The hair you can see on your body is made up of dead cells. This is because once hair emerges from the skin's surface, it is no longer connected to the living tissue of the hair follicle. The hair shaft, the part we see, consists of keratinized epithelial cells which are essentially non-living and inert. However, the hair follicle itself remains alive and is responsible for producing new hair cells.
While hair may appear to grow after death, this is an illusion. As the skin dehydrates, it shrinks, making the hair appear longer. The hair itself is not actually growing, but rather becoming more prominent due to the receding skin.
While the visible hair shaft is composed of dead cells, the hair follicle remains alive and is crucial for hair growth.
