Do Fingernails and Hair Continue to Grow After Death?
No, your fingernails and hair do not keep growing after death. This is because the growth of fingernails and hair are dependent on the body’s metabolic processes, which stop after death. Without the body’s metabolic processes, the cells in the skin, hair, and nails stop receiving nourishment, and thus stop growing. Once the body dies, the cells’ metabolic processes no longer receive energy. Without energy, the cells are unable to divide and grow. Without growth, the fingernails and hair cannot get any longer.
This is why, after death, the fingernails and hair do not keep growing. Hair and nails are made up of a protein called keratin. This protein is produced by cells in the hair follicles and nails. After death, these cells become inactive and stop producing keratin. As a result, the hair and nails can no longer grow. The medulla, or inner core, of the hair and nails is composed of cells that die shortly after death. This kills the cells responsible for nourishing the hair and nails, and thus causes them to stop growing. The body also regulates the amount of calcium in the body, which is important for the growth of fingernails and hair. Once the body stops receiving oxygen after death, calcium levels drop and the cells in the hair and nails can no longer function..
