Hair Restoration Definitions

Understanding the language of hair restoration is the first step toward making confident decisions about your treatment. Whether you’re researching hair transplant surgery, exploring non-surgical hair loss solutions, or comparing options like FUE, FUT, PRP, and Multi-Unit Hair Grafting™, knowing the terminology helps you see the big picture.

This glossary brings together the most common hair restoration definitions—organized alphabetically—so you can quickly find clear explanations of the treatments, procedures, and medical terms you’ll come across. From alopecia and the Norwood Scale to advanced solutions like ARTAS Robotic FUE and Scalp Micropigmentation (SMP), this resource is designed to make the world of hair restoration simple and approachable.

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  1. A

    • Alopecia: General term for hair loss
    • Anagen Phase: Active growth phase of the hair cycle
    • ARTAS Robotic FUE: A robotic system used for FUE hair transplant procedures. The ARTAS Robotic FUE Procedure is a minimally invasive hair transplantation solution that leverages digital imaging and precision robotics to harvest healthy grafts for transplantation.

  2. B

    • Biotin: A vitamin often linked to hair and nail health

  3. C

    • Catagen Phase: Transition stage between growth and rest in the hair cycle
    • Crown: The top/back portion of the head where hair loss often occurs

  4. D

    • DHT (Dihydrotestosterone): Hormone linked to male pattern baldness
    • Donor Area: Area of the scalp (usually back/sides) where hair is taken for transplantation

  5. E

    • EVT (Extracellular Vesicles Treatment): A regenerative therapy using extracellular vesicles, which contain proteins, lipids, and RNA that support cell communication and stimulate healing and hair growth

  6. F

    • Finasteride: Prescription medication that helps block DHT to slow hair loss
    • Follicle: Small sac in the skin that grows a hair strand
    • Follicular Unit: Natural grouping of 1–4 hairs
    • Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE): Hair transplant method removing follicles one by one. At We Grow Hair Indy, we use the ARTAS Robotic FUE method for precision.
    • Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT): Hair restoration method using a tissue of scalp. At We Grow Hair Indy, this is the Multi-Unit Hair Grafting™ method

  7. G

    • Graft: A grouping, consisting of 1 to 3 hair follicles, with a total of 1 to 6 hairs - learn more about what a hair graft is here.
    • Growth Factors: Natural proteins that stimulate healing and hair growth

  8. H

    • Hairline: The front edge of your scalp hair. It is recommended by physicians to generally keep the hairline starting around 7.5 centimeters above your eyebrows.
    • Hair Miniaturization: When hairs thin and shrink due to DHT

  9. L

    • Laser Hair Therapy (LHT): FDA approved low-level laser light therapy is a proven and safe non-surgical approach for thickening and helping treat and control hair loss for men and women with fine hair.
    • Ludwig Scale: Scale used to classify female pattern baldness

  10. M

    • Male Pattern Baldness: The most common type of hair loss in men, driven by genetics and DHT
    • Minoxidil: FDA-approved topical solution for hair regrowth. Shop here.
    • Multi-Unit Hair Grafting™: A trademarked hair transplant technique moving larger numbers of grafts, unique to We Grow Hair Indy. With this procedure, we’re able to transplant up to 3x the amount of hair in a single session at a lower cost compared to major competitors.

  11. N

    • Norwood Scale: Classification system for male pattern baldness

  12. P

    • Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP): Treatment using your own blood plasma to stimulate hair growth. These growth factors initiate and accelerate tissue repair, and, according to experts have also been shown to have positive effects for hair loss. This safe therapy has been around for decades and used successfully in the science of healing wounds and injuries.

  13. R

    • Recipient Area: Area where grafts are placed during a hair transplant
    • Regenerative Growth Factors: Natural proteins and signaling molecules that help repair tissue and promote new hair growth when applied in treatments like PRP or EVT. See also: PRP or EVT.
    • Resting Phase (Telogen): Stage of the hair cycle when hair is shed

  14. S

    • Scalp Micropigmentation (SMP): Cosmetic tattoo that mimics hair follicles. This innovative non-surgical technique simulates the look of short hairs similar to a closely shaved scalp, or can be used to aid in the appearance of thicker hair.
    • Shock Loss: Temporary hair shedding after a procedure

  15. T

    • Telogen Phase: Resting/shedding phase of the hair cycle
    • Temporal Region (Temporal Lobes): The areas on the sides of the scalp, above the ears and near the temples, where hair commonly recedes in male pattern baldness
    • Trichology: Study of hair and scalp health. Meet our Certified Trichologist, Lindsay Johnson.
    • Trichophytic Closure: Our surgeons use a trichophytic closure technique, which allows hair to grow through the scar, making it as imperceptible as possible.

  16. V

    • Vertex: The crown or top area of the scalp
Visual reference guides

Hair Grafts & Hair Loss Classifications

  1. what is a hair graft

    What Is a Hair Graft?

    A natural grouping of 1 to 3 hair follicles containing 1 to 6 individual hairs.

    Explore Multi-Unit Hair Grafting™

  2. The Norwood Scale

    The standardized 6-stage classification system used to measure male pattern baldness.

    View Hair Loss Scale

  3. The Ludwig Scale

    The 3-stage classification system used to evaluate female pattern thinning across the crown and part.

    View Hair Loss Scale
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