Final answer:
The resting phase of hair growth is the telogen phase, lasting about 2 to 4 months, during which the hair follicle is inactive and eventually sheds the hair, allowing for new growth to occur.
Step-by-step explanation:
The stage of hair growth that is considered the resting phase is known as the telogen phase. This phase typically lasts about 2 to 4 months, during which the hair follicle is at rest and no new growth occurs. Following the end of the telogen phase, the hair growth cycle can begin again with the anagen phase, where basal cells in the hair matrix produce a new hair follicle, eventually pushing the old hair out.
Hair typically grows at a rate of 0.3 mm per day during the active anagen phase. However, during the telogen phase, the growth stops, and the hair is prepared to be shed, making way for a new hair to grow in its place. This cycle is crucial for the natural process of hair renewal, and understanding it is important for addressing concerns related to hair loss, which can occur if more hair is shed than is replaced due to factors like hormonal or dietary changes, aging, or the influence of hormones.