Reuben Looks Twice Jr., a 17-year-old Native American, has been crowned by Guinness World Records as the teenage boy with the world’s longest hair. His hair measures an impressive 161cm (5ft 3.3in), and this record was officially recognized on June 7. Reuben is a member of the Lakota Nation and is proud to represent his tribe and family on a global stage.
Reuben explained that long hair holds cultural significance for the Lakota people, symbolizing their “Nagi” or spirit. “It’s part of our Nagi. It’s who I am,” Reuben said, expressing his pride in representing his family and the Lakota Nation. He last had his hair cut when he was two years old, as hair clippers initially frightened him. As he grew older, he chose to keep his hair long to honour Lakota traditions. Many Indigenous American cultures, including the Lakota, view hair as a sacred symbol of the connection with one’s soul, family, and community.
Reuben Looks Twice Jr. has been awarded the record title for having the longest hair on a teenager (male).
His hair was measured at a length of 161 cm (5 ft 3.3 in).
“Culturally, Lakota people have long hair. It’s part of our Nagi (spirit). It’s who I am." pic.twitter.com/rxsDrlXzEB
— Guinness World Records (@GWR) July 19, 2024
Reuben primarily wears his hair in a lengthy braid. His hair care routine is extensive: he washes it every morning for 20 minutes with shampoo and conditioner, then dries it for an hour, and spends another 10 minutes untangling, brushing, and braiding it again. For the Guinness World Record measurement, he went to a hair salon where his hair was unbraided, washed, and brushed out. The salon measured his hair three times, and the average of these measurements confirmed his record.
Reuben’s hair surpasses the previous record held by India’s Sidakdeep Singh Chahal, whose hair was measured at 146cm (4ft 9.5in) in 2023. Despite some practical challenges, such as getting his hair stuck in car doors or ensnared on shower knobs, Reuben plans never to cut it. He hopes to continue making his family and tribe proud and, upon turning 18, aims to qualify for the Guinness record recognizing the man with the longest hair in the world, a title currently vacant.
