GIRLS WITH WORLD'S LONGEST HAIR GETS HER FIRST HAIRCUT IN 12 YEARS
An 18-year-old girl, Nilanshi Patel from the Indian town of Modasa, has held the record for the "longest hair on a teenager" since 2018. At the age of 16, her hair measured 170.5 centimetres in length.
Her hair was measured for the last time in July 2020, when she reached her 18th birthday, spanning a length of 200 centimetres.
Patel has been growing her hair since six after a bad experience while visiting a local hair salon. With her hair reaching a super long length, her mother had to help dry and comb her hair after every week's wash.
However, the young woman recently decided to put aside her title and long hair, cutting off her lengthy locks. This would be her first haircut in 12 years.
"My hair gave me a lot – because of my hair, I am known as the 'real-life Rapunzel'... now it's time to give it something back."
Before cutting her hair, Patel had a decision to make. What was the next step of her long locks? She had three options, auctioning it off, donating it to charity for cancer patients, or donating it to a museum.
Nilanshi's mother, Kaminiben, suggested that she donate her hair to the museum as her record-breaking story was inspiring. However, after some thought, Kaminiben told her daughter that she would donate her own hair for cancer patients.
"I'm so excited, and a little bit nervous, because I don't know how I'm looking in the new hairstyle. So, let's see what happens, but I hope it's going to be amazing," said Nilanshi.
After the first strand of hair was cut, she was ready to kiss her hair goodbye. "I love my new hairstyle. I feel proud that I'm going to send my hair to the US museum – people will see and be inspired by my hair. I'm really, really happy… Today is a new beginning, and I hope I will break many more records in the future."
Her locks weighed a total of 266 grams after being cut off. It will be on display at Ripley's, Believe It or Not! in Hollywood, before being displayed at Guinness World Records Museum.