Exogen Phase Hair Loss: Daily Shedding, Triggers & Growth

The exogen phase is the final phase of your hair cycle, where your old hair strands actively shed from your follicle and make room for new hair to grow. This phase lasts for 2 to 5 months. And during this time, you will likely lose 50 to 100 hairs daily. Yet, this is completely normal. 

It should only be a concern when it exceeds the normal range and persists for an extended period. Stress, hormonal changes, poor nutrition, or harsh hair care practices are likely to trigger the exogen phase. What is imperative is to differentiate between natural shedding and excessive hair loss, and what to do and how to prevent it.

Waking up to find hair strands on your pillow can be quite startling. What’s worse, your hair strands are now clogging up the drain. Run your fingers through your hair, and you find more falling out. It gets you anxious. However, we are here to tell you, don’t fret, it is a natural process. In fact, a necessary one for a healthy hair lifecycle growth. This is the exogen phase, the final phase of hair growth.

The exogen phase of hair growth is an important aspect of the human head’s hair cycle. Here, you shed your old hair to make room for new hair to grow. In the course of the exogen phase, the shaft has already fallen from the follicle. 

During this phase, new hair begins to grow in the follicles, replacing the old hair. In fact, during the exogen phase, you are likely to shed 50 to 100 hairs daily. All of this is completely natural.

So let us understand what exactly the exogen phase is and the role it plays in natural hair shedding. 

What is the exogen phase?

Earlier, in the traditional view of the hair cycle, scientists considered the telogen phase the final phase, during which hair rests and begins growing again after three to five months. But scientists realised that hair shedding was just another phase and called it the exogen phase. Here, the process involves actively releasing hair from your shaft to allow new hair to grow underneath. 

So it is important to remember that the exogen phase is natural and should not be considered as hair loss. However, the rate at which you lose your hair may depend on your stress levels, any particular illness, or hormonal shifts. Subsequently, how well your hair grows depends on your scalp health, nutrition, and overall health. 

However, to better understand how the exogen phase works, let us first take a deep dive into the complete hair growth cycle of the human head. After all, hair growth is not just a continuous process, but a programmed cycle. 

Understanding the exogen phase of the hair growth cycle

Now, let us take a look at the various phases of hair growth individually and the role they play in forming healthy hair.

1. The anagen phase

Of all the four phases of hair growth, the anagen phase is the longest, lasting for about two to five years and the most active, with hair growing at a rate of one to two centimetres per month. 

During this phase, your hair follicles continue to generate new cells and make way for new hair. These new cells are called keratinocytes. The process continues as long as the hormones that control it are active. This is why you would have observed men tend to grow their hair out at a much faster rate than women each passing year.

2. The catagen phase

This phase of the hair lifecycle lasts for about two to three weeks, sometimes even less. In this period, the follicles in your hair shrink and hair growth slows down. This occurs because the hair detaches from the blood supply and enters a resting phase before shedding. At any given time, only about 1-2% of your hair is in this phase.

3. The telogen phase 

The telogen phase, which we spoke about earlier, usually occurs after nearly three weeks at the start of the catagen phase and seven months after your body begins producing new cells in the anagen phase. Your old hair enters a resting stage, and over the next two to four weeks, it naturally starts shedding. Once shed from your body, the old hair is replaced with new hair through the eccrine glands. The replaced hair is known as vellus follicles, and is usually found near the base of each hair follicle. These follicles take up nearly 10% to 15% of all scalp skin cells. 

4. The exogen phase 

Finally, there is the exogen phase of the hair growth cycle. In this cycle, your hair follicles release the strands and allow new hair to grow in the follicles. Thus, it plays an essential role in the renewal cycle.

Exogen phase duration: How long is it actually?

As mentioned earlier, the exogen phase can last for two to five months. But it can last shorter or longer depending on factors like hormonal levels, age, and overall health. 

During the exogen phase, your old hair fibre completely detaches itself from the follicle. Your hair can easily be released while washing, brushing, or even when you gently pull it. 

However, if the phase goes longer than expected and you are losing 300 to 500 hairs daily, then you may be experiencing hair thinning. If ignored too long, you may even experience baldness. That is why it is important to identify the cause of your hair shedding. After all, you don’t want your new hair growth to be outpaced by the shedding rate.

1. Stress

Stress is a key factor that causes the exogen phase to present itself early on your hairline. It disturbs regular hair growth and increases hair fall. When you are in a state of stress, you fast-track certain conditions that lead to the exogen phase:

• Telogen effluvium - Here, the anagen phase is accelerated into the telogen phase and subsequently moves to the exogen phase. This results in doubling or, at times, even tripling normal daily hair loss.
• Trichotillomania - This is a mental health condition that is worsened by stress and causes you to have an urge to pull hair from your scalp.
• Alopecia areata - Takes place when your body’s own immune system attacks the healthy hair follicles in your body, causing you to lose hair at a rapid rate.

That is why the key is to manage stress better by following any of these healthy activities, like: 

• Yoga
• Meditation
• Breathing techniques
• Counselling

2. Hormonal changes 

Hormonal changes such as menopause, pregnancy, and thyroid disorders directly influence the exogenous phase. During such times, these changes can reduce the exogen phase duration or even unnecessarily add to it. 

3. Bad diet

Following a healthy, nutritious diet also plays a critical role in supporting hair growth during the exogen phase. An important point about hair is that it is primarily made of keratin, a structural protein. Keratin acts like a building block to your hair and strengthens your strands. When your diet lacks essential vitamins and minerals, like biotin, zinc, and iron, you will notice hair loss. 

Therefore, your diet should include: 

• Protein-rich foods like lentils, eggs, dairy, fish, and nuts
• Iron-rich foods like spinach and legumes, and
• Zinc and B12 sources

4. Poor hair care practices

Poor hair care practices can also impact your hair health. Rough treatments, over-styling, and chemical-heavy products can accelerate the exogen phase. It is also about making the right choices, like choosing the right shampoo or products that best suit you.

• The hair care process can be hit or miss, so you must see how your hair responds to various products. Take small steps at home, like avoiding hot water when you shampoo or towel-dry your hair after showering. After all, your hair is most vulnerable when it is wet. 

Some key practices to remember for a healthy scalp:

• Cleanse regularly but gently
• Avoid excessive heat styling
• Do not over-oil if you have dandruff

How do I manage my hair fall in the exogen phase?

Now that you have understood why there is a possibility of excessive hair fall during the exogen phase, let’s take a look at some of the ways you can avoid hair loss. Since we have already discussed the importance of a healthy diet and managing stress, we will look at other ways to manage hair fall during the exogen phase.

1. Love your scalp

Start showing your scalp some love by getting regular massages. This will help boost blood circulation to your head.

2. Avoid over-styling

It is amazing to style your hair once in a while. But when you regularly straighten your hair or use chemical colours frequently, you weaken your hair. So, it’s good to style at the minimum and use shampoos, conditioners and oils that best suit your hair. 

3. Meet the specialist 

If you are still losing hair and are afraid you could go bald, it’s time to meet the experts and learn how to move forward. However, we would recommend consulting a doctor if you have noticed that: 

• Your hair has consistently shed over four to six months

• You have seen sudden clumps of hair loss

• You can now see visible patches of bald spots

• You have severe itching or scalp pain 

• You feel fatigued, along with hair fall

Additionally, if you’re searching for an effective hair solution without the harsh side effects of chemicals, Traya’s Ultimate Hair Supplements Combo could be a great fit. Created from a blend of Ayurveda, Allopathy, and Nutrition, the combo nourishes your hair without putting any stress on your system. With 20+ herbs and essential nutrients, it helps address deficiencies while supporting healthier hair growth.

Learning about the exogen phase of hair growth is extremely important to distinguish normal hair loss from potential issues related to hair health. And once you know the difference, you are better equipped to maintain scalp health and hair wellness throughout your life.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How can I distinguish between the exogen phase and hair loss?

When you suffer from hair loss, you will likely notice more than 100–150 hair strands. There will be a very noticeable thinning of hair density, and your hairline will recede or widen. If you are in the exogen phase, you wouldn’t notice any change in your hairline. In the exogen phase, you will also lose hair continuously for a period until it stabilises. But with hair loss, you will see it progressively worsening with regrowth weak or worse, absent. 

2. Should I try to stop the exogen phase?

No, and you shouldn’t even attempt to. Exogen is extremely vital for hair renewal. It is better if you concentrate on healthy hair renewal by

• Consuming adequate protein foods
• Maintaining iron and B-vitamin levels
• Maintaining and supporting a balanced thyroid function
• Reducing scalp inflammation
• Regulating stress levels
• Maintaining good sleep cycles
  

3. Is there something known as seasonal hair shedding?

Yes, it is very real and well-documented. Many people have suffered from an increased level of exogenous activity during periods of late summer and early fall. This would likely occur due to: 

• UV exposure 
• Heat-related scalp stress
• Circadian rhythm changes
• Hormonal shifts
  

The good news is that this kind of shedding is usually not permanent, and within six to eight weeks, you will see it stabilise.

4. How do you identify the kind of hair loss during the exogen phase?

When hair is shed during the exogen phase, it would typically look like:

• A white bulb at the root
• Full-length strand
• No breakage at the tip

5. Can oiling reduce shedding during the exogen phase?

No, oiling doesn’t stop natural shedding, but it may reduce breakage. In fact, excessive oiling on an inflamed scalp can only worsen hair fall.

6. Does cutting your hair reduce shedding in the exogen phase?

No. Since shedding occurs at the roots and not the ends, cutting your hair shorter will not reduce shedding in the exogen phase.

7. What does exogen phase shedding look like for men?

For men, exogen phase shedding usually occurs when there is androgen sensitivity (DHT), elevated chronic stress, nutritional neglect, and early male pattern thinning. This would mostly look like a temple recession. 

8. What does exogen phase shedding look like for women?

For women, exogenous phase shedding is triggered by a postpartum hormone drop, PCOS-related hormonal shifts, iron deficiency and thyroid disorders. This would mostly look like widening part lines.

References:

1. https://www.jaad.org/article/S0190-9622(04)01952-8/fulltext
2. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5697516/
3. https://www.hairtransplantdelhi.org/blog/exogen-phase-of-hair-growth
4. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK499948/
5. https://ishrs.org/hair-loss-and-the-hair-growth-cycle/

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