Aevin Dugas, a 47-year-old woman from Reserve, Louisiana, has broken her own Guinness World Record for the largest natural afro.
Her hair measures an astonishing 9.84 inches (25cm) tall, 10.4 inches (26cm) wide, and 5.41ft (165cm) in circumference. She first set the record in 2010 when her afro was 4ft 4ins (132cm) in circumference.
Aevin attributes the growth of her hair to the abandonment of chemical straightening treatments, which have been linked to cancer. Instead, she started doing hot oil treatments and oiling her hair with homemade butter before shampooing, conditioning, and styling it every seven days.
Although Aevin doesn’t always leave the house with her hair fully combed out, to help protect it, she receives attention from strangers whenever she does. Her hair cuts out the peripheral vision and gets hot, making it challenging to wear outside in the Louisiana heat.
Aevin has learned to ignore the stares and rude comments and instead focuses on the self-confidence that comes with her afro. She hopes her natural hair can inspire others to love and accept their natural hair textures.
