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Catagen Phase

Also Called Transitional Phase

Catagen phase starts mysteriously at the end of the Anagen phase. This phase is also known as the transition phase. When this phase starts, the hair stops growing. It is totally unclear what exactly triggers the start of this phase.

Even though the hair isn't growing any more, lots of interesting things are happening inside the hair follicle during this short phase.

The dermal papilla goes through a lot of changes also. The dermal papilla supplies nutrients to the follicle and is therefore responsible for hair growth.

What are happening?

After an unknown sign, the follicle separates from the permal papilla and doesn't receive nourishment from it any more, but stays attached with a very thin strand of epiphilial cells,

the follicle shortens to about two thirds of met-anagen phase length (at its deepest),

finally the follicle retracts upwards towards the skin surface, taking the still attached papilla along.

All hair simultaneously?

Change takes place in the hair after all the growing it had to do in the anagen phase. This arrested growth and change happens to only 1-2% of all body hair simultaneously.

This transitional phase is of very short duration. This phase in the hair growth cycle only lasts a few (14-21) days to a few weeks.

Although growth is arrested, the follicle is still attached to the dermal papilla. But it doesn't receive any nourishment from it any longer.

There are no further dermal papilla cell stimulation. No more cells are laid down in the follicle to form new hair fibre.

This means the hair shaft stops growing altogether. The maximum hair length has been reached at this stage.

The hair follicle remains attached to the dermal papilla with a very strong cord of epithelial cells.

Towards the end of the catagen phase this cord gradually becomes thinner and retracts up towards the skin. This upwards movement is followed by the underlying dermal papilla.

The follicle shortens to about two thirds of the total length it reached during the met-anagen or adult anagen phase.

Can hair in this phase be destroyed?

Short and sweet - NO!

It is the dermal papilla, not the follicle, that must be destroyed to stop re-growth of the hair. The best time to destroy the dermal papilla is during the previous phase, namely anagen and more specifically, the early pro-anagen phase.

The dermal papilla is deep in the skin during this phase. And it is only attached to the follicle with a very thin strand of cells.

IPL device is not effective in catagen phase

IPL device is not effective in catagen phase

That means the light of photo epilation devices won't be able to destroy the dermal papilla.

The photo epilation hair removal methods are laser and intense pulsed light, commonly called IPL. Get information about a comparision between laser-vs-IPL devices.

The IPL device on the photo is the one I use for removal of unwanted body hair at my home salon. Feel free to contact me to make an appointment for a relaxing full body massage, waxing or photo epilation treatment.

Nor will electrolysis have any effect on the dermal papilla to destroy the hair, because the probe can't reach it to destroy it.

That means all light based hair removal methods like intense pulsed light or IPL devices or laser devices won't have any damaging effect on a hair in this phase, because the follicle has already detached itself from the dermal papilla.

Lastly the follicle enters a time of rest in the telogen phase of the hair growth cycle.

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Other pages related to Catagen phase

The active growing time in the hair growth cycle is called the anagen phase. It is sub-divided into the pro-, mes- and met-anagen phases.
After the catagen phase comes the telogen phase. At the end of this phase the hair falls out and the whole process starts over again.
Read more about the effects of melanin on both hair and skin.