What stage of hair growth is represented by telogen?

Telogen is the stage of hair growth that is characterized as the resting phase. During this period, hair follicles are in a dormant state, and hair that is in the telogen phase is not growing but is retained within the hair follicle until it falls out naturally or is replaced by new hair. This is a crucial phase in the hair growth cycle, as it allows for the shedding of old hair and the eventual transition to the new anagen (active growth) phase.

In contrast, the other stages represent different aspects of hair growth. The active growth stage refers specifically to anagen, where the hair is actively growing. The transitional phase relates to catagen, where hair growth slows and the follicle shrinks. The initial phase pertains to entering the growth cycle but does not precisely capture the characteristics of telogen. Understanding these phases helps in comprehending the overall hair growth cycle and the implications for treatments related to hair loss or cosmetic procedures.