India now has the world’s longest-haired woman, who hasn’t cut her hair since 2015

Imagine having hair nearly nine feet long. For Renu Dhariyal of Uttarakhand, it is a reality and now, a Guinness World Record.

Dhariyal has been named the record holder for the longest hair on a living person (female), with her locks measuring an astonishing 271.50 cm (8 ft 10 in).

Her record was verified in Haldwani, Uttarakhand, in April, according to Guinness World Records, making her the latest woman to claim the title.

But the remarkable length of Dhariyal’s hair did not happen overnight. She has been growing it continuously since 2015 — and says she has not cut it even once in that time.

She hasn't cut her hair since 2015

For Dhariyal, growing her hair is more than a bid for a world record.

She said Indian culture, where long hair is associated with beauty and tradition, inspired her to let her hair grow.

“I have been growing my hair continuously since 2015,” Dhariyal said, according to Guinness World Records. “In Indian culture, long hair is considered a symbol of extreme beauty and tradition, which is what inspired me to grow it so long.”

Nine years of growth eventually took her hair to a length of more than 2.7 metres.

That figure is particularly striking when put into perspective. Dhariyal’s hair, when measured at full length, is only slightly shorter than Robert Wadlow, the tallest person ever recorded, who stood at 272 cm.

How does she manage hair that long?

Growing hair to nearly nine feet is one thing. Washing, detangling and maintaining it is another.

Dhariyal says caring for her hair takes hours, particularly when she washes and detangles it.

Her approach is also deliberately natural.

The content creator and YouTuber says she avoids chemical products and makes her own homemade hair oils and shampoos, which she also shares with other women through her YouTube channel.

Guinness World Records' images show just how challenging and striking her hair is to manage. Her thick, dark locks trail along the ground behind her, spill over the edge of a bed and surround her when she sits on the floor.

When she needs to keep the length under control, Dhariyal ties it into an elaborate plait.

From Ukraine to India

Dhariyal's achievement also means the Guinness title has changed hands.

Before her, the record belonged to Aliia Nasyrova of Ukraine, whose hair measured 257.33 cm (8 ft 5.3 in).

Dhariyal's 271.50-cm measurement surpasses that mark by more than 14 cm.