Woman Who Refused Haircuts for 31 Years Is Now a Real-Life Rapunzel With 1.95 Meters of Hair

(Courtesy of Alena Kravchenko)

A Ukrainian woman who hasn’t cut her hair since the age of 5 has become a real-life Princess Rapunzel, with flowing blonde locks that now exceed her height.

Alena Kravchenko, 36, is a lawyer by training and lives in the town of Odesa. According to Alena, her inspiration to grow her hair came from her mother, who believed that a woman’s hair is her crowning glory.

(Courtesy of Alena Kravchenko)

“It was her words that long hair for a woman is ‘pride, individuality, and decoration’ [that] I will remember for the rest of my life,” Alena told The Epoch Times via Instagram. “I grew up with love for hair ... this is a manifestation of my inner world.”

Alena maintains that her hair is a great power from which she draws “self-realization” and “strength.”

(Courtesy of Alena Kravchenko)

At the time of writing, Alena’s hair measures 1.95 meters in length (approx. 6 feet 5 inches), exceeding her height of 1.68 meters (approx. 5 feet 6 inches), and is already touching the floor. Alena admits that, due to her long hair, she is “so used” to being compared to Princess Rapunzel, and the attention it brings has become a way of life.

Unsurprisingly, Alena’s beautiful long locks draw in the shock, surprise, and delight of strangers when she meets them in public.

“Often, people come up to just take a picture, get an autograph, and just ask if the hair is real,” she said. “Of course, it is very pleasant that the beauty of my hair causes so many positive emotions.”

(Courtesy of Alena Kravchenko)

In July, Alena brought her namesake to life in a Rapunzel-themed professional photo shoot at a castle in her hometown and shared the photos on Instagram. Dressed in a custom purple gown, with flowers adorning her floor-length braid, she posed on the castle grounds, on a spiral staircase, and even in front of a grand piano, emulating the luxurious life of a princess.

Preparing for the large-scale photo project took months, Alena said, and she dreams of one day starring as Rapunzel in a movie adaptation of the classic fairytale, according to The Daily Mail.

(Courtesy of Alena Kravchenko)

A growing social media star, thanks to her impressive tresses, Alena has over 74,000 Instagram followers and counting. Yet for Alena, the health of her hair is even more important than its bounty. Caring for her locks requires weekly washing, daily brushing, and a plethora of natural products and treatments.

“I use natural oils [and] masks made from natural ingredients,” she explained to The Epoch Times. “I massage the scalp, often brushing my hair adhering to all the rules: do not tear, but gently stroke it.”

(Courtesy of Alena Kravchenko)

(Courtesy of Alena Kravchenko)

Alena never dyes her hair nor uses heat, preferring to let it dry naturally. She claims that hair care is not difficult for her and she has never had any problems, despite the immense length of her locks.

“I am sure that every girl will be able to grow her hair, if she really wants it,” Alena said, adding, “The main thing is to believe and take care of hair of any length.”

(Courtesy of Alena Kravchenko)

(Courtesy of Alena Kravchenko)

Love and patience, she insists, are the key ingredients.

“Every girl dreams of a fairytale in her soul,” said Alena. “I created my own fairytale, and live in it, being myself.”

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