, but the hair is easier to tame and will cooperate with the style you are trying to achieve," says Izquierdo.

What does it mean if your hair falls out with a white tip?

The white bulb indicates that the hair was in the resting (telogen) phase of the hair growth cycle. Normally, about 10-15% of your hair is in this phase, but with telogen effluvium, up to around 70% of your anagen hair (hair that is actively growing) may enter the resting phase and fall out prematurely.

How to reopen hair follicles?

Experts Advice on How You Truly Restore Hair Follicles on Chemically Damaged Hair
  1. Minoxidil: A Proven Hair Regrowth Solution. Prescription Medications.
  2. Nutritional and Lifestyle Approaches. Diet and Supplements for Hair Health.
  3. Stress Management and Hair Growth.
  4. Professional Hair Care and Styling. Gentle Hair Care Practices.

What wakes up dormant hair follicles?

Reviving dormant hair follicles and promoting healthy hair growth can be achieved through a combination of methods, including scalp massage, essential oils, supplements, low-level laser therapy, PRP therapy, dietary changes, and stress management techniques.

How do I know my hair follicles are alive?

Hair follicles are below the skin, so you cannot see them when looking at your scalp. When they are healthy, you can see the hair they produce. However, when they are no longer able to produce hair, there is nothing left to see above the scalp.

Can microneedling revive dead hair follicles?

By stimulating hair follicles, increasing collagen production, and enhancing the absorption of topical treatments, microneedling can help to promote hair regrowth and improve scalp health.

Is losing 150 hairs a day normal?

On average, you can expect to lose between 50 and 150 hairs daily. Yes, this may seem like a lot, but look at it this way: You have around 100,000 (or more) hair follicles on your head. So, routine hair shedding is just a drop in the bucket. This will also depend on the length and thickness of your hair.

What is the average time span for the telogen stage?

If the dermal papilla is unable to reach the bulge during catagen, follicle cycling terminates resulting in loss of hair [1]. The telogen resting phase follows, lasting about two to three months.

Can you reverse telogen phase?

Telogen effluvium usually lasts around 6 months and is generally reversible.

How do you know if telogen effluvium is improving?

Hair shedding will decrease. If your hair reaches a normal amount of shedding (i.e. 50 to 100 hairs per day), that's a pretty clear indication that telogen effluvium regrowth is occurring. If you have long hair, you will notice more short hair strands throughout your scalp.

How to tell if hair loss is from stress?

If your daily hair fall is more than the usual 80-100 strands of hair, you might be suffering from stress-related hair loss. If you notice bald patches on your scalp, it may be a sign of Alopecia Areata. If you have had the urge to pull out your hair, it may be stress-induced Trichotillomania.

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