Meet the Woman With 55-Foot-Long Dreadlocks

By Laura Beck | August 20, 2013 | 4:00pm

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Asha Mandela’s hair is over 19ft long (with one dread lock measuring in at more than 55ft long), weighs 42 pounds, and she has to carry it around in a baby sling. But she says she’d be lost without it, and it’ll never know scissors.

Mandela started growing her hair 25 years ago, and she hasn’t looked back. It’s not surprising, as she credits her hair with helping her overcome cancer, two strokes, and two heart-attacks. Damn, Rapunzel doesn’t have shit on her locks.

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But her hair doesn’t come without its problems:

Doctors have also asked her to consider cutting her hair for health reasons, including the risk of bacterial infection.

But their main concern is the weight.

She said: ‘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.

‘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 paralysed.’

Her hair is beyond, and it’s cool to see someone doing something original and beautiful, so let’s just hope she continues to be A-OK, physically. And all I know is, I do NOT want to see her salon bills. Ladies, I know you feel me.

[Daily Mail]