Stars leaves the main sequence when it exhausts the hydrogen in the core. These are two ways for stars to evolve after leaving the main sequence. The process is determined by the mass of the Star.

Stars having mass smaller and greater than 8 times the solar mass have different fate in the future.

Evolution of stars with mass less than 8 times the mass of the Sun: These stars loose their outer layers slowly via following processes:

* Giant Branch
* Helium Flash
* Horizantal branch
* Pulsating stars
* Asymptotic giant branch
* White dwarf

Evolution of stars with mass greater than 8 times the mass of the Sun: These stars loose their outer layers explosively via following process
* Supernova
* Type II
* Type I