India’s Real-Life Rapunzel: Uttarakhand Woman Grows Hair to Nearly 9 Feet to Break Guinness World Record (6 Photos)

Renu Dhariyal, a resident of Uttarakhand, India, has officially claimed a spot in the Guinness World Records. Her hair was measured on April 15, 2026, in the city of Haldwani, coming in at a staggering 271.5 centimeters—nearly 9 feet. A thick cascade of lustrous black hair trails along the floor behind her as she walks. Renu hasn’t had a haircut since 2015, marking 11 straight years without a trim. Here is a look at her record-breaking locks, her natural hair care regimen, and what drove her to start growing them in the first place.





Nearly 9 Feet in 11 Years

In 2015, Renu simply stopped cutting her hair. Over 11 years, it grew to 271.5 centimeters. To put that into perspective, that’s just half a centimeter shorter than Robert Wadlow, the tallest person in recorded history, who stood at 272 centimeters.

The previous record belonged to Aliia Nasyrova of Ukraine at 257.33 centimeters. Renu surpassed her by nearly 14 centimeters. The accomplishment was officially verified by Guinness adjudicators in Haldwani, Nainital district.



Renu Dhariyal standing surrounded by her 271.5-centimeter-long hair

In official Guinness photos, Renu’s hair fans out across the floor around her—thick, dark, and glossy. Guinness representatives noted that despite going 11 years without scissors touching her hair, it has maintained remarkable density and health.

No Chemicals—Just Herbs and Patience

Renu runs a YouTube channel dedicated to hair care, where her top rule is strict: no harsh chemicals. She brews her own herbal oils and shampoos, sharing her recipes with subscribers.





A braid is the only way she can walk without stepping on her own hair

“I spend hours washing and combing it. No chemical products—strictly natural ingredients,” she says.

Whenever she steps out, Renu wears her hair in a braid. Otherwise, simply walking around would be nearly impossible.

A Tradition, Not a Whim

In Indian culture, long hair is a classic symbol of beauty, which was Renu’s original inspiration 11 years ago. Now, she hopes her achievement will put Haldwani on the global map.



Every outing turns heads and draws amazed onlookers

“Whenever I go outside or post on social media, people are always amazed,” she shares.

By 2023, Renu was already making regional headlines when her hair reached 262 centimeters—putting her less than 5 centimeters shy of Nasyrova’s record at the time.

A Few More Photos—Because You Have to See It to Believe It

On average, hair grows about 1.5 centimeters a month, which would typically yield around 198 centimeters over 11 years. Renu’s hair outpaced average growth by an incredible 73 centimeters. Her secret lies entirely in consistent care and avoiding haircuts altogether.



Just holding all that hair at once is a task in itself



A continuous black waterfall cascading past her feet and onto the floor

Renu now holds the record for the longest hair on a living woman. The all-time record belongs to Xie Qiuping of China, whose hair measured an astounding 560 centimeters in 2004. While Renu still has a long way to go to reach that mark, she has no intention of stopping.

“I’ve been growing my hair continuously since 2015. In Indian culture, long hair symbolizes beauty and tradition, and that’s what inspired me from the start.” — Renu Dhariyal

Have you ever had the urge to grow your hair out as long as possible—or were you itching to chop it all off?