Which hair growth phase is known for shedding?

The phase known for shedding hair is the telogen phase. This is the final stage of the hair growth cycle, during which the hair follicles are inactive and the hair strands are fully formed but not anchored to the follicle. It is during the telogen phase that the hair is shed from the scalp, making room for new hair to grow in the subsequent anagen phase.

During the telogen phase, which lasts for several weeks to months, hair is in a resting state. Eventually, the old hair falls out, and new growth begins while entering the anagen phase again. Understanding these phases is critical for recognizing normal hair growth patterns and diagnosing potential hair loss issues.

The other phases, such as anagen and catagen, involve active growth and transition states of the hair, but they do not typically correlate with the shedding of hair. The exogen phase is sometimes cited as part of hair shedding, but it is less formally recognized in the classic hair growth cycle compared to the telogen phase, which is widely acknowledged as the shedding stage.