Understanding the hair growth cycle: Why multiple electrolysis treatments are needed

Mar 10
4 min read

Updated: Apr 7

What you'll learn

In this blog, you'll learn what’s really going on beneath the surface, including:

How the Hair Growth Cycle works and why hairs don’t all appear at once
Why some hairs seem to “suddenly show up” even after a good clearance
Why electrolysis is most effective at a specific stage of growth
What’s really happening beneath the surface (including hairs you can’t yet see)
And, why consistency over time is what leads to permanent results

If you’re considering electrolysis for permanent hair removal, one of the most important things to understand is the hair growth cycle.

Many people assume that once a hairs are treated, all the hairs in that area should disappear immediately. In reality, hair grows in repeating cycles, and not all hairs are visible or treatable at the same time. Understanding how hair grows helps explain why electrolysis is performed over a series of treatments and why patience and consistency are key to achieving permanent results.

How many hair follicles do we have?

The human body contains around five million hair follicles, although most of these produce tiny, almost invisible hairs known as vellus hairs.

Some follicles produce the thicker hairs that we typically notice on areas like the face, underarms, chest, bikini area etc.

Each follicle functions independently, meaning that every hair is at a different stage of growth at any given time. This is why we naturally shed hairs every day without noticing large patches of loss.

The Four Stages of the Hair Growth Cycle

Every hair follicle goes through four repeating stages:

Anagen (growth phase)
Catagen (transition phase)
Telogen (resting phase)
Exogen (shedding phase)

Each stage plays an important role in determining when hair can be treated.

Anagen – The Active Growth Phase

The anagen phase is when the hair is actively growing.

During this stage:

the hair is attached to the dermal papilla
the follicle is receiving nutrients from the blood supply
the hair continues to lengthen as new cells are produced

On the scalp, this phase can last several years, while body hair typically has a shorter growth phase.

Facial hair behaves differently. Depending on the specific area, around 50–70% of facial hairs may be in the growth phase at one time, while others remain in resting or transitional stages beneath the skin.

This is one of the reasons electrolysis treatments are spaced over time — new hairs continue to emerge as follicles enter their growth phase.

Electrolysis works most effectively when a hair is treated during its growth phase. However, not every follicle will be in this stage at the same time.

Catagen – The Transition Phase

The catagen phase is a short transition stage where hair growth stops.

During this stage:

the follicle begins to shrink
the hair separates from its blood supply
the hair stops actively growing

This stage typically lasts two to three weeks. Because the follicle is already shrinking, treating hairs in this phase may be less effective than treating them during early growth.

Telogen – The resting phase

The telogen phase is the resting stage of the cycle.

During this period:

the hair remains in the follicle
no new growth occurs
the follicle prepares to begin a new cycle

This phase usually lasts around two to three months. Around 10–15% of hairs are typically in this stage at any given time.

Exogen – The shedding phase

The exogen phase is when the old hair sheds and a new hair begins to grow in the follicle.

It is completely normal to lose 50–100 hairs per day as part of this natural cycle.

Because each follicle operates independently, hair shedding happens gradually rather than all at once.

Why not all hair is visible at the same time

One of the key things to understand is that many hair follicles are dormant beneath the skin at any given moment.

This means that when you look at an area of unwanted hair:

some follicles are producing visible hairs
some are resting below the surface
some are preparing to start a new growth phase

As new hairs enter the anagen stage, they become visible.

This is why hair may appear to “come back” after treatment — but in reality, these are different hairs entering the growth phase.

Why electrolysis requires multiple treatments

Because hairs grow in cycles, electrolysis is performed over a series of treatments rather than a single session. Each appointment targets the hairs that are currently visible and treatable.

Over time:

existing hairs are permanently treated
dormant follicles begin producing new hairs
those hairs are treated during later appointments

Gradually, the number of active hairs in the area decreases.

What happens over time with electrolysis

With consistent treatments, clients typically notice:

fewer hairs returning and slower regrowth
finer hairs appearing before disappearing entirely

The goal is to progressively treat each follicle during its active growth phase until permanent removal is achieved.

Why patience and consistency matter

Electrolysis is extremely precise because each hair follicle is treated individually. However, this also means that permanent results are achieved gradually, following the natural rhythm of the hair growth cycle.

Understanding how hair grows helps set realistic expectations and explains why regular treatments produce the best long-term results.

✨ Electrolysis works with your body’s natural hair growth cycle — not against it.

At ElectroGlow, I'll support you with real information, compassionate care, and long-term solutions. No shame. No fuss. Just science, support, and smoother skin.