EYELASH GROWTH CYCLE
The average person has anywhere between 90 to 150 eyelashes on the upper eyelid and about 70 to 80 on the lower eyelid. Eyelashes, eyebrows, arm hair and leg hair have a relatively short active growth phase that lasts about 30 to 45 days.
There are 3 main phases to the Growth Cycle of hair – they are:
ANAGEN – 1ST PHASE
This is the active growth phase and usually only 40% of the lashes on the upper lid are in this phase and 15% of the lower lashes. A new hair forms in the follicle and pushes the old hair out, replacing the old hair immediately. The hair usually grows about 1 cm every 28 days.
CATAGEN – 2ND PHASE
This is the transition phase when the hair stops growing and the follicle shrinks, then attaches to the root of the hair creating what is called a club hair. Lasting 2 to 3 weeks, 3% of hair is in this phase at any given time.
TELOGEN – 3RD PHASE
This is the resting phase that can last over 100 days. Eyelashes, eyebrows, arm and leg hair stay in this phase much longer than scalp hair. A solid, dry, white material is found at the root of a hair if it is pulled out at this time. If an eyelash is pulled out, it will eventually grow back. However, it may take a few months especially if there has been an interruption in the growth cycle and the eyelash needs to get back to the resting, telogen phase.
