Asha Mandela, With 55-Foot-Long Dreadlocks, Claims Guinness World Record

Asha Mandela, With 55-Foot-Long Dreadlocks, Claims Guinness World Record
Asha Mandela and her hair. (Screenshot/YouTube)
Zachary Stieber
8/19/2013
Updated:
7/18/2015

Asha Mandela, originally from Trinidad & Tobago, and living in Atlanta in Georgia, has dreadlocks so long that she has set a Guinness World Record.

Although it is not available on the Guinness website, Mandela claims she has set the record for the longest dreadlocks at 55-feet.

Meanwhile, although doctors have been warning her it could paralyze her if she trips over the hair or gets in another similar accident, Mandela has no plans to cut it.

“My hair has become part of me. It is my life. I will never cut it,” Mandela told the Daily Mirror.

“The doctors seem to think I have a curvature of my spine and that it’s the length and the weight of my hair that’s making me curve,” she said. “Some have said my neck has collapsed at the back and that I need to be careful because I could start having spasms in my spine and probably be paralysed.” 

Mandela has one son, Zion, who is 11 years old, and is married to a Kenyan. She began growing her hair 25 years ago. It takes two days to wash and dry and she winds it up in an African-style baby sling when she goes out.