This real-life Rapunzel’s hair is so long, it takes an entire day to dry after washing. Maintaining her locks requires serious dedication, but she says the effort is totally worth it.
The queen of super long hair, Aliia Nasyrova, is passionate about natural beauty and is inspired by fairytales starring heroines with long, flowing tresses. Growing up in Crimea, the art graduate avoided cutting her hair. Ms. Nasyrova stands at 5 feet, 4 inches tall, and her hair, which measures 8 feet, 8 inches, is longer than her whole body, fanning out all around her when it’s let down.
“I’ve been growing my hair my whole life,” Ms. Nasyrova told The Epoch Times. “Thanks to my mother, I was able to keep it long and in good condition at an early age, and I keep doing that now.”
After finishing school and art college in Crimea, she went on to study at the National Academy of Art in Kyiv, Ukraine, before moving to the Slovakian capital of Bratislava.
A painter and long-hair model, Ms. Nasyrova is married and says her husband was “a little shocked” when he first saw her hair down because, in her daily life, she usually wears it up in a braided bun.
“We had a couple of dates, and he asked whether my hair was long. I said ‘Yes,’ and he asked if it was longer than my waist. Of course, he was a bit taken aback when he saw it,” she said.
Her Hair Care Rules
Having dealt with it all her life, the artistic model reports that looking after her hair is second nature to her, but she does follow some simple rules to keep it healthy, such as avoiding chemical colorants—using henna instead—and applying conditioning masks. Some of her favorite hair oils are coconut oil, macadamia oil, and olive oil.She prefers natural ingredients over synthetic and has a dream to create her own hair care brand someday.
“For hair like mine, do not brush when wet or use a hairdryer, and be sure to trim any split ends regularly. I do this myself—it takes a long time, but it makes a big difference,” she said, adding that brushing, done properly every day, takes an hour.
To ensure her hair gets the nourishment it needs, she eats a healthy diet and refrains from drinking alcohol.
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‘Every Person Is Beautiful’
With over a million subscribers on YouTube and Instagram, Ms. Nasyrova is one of a number of “Rapunzel girls” stirring interest online. The majority of reactions to her look are positive, both in the virtual space and the real world. When she’s out shopping, people will often go out of their way to comment and admire her hair or ask for a picture.The couple often think of Ms. Nasyrova’s hair as the third family member and as something precious that needs to be well cared for.
“Sometimes, we both give more attention to my hair than to ourselves. According to my husband, it takes a huge effort to maintain such long hair, and he could never do it himself. But I’m used to it. I, at times, joke and tell my husband that I and my braid are going to a restaurant,” she said.
Ms. Nasyrova clearly takes pleasure in her fairytale appearance and hopes to inspire other women to cultivate their natural beauty. “I believe every person is beautiful, even if somebody looks different,” she said.
