During which phase does the hair transition from growth to rest?

The phase during which hair transitions from growth to rest is known as the catagen phase. In this stage, the hair follicles begin to shrink and the hair stops actively growing. This is a transitional phase that lasts for a few weeks, during which the hair detaches from the papilla and the lower part of the hair follicle is destroyed. As a result, the hair is no longer in the active anagen, or growth, phase, and it prepares to move into the telogen phase, where it remains dormant before eventually shedding.

The anagen phase is actually the active growth phase of the hair, while telogen is the resting phase when the hair is not growing but is still attached. Keratin is a protein that makes up the structure of hair, but it is not a phase of hair growth. Understanding these phases is crucial because they significantly affect hair growth cycles and overall hair health.