The Real-Life Rapunzel

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Have you met the real-life Rapunzel yet?

Asha Mandela from Atlanta, Georgia, has been growing out her hair for over 25 years and holds the record for having the longest hair.

She now has 55-foot dreadlocks that weigh a whopping 39 pounds:


Crazy, right?

Asha says that she never wants to cut her hair. It's even survived through her chemo treatments! Now THAT'S dedication.

But what does having so much hair do to you?

In an article with the International Business Times, Asha states,

"The doctors seem to think I have a curvature of my spine and that it's the length and the weight of my hair that's making me curve,” she said. "Some have said my neck has collapsed at the back and that I need to be careful because I could start having spasms in my spine and probably be paralyzed."

In the same article, she also states that she'll never cut her hair because, "Cutting it would be equivalent to suicide. It would be like being a zombie."

Check out the rest of the article for more about Asha and to see more pictures of her amazing hair!
~*~

Comments

  1. Whoa! I think it's so cool that it even lasted through her chemo! But spasms in your spine and being paralyzed definitely doesn't sound pretty!

    Alice @ Alice in Readerland

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    1. Right? It's great that she was one of the people that chemo didn't affect in that way! But it sounds like it causes her so much pain! My back hurts all the time from chest weight...I can't imagine voluntarily choosing that kind of pain--and more!

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  2. That is pretty cool, but I would hate to take care of hair that long and I wouldn't want to go through the medical conditions that hair that weighs that much would cost. I can't even stand my hair being back my shoulders so I don't know how she does it.

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    1. Me neither!! For some people, I guess it's worth it! It's very impressive to look at, though. Requires so much dedication!

      I agree; dreadlocks means it's even longer than if it weren't done up that way...it must take her forever to do that!

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  3. Wow. That is just... whoa. I never imagined it would weigh that much. That is a lot of hair....

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  4. Super awesome, though I am pretty sure I would cut it when the doctor's told me not to turn my head so I didn't cause damage to my spine! Wow. She's dedicated.

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    1. I could never be that dedicated...but it's humbling to see someone who is!

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  5. That is super craziness! I don't think I would ever risk my health for beauty (not in any serious way anyway). I wonder how she kept it through chemo because you usually don't have much of a choice!

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    1. Right? As much as I whine about being short, I would never go through the surgery to lengthen my legs. I can't handle pain. I couldn't voluntarily choose to do it.

      Chemo tends to be iffy. Not everyone loses their hair. She was a lucky one!!

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