Noah Sinclair
It is a common misconception that hair and nails continue to grow after death. This misconception has been perpetuated by popular culture, including literature and horror films, and has persisted for centuries. While it is true that hair and nails can appear longer after death, this is due to dehydration causing the skin around the nails and hair follicles to retract and expose more of the nail bed and hair shaft. In reality, hair and nail growth depend on cellular functions that require a constant supply of glucose, which is cut off once the heart stops pumping oxygenated blood around the body.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Do hair and nails grow after death? | No |
| Why does it seem like hair and nails grow after death? | Dehydration and retraction of the skin around the nails and scalp create the illusion of growth. |
| How long does it take for nails and hair to decompose? | Nails and hair completely decompose about a month or two after death. |
| What happens to the cells after death? | Without glucose, nerve cells die within three to seven minutes after the heart stops beating. |
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What You'll Learn
Hair and nails don't grow after death
Hair and nails do not grow after death. However, this idea is a persistent one, appearing in literature, horror films, and popular culture. For instance, in Erich Maria Remarque's novel, *All Quiet on the Western Front*, the protagonist imagines his dead friend's nails growing in corkscrews after death, while his hair lengthens "like grass in good soil".
The misconception may have stemmed from observations of corpses, where hair and nails appear to have grown. This is because, after death, the circulatory system stops pulsing blood to the scalp and cuticles, causing the cuticles to retract and expose the nail beds or hair that is yet visible above the follicle. Additionally, the body becomes dehydrated, and the skin on the head and around the nails pulls away, further creating the illusion of growth.
The growth of hair and nails is dependent on a constant supply of glucose, which is cut off when the heart stops pumping oxygen-rich blood around the body. With no glucose to rely on, nerve cells die within three to seven minutes of the heart stopping. This, in turn, halts the production of new cells, which is necessary for hair and nail growth.
While hair and nails do not grow after death, they can remain intact for a short period. On average, it takes about a month or two for nails and hair to completely decompose.
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Dehydration makes hair and nails appear longer
While hair and nails do not grow after death, dehydration can make them appear longer. Dehydration can cause hair loss and make hair look dull, thin, brittle, and dry. This is because hair follicles are the fastest-growing tissue in the body, and dehydration hinders their ability to function properly. Water comprises one-quarter of a healthy strand of hair, so with improper hydration, hair loses both strength and volume.
Similarly, dehydration is one of the most common reasons for brittle and weak nails. Around 18% of water makes up a healthy, hydrated person's nail plate. When moisture levels in the body drop, nails become brittle. Environmental factors also play a role. For instance, repeatedly wetting and drying the hands can cause the nail structure to weaken and dry out.
After death, the circulatory system no longer pumps blood into the scalp or cuticles, causing them to retract and expose nail beds or hair that is yet visible above the follicle. This creates the illusion of growing hair and nails, especially in individuals who painted their nails or coloured their hair.
Therefore, while dehydration can make hair and nails appear longer in deceased individuals, it is not due to growth but rather the retraction of the skin around the nails and the scalp.
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Literature and film perpetuate the myth
The belief that hair and nails continue to grow after death is a pervasive myth. While it is biologically false, it has been perpetuated by literature, horror films, and even comedy.
In Erich Maria Remarque's novel, 'All Quiet on the Western Front', the narrator imagines the nails of a friend who has died of gangrene continuing to grow into corkscrews as the hair on his decaying skull lengthens "like grass in good soil". This unpleasant yet enduring image has also been reinforced by comedians like Johnny Carson, who joked, "For three days after death, hair and fingernails continue to grow, but phone calls taper off."
The myth likely stems from the observation that the hair and nails of a deceased person may appear longer than when they were alive. This is not due to actual growth but is instead caused by dehydration of the body, which leads to the retraction of the skin around the hair and nails, exposing more of the hair shaft and nail bed. Funeral directors sometimes moisturize the fingertips of the deceased to counteract this effect.
The circulatory system's halt also contributes to this illusion. With no blood pulsing into the scalp or cuticles, the cuticles retract, creating the false impression of growing hair and nails, especially when the decedent had painted nails or hair that was coloured differently from their natural colour.
The persistence of this myth in literature and film, such as in the portrayal of vampires with long nails and hair, has contributed to its widespread belief. However, biologically, hair and nail growth requires active, living cells, nutrients, and oxygen, which are no longer available once a person dies.
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Cellular functions that create keratin continue for a few hours after death
Hair and nails are made of a protein called keratin. Keratin is produced by skin cells, which require a constant supply of energy in the form of glucose to function. Glucose is obtained from the burning of oxygen, which is pumped around the body by the heart. Once the heart stops beating, the supply of oxygen is cut off, and the body's cells can no longer produce energy. Without energy, the cells cannot divide and produce new cells, meaning that hair and nail growth stops.
However, some cellular functions that create keratin can continue for a few hours after death. This is because, after the heart stops, the body still contains some residual glucose, which cells can use to continue functioning for a short time. Eventually, the cells run out of glucose and die.
The rate at which different cells die varies. Nerve cells, for example, die within three to seven minutes of the oxygen supply being cut off. It is not clear exactly how long skin cells can survive after death, but they certainly cannot survive for long without oxygen and glucose. Therefore, while some cellular functions that create keratin may continue for a few hours after death, it is unlikely that this would result in noticeable hair or nail growth.
After death, the body begins to decompose, and the skin dries out and retracts, creating the illusion of growing hair and nails. This phenomenon is especially noticeable on decedents who had painted or bleached their nails or hair, as the colour difference makes the nails and hair stand out more. In addition, goosebumps caused by the contraction of hair muscles can add to the effect of growing hair.
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The circulatory system no longer pulses blood into the scalp or cuticles
It is a common misconception that hair and nails continue to grow after death. This idea has been perpetuated by popular culture, such as the book "All Quiet on the Western Front", in which the protagonist imagines his dead friend's nails growing in corkscrews and his hair lengthening. However, this is not true, and there is a scientific explanation for why hair and nails appear longer after death.
When a person dies, their circulatory system stops functioning, and blood no longer pulses into the scalp or cuticles. This leads to a process called livor mortis, where gravity pulls the remaining blood and fluids down, causing the skin on the head and around the nails to dry out and retract. The cuticles specifically retract and expose the nail beds, making it seem as though the nails have grown. Similarly, as the skin on the scalp dries and retracts, hair that was previously not visible above the follicle becomes exposed, creating the illusion of hair growth.
Additionally, the body's supply of glucose is cut off after death, halting the production of new cells that contribute to hair and nail growth. Different cells also have different death rates, and nerve cells, in particular, die within three to seven minutes of the oxygen supply to the brain being cut off. This further contributes to the cessation of hair and nail growth.
While hair and nails do not actually grow after death, the body's decomposition can create the illusion of growth. Funeral directors and morticians may use techniques such as embalming and moisturization to counteract the dehydration and retraction of the skin, helping to preserve the body's appearance.
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Frequently asked questions
No, hair and nails do not grow after death. Once the heart stops pumping oxygen around the body, the energy supply dries up, and so does the cell division that drives hair and nail growth.
After death, the body becomes dehydrated, and the skin on the head and around the nails pulls away, creating the illusion of continued growth.
Nails and hair completely decompose about a month or two after death.
Morticians can delay and help counteract the body's decomposition process through embalming. During embalming, the blood is drained from the body and replaced with a solution containing preservatives such as formaldehyde.
