Final answer:
The active growth stage of hair is known as the anagen phase, which lasts from 2 to 7 years, allowing for long-term hair growth as cells rapidly divide at the hair root.
Step-by-step explanation:
The stage at which the hair is actively growing is known as the anagen phase. This phase can last from 2 to 7 years and allows the hair to grow as cells divide rapidly at the root. During the hair growth cycle, the anagen phase is followed by the catagen phase, which is a transitional period lasting 2 to 3 weeks. It marks the end of the active growth of the hair follicle.
Finally, the telogen phase takes place, where the follicle remains at rest for about 2 to 4 months. Subsequently, a new anagen phase commences as basal cells in the hair matrix produce a new hair follicle, which then pushes the old hair out. Hair typically grows at the rate of 0.3 mm per day during the anagen phase, and each day, on average, 50 hairs are lost and replaced.