It’s now twice that Aevin Dugas, whose hair measures a whopping 10 inches across, has secured the title.
A woman in the US has now broken the Guinness World Record twice for the largest natural afro.
Aevin Dugas, of Reserve, Louisiana, smashed the record once again yesterday – with hair measuring an incredible 9.84ins (25cm) tall, 10.4ins (26cm) wide, and 5.41ft (165 cm) in circumference.
The 47-year-old first stole the title in 2010, when its circumference stood at 4ft 4ins (132cm), meaning she’s added a staggering 12.9ins (33cm) in the 13 years since.
Overall, it’s taken Aevin almost a quarter of a century to grow out her hair, which she says she’s done after ditching artificial straightening treatments.
Aevin said: ‘I didn’t decide to grow an afro as much as I decided to go natural.
‘That was because I was tired of using dangerous chemicals to permanently straighten my hair. Those chemicals have now been linked to cancer and there’s a major lawsuit going on so I’m glad I left them alone years ago.
‘I started doing hot oil treatments, or “oiling” my hair with butters that I make before I shampoo, condition and style and that’s at least every seven days.
‘Plus, I’m careful when handling the ends of my hair because those are the most delicate and oldest parts.’
Although Aevin doesn’t often leave the house with her hair combed all the way out, partly to help protect it, she says she receives all kinds of attention from strangers when she does model it in all its glory.
She said: ‘People have different reactions to my afro. Some just yell things in admiration, some stare, some walk up and ask questions then some just walk up and take a little tug.
‘I’ve learned to just give them a little pop on the hand with a few words of choice.
‘I won’t repeat them here.’
She adds there are other downsides too: ‘It’s HOT. It’s not something you wear out in the Louisiana heat.
‘It also completely cuts out any peripheral vision.’
Aevin’s isn’t the only world record to have been broken so far this year.
Earlier this week, an Australian artist smashed the record for world’s widest wig, with a mop 8ft 6ins across that comfortably topped the previous record set by US actress Drew Barrymore in 2017.
A dog named Bobi was also deemed the oldest dog of all time earlier this year, having lived a staggering 30 years with his owner on a farm in Portugal.
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