Do hair and nails continue to grow after death?

One of the most widely spread beliefs, when it comes to postmortem changes, is that hair and nails keep growing after death. But, is this fact or fiction?

The truth is that even though it might appear that nails and hair are continuing to grow after death, what really happens is that the soft tissues of the body begin to decompose, and as they do so, they retract, making nails and hair look longer. This process is known as desiccation and can lead to an optical illusion that makes it seem that nails and hair are still growing, whereas in reality, they're not.

The growth of hair and nails can only occur if living cells are present at the base of these structures, which is not the case after death. The hair and nails we see after someone has died are merely a product of the change in skin condition, as it loses moisture and begins to shrink, making hair and nails appear longer.

So, to sum up, hair and nails do not grow after death. What actually occurs is that they just appear longer due to desiccation, which makes them retract, giving the optical illusion of growth.