Final answer:
Hair cells divide rapidly during the anagen phase, which lasts between 2 to 7 years and is marked by the active growth of hair. The hair growth cycle includes a transition phase (catagen) and a resting phase (telogen) before restarting. The growth rate during anagen is on average 0.3 mm per day.
Step-by-step explanation:
The number of times hair cells divide in a year varies, as hair growth occurs in three distinct phases: the anagen phase, which can last from 2 to 7 years and involves rapid cell division at the hair root; the catagen phase, a brief 2-3 week period that transitions from active growth; and the telogen phase, resting for 2-4 months without new growth. At the end of the telogen phase, a new anagen phase begins, during which basal cells in the hair matrix produce a new follicle and push out the old hair. This cycle repeats throughout a person's life, and hair typically grows at an average rate of 0.3 mm per day during the anagen phase.