Definition: Anagen is the active growth phase of hair follicles. The cells in the root of the hair are dividing rapidly, adding to the hair shaft.
During this phase the hair grows about 1 cm every 28 days. Scalp hair stays in this active phase of growth for 2 to 6 years. The amount of time the hair follicle stays in the anagen phase is based on genetic information.
At the end of the anagen phase an unknown signal causes the follicle to go into the catagen phase.
