Which hair growth phase is known as the transitional phase?

The transitional phase of hair growth is referred to as catagen. During this phase, which lasts for a few weeks, the hair stops growing and begins to change. The hair follicle shrinks and detaches from the nourishing papilla, which is essential for growth. As a result, the hair transitions from the vigorous growth phase of anagen to the resting phase known as telogen.

This is significant in the hair growth cycle because it represents a critical shift in the lifecycle of the hair follicle, and knowing about this phase helps in understanding hair loss and regeneration dynamics. The catagen phase is also relatively short compared to the other phases, which adds to its transitional nature.

In contrast, the other phases, such as anagen (the active growth phase), telogen (the resting phase), and exogen (the phase where old hairs are shed), each have distinct roles in the hair's lifecycle but do not represent a transitional state like catagen does.