If your hair sometimes feels full and thriving, then suddenly starts shedding, you’re not imagining things. Your hair follows a natural rhythm. Each strand on your head moves through a repeating cycle of growth, rest, and renewal. When you understand this process, you can nurture your hair at every stage and set yourself up for stronger, healthier growth over time. As I often tell my patients, healthy hair doesn’t begin with a serum or a styling tool, it starts from within. What’s happening beneath the surface of your scalp is just as important as what you apply on top of it.
1. The Anagen Phase: The Growth Stage
This is the phase everyone hopes to prolong, the active growth stage when hair follicles are busy producing new cells that push the strand upward. Around 85 to 90 percent of your hair is in this phase at any given time. The anagen phase typically lasts two to seven years, depending on genetics, hormones, and overall health. Chronic stress, thyroid imbalances, pregnancy, or menopause can all shorten the anagen phase, leading to slower growth or premature shedding. Nutrition also plays a major role since your follicles need a steady supply of energy, vitamins, and minerals to stay in growth mode. To support this phase, feed your body the building blocks of strong hair such as MSM for keratin production, biotin, zinc, and vitamin D. Keep your scalp clean and balanced to allow follicles to thrive. In-office treatments such as PRP, or platelet-rich plasma therapy, and topical Minoxidil can further enhance this stage by improving circulation and stimulating follicular activity, helping extend the growth cycle for thicker, fuller hair. When combined with a daily supplement like Wellbel, which provides the essential nutrients your follicles depend on, these therapies work together to strengthen hair from the inside out and stimulate consistent growth.
Dr. Ashley Dietrich’s tip: “The health of your hair months from now depends on how you nourish your body today.”
2. The Catagen Phase: The Transition Stage
After the active growth period, your follicles enter a brief two to three week transitional phase. During this time, the hair detaches from its blood supply and prepares to rest. It’s a natural and necessary reset for the next cycle. This is a delicate period, as inflammation, excessive tension on the hair, or harsh chemical treatments can disrupt the transition, weakening follicles before they move into the resting stage. To support this phase, be gentle. Reduce scalp stress and protect your follicles with antioxidants like vitamins C and E. Continue nourishing your scalp environment with topical support. Minoxidil helps maintain follicle vitality during this slower phase, while PRP delivers concentrated growth factors that encourage smooth regeneration. Paired with consistent internal nutrition from Wellbel, this combination helps sustain scalp health and protect follicles as they reset for the next wave of growth.
Dr. Ashley Dietrich’s tip: “Even when your hair seems still, there’s a lot happening beneath the surface. Gentle care and patience go a long way.”
3. The Telogen Phase: The Resting Stage
This stage lasts about three to four months. Your hair isn’t actively growing, but it’s still anchored in place as new hair begins to form underneath. You may notice more shedding during this time, which is normal. Old strands are simply making way for new ones. Stress, illness, or hormonal shifts can cause more hairs than usual to enter the telogen phase at once, a temporary condition known as telogen effluvium. Although it can be alarming, it’s reversible with the right care. Focus on recovery and balance by prioritizing restful sleep, hydration, and consistent nourishment. Key nutrients such as biotin, folate, B12, and MSM support new follicle development, while managing stress helps your hair re-enter its growth phase more efficiently. For those experiencing excess shedding, Minoxidil can reactivate resting follicles, PRP can enhance scalp healing and renewal, and Wellbel provides the internal foundation your body needs to sustain healthy regrowth once the cycle restarts. Together, they create the ideal environment for renewed strength and vitality from root to tip.
Dr. Ashley Dietrich’s tip: “Shedding is part of renewal. The key is supporting your scalp and body as they reset.”
How to Grow Hair Faster: Supporting the Cycle from the Inside Out
If you want stronger, faster-growing hair, start with what’s inside. Each follicle depends on a steady flow of vitamins, minerals, and amino acids. That’s where Wellbel comes in. Its science-backed formula, featuring MSM, biotin, zinc, vitamin D, and B-complex vitamins, supports the anagen phase and overall follicle health. When combined with PRP and Minoxidil, the effects are amplified. PRP delivers concentrated growth factors directly to the follicle, Minoxidil stimulates new hair growth at the surface, and Wellbel ensures the body has the nutritional foundation to sustain it all. By nourishing your scalp from the outside and your body from within, you can help extend the growth phase, reduce shedding, and improve the overall thickness and vitality of your hair.
“Healthy hair reflects internal wellness. When you nourish your body and care for your scalp, you support the natural rhythm that keeps your hair thriving.”
