After-Death Growth Of Hair And Fingernails: The Facts

A deceased person's hair and fingernails often appear to grow more after death. This is however not true, because the body cells do not regenerate after death.

Hair and nails never grow after death

Quick Facts:  The Embalming Fluid.

• The Embalming Fluid used to preserve dead bodies, is a mixture of chemicals which include ethanol, formaldehyde, and ethanol.

• It works by sealing the tissue cells so that bacteria cannot feed on them. Also kills the bacteria that decompose the flesh.

• The embalming fluid is injected using a thick needle and tubing system into the carotid artery in the neck. As it enters the body, the remaining blood is pushed out of the body via the jugular vein and replaced by the embalming fluid.

• Some individuals soak cigarette in the embalming fluid because it allows the cigarette to burn slower than normal. Using it in this manner leads to a lot of health problems, most notably cancer.

Fact is, the apparent growth of the hair and fingernails are due to the body's decomposition. The British Medical Journal reports that "dehydration of the body after death and drying, or desiccation may lead to retraction of the skin around the hair or nails."
That is, the dehydration of the skin may cause the illusion of hair or nail growth.

The journal adds that actual growth of hair and nails "require a complex hormonal regulation which cannot be sustained after death."