Aevin Dugas, a 47-year-old Louisiana native, has broken the Guinness world record for the largest afro on a living person.
Her afro measures 9.84 inches tall, 10.24 inches wide, and 5.41 feet in circumference, which sets the record in the company’s category for women.
This is not the first time she has set the record, having previously done so in 2010 and 2021.
Dugas has been growing her hair for 24 years, and she decided to go natural and stop using relaxers after she didn’t want to use “dangerous” chemicals anymore.
She maintains her hair by trimming the ends regularly and doing hot oil treatments and butters she makes herself.
To maintain her hair growth, she also notes that “I’m a pretty much once a week person because I don’t like buildup to form on my hair. And honestly, the other thing I do with it is I leave it alone.”
Some people touch her hair without permission, but Dugas has made it clear that it is a matter of personal space and that people should not touch it.
To style her hair she said, “I love a bun, whether it’s to the top, to the back, to the side. It’s one of those styles that is quick and easy.”
Despite the downsides, such as the heat and being unable to see properly, Dugas says she loves her hair, and it’s a matter of personal expression.
According to Dugas, achieving a Guinness record has fulfilled a lifelong dream. As a young girl, whenever she went to book fairs, she would make a beeline for the Guinness Book of World Records to search for the person with the longest hair or the longest nails.