For Renu Dhariyal, growing her hair was a journey that began more than a decade ago. Today, her 271.50-centimetre locks have earned her a place in Guinness World Records as the woman with the longest hair on a living person.
Renu Dhariyal, a content creator and YouTuber from Haldwani in India’s Uttarakhand state, has transformed years of patience and commitment to growing her hair into a remarkable Guinness World Records achievement.
Her hair measures 271.50 centimetres (8 feet 10 inches), a length that has made her one of the world’s most recognisable long-haired record holders. Guinness World Records verified the measurement in Haldwani on April 15, 2026.
Dhariyal’s journey began in 2015 when she decided to stop cutting her hair. She has continued growing it ever since, drawing inspiration from Indian cultural traditions in which long hair has long been associated with beauty and tradition.
Her extraordinary locks are not only remarkably long but also thick and shiny. Images published by Guinness World Records show her hair stretching across the floor, spilling over the edge of a bed and surrounding her as she sits. When she needs to keep it manageable, Dhariyal gathers it into an elaborate braid.
Maintaining hair of such length is far from effortless. Dhariyal has spoken about spending hours washing and detangling it, while avoiding chemical products. Instead, she relies on homemade hair oils and shampoos as part of her hair-care routine.
Her experience has also become part of the content she shares online. Through her YouTube channel and social media presence, Dhariyal offers beauty and hair-care tips, giving followers a glimpse into the daily work involved in maintaining her record-breaking locks.
Her achievement surpassed the previous Guinness World Records mark of 257.33 centimetres (8 feet 5.3 inches), held by Ukraine’s Aliia Nasyrova. At 271.50 centimetres, Dhariyal’s hair is also only slightly shorter than the 272-centimetre height of Robert Wadlow, recognised by Guinness as the tallest person ever recorded.
Beyond the measurement and the attention her hair attracts, Dhariyal’s story is one of patience and consistency. After years of caring for her hair and embracing a tradition she values, the woman from Haldwani has turned a personal choice into a world record and an unusual story of dedication that continues to draw attention online.
