"now it’s time to give it something back."
Nilanshi Patel, the world record holder for the longest hair on a teenager, has had her first haircut in 12 years.
Since 2018, the 18-year-old from Modasa, Gujarat, has held the Guinness World Record.
Nilanshi’s hair was measured for the last time in July 2020, just before her 18th birthday. It measured 200cm, securing her the title of longest hair ever on a teenager.
Gujarat’s Rapunzel started growing her locks when she was six years old, following a bad experience at a hair salon.
She said: “I got my hair cut, a really bad haircut. So, then I decided that I won’t cut my hair.
“I decided that when I was six and have not cut it since.”
Nilanshi stuck by her decision for 12 years and had previously described her long hair as her “lucky charm”.
But now, she decided to cut her long locks and the video circulated online.
She said: “My hair gave me a lot – because of my hair I am known as the ‘real life Rapunzel’… now it’s time to give it something back.”
Her hair was sectioned and tied up, ready to be cut.
Nilanshi continued: “I’m so excited and a little bit nervous because I don’t know how I’m looking in the new hairstyle… so let’s see what happens, but I hope it’s going to be amazing.”
Before the first piece of hair was cut, Nilanshi kissed her hair goodbye and crossed her fingers.
It was an emotional process for Nilanshi as her hair had been such a major part of her life.
But in just a few minutes, the initial big cut was complete. The teenager went on to get her new, short locks cut and styled.
Afterwards, Nilanshi said:
“It is beautiful. I look like a princess. I am still Rapunzel… I love my hairstyle.”
Her hair was tied up in a bunch and it weighed a total of 266g.
She then took a while to decide what she was going to do with her chopped off locks.
Nilanshi had three options to choose from: auctioning it off, donating it to charity for cancer patients, or donating it to a museum.
After speaking to her mother, Kaminiben, Nilanshi decided to donate it to a museum as her record-breaking achievement was inspirational.
Kaminiben then had her locks cut and pledged to donate it to charity.
The mother and daughter embraced one another.
Nilanshi has donated her locks to Ripley’s. It will be shipped from India to the USA and it will be on display at Ripley’s Believe it or Not! Hollywood.
It will then be displayed at Guinness World Records Museum, also in Hollywood.
She loves her new hairstyle and hopes to inspire more people as well as break more records in the future.
Nilanshi added: “I love my new hairstyle. I feel proud that I’m going to send my hair to the US museum- people will see and be inspired by my hair.
“I’m really, really happy… Today is a new beginning and I hope I will break many more records in future.”
Watch Nilanshi’s Hair being Cut
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