After we die, our cells start to die at different rates. When our heart and brains stop functioning, glucose (the sugar necessary to power our bodies) is not present anymore, leaving the nerve cells to die within minutes.

While organs such as kidneys and hearts need to be removed from the deceased’s body within 30 minutes if they are to be used by other recipients, skin cells tend to survive for a longer period.

Fingernails grow by an average of 0.1mm in a day! This rate slows down with age. The layer of tissue beneath the base of the nail produces most of the cells responsible for the growing part of the nail. The tip is the part which appears to grow as the new cells push the older cells forwards.

However, glucose is needed for fingernails to grow. Once glucose is not there, fingernails stop growing. So why does it seem that they continue to grow after we die? A creepy notion to ponder on, though. This myth has been lived on because, while fingernails seem to grow longer, the reason is due to the shrinking of the skin giving the impression that the nails have grown longer.

Hair growth is similar to nail growth. A group of cells lie at the base of the hair follicle and divide to produce new cells to make one’s hair longer. They can divide, only with the provision of energy so when oxygen and glucose are not supplied by the body, the hair stops growing. The skin also dries out after we die, so it pulls back towards the skull, giving the impression that hair has grown longer.

This myth can be put to rest and one can sleep peacefully tonight as scenes of growing hair and fingernails only occur on screen and not in real life.