Along with moisturizers and hot oil treatments, 47-year-old Aevin Dugas’ afro holds the Guinness World Record title of world’s largest afro.
The Louisiana native obtained the record title in 2010 when her afro held a 4 foot 4 inch (132 centimeters) measurement. Currently, Dugas’ afro stands 25 cm (9.84 inches) tall, 26 cm (10.24 in) wide and 165 cm (5.41 ft) in circumference. Dugas also had the title in 2021.
Dugas’ hair took 24 years to grow to its current measurement. Howbeit, she focused on going natural rather than developing a giant afro.
“I didn’t decide to grow an afro as much as I decided to go natural,” Dugas said.
Before going natural, Dugas used to straighten her hair using specific products. But she became meticulous about what she used after learning that some of the chemicals inside the products were linked to cancer.
She persisted with her hair regimen to preserve a healthy afro, which required much effort and consistency, like having frequent trims at the beauty salon.
“I started doing hot oil treatments…or ‘oiling’ my hair with butters that I make before I shampoo, condition and style and that’s at least every seven days,” she said. “Plus, I’m careful when handling the ends of my hair because those are the most delicate and oldest parts. I try to do styles that keep my ends hidden. That helps a lot.”
Dugas rarely wears her afro out because of the problems it causes.
“When I’m driving, I can’t see,” she shared 11 years ago. “One time, I slammed my hair in the car door getting in. It gets caught in, like clubs, it might get caught in someone’s drink. It gets caught in my earrings a lot. It tends to hook on things like trees and stuff when I’m walking by.”
Another obstacle to wearing her afro is the Louisiana heat.
When she does display her record-holding afro, people react in public. Some have even tried to touch her hair, disregarding the number one rule regarding Black women’s hair.
“Some just yell things in admiration, some stare, some walk up and ask questions, then some just walk up and take a little tug,” she said. “I’ve learned to just give them a little pop on the hand and a few words of choice. I won’t repeat them here.”
Dugas said her afro shocked her hairdresser the most.
“Because they trim it when it’s in a blown-out state, they’re always in just as must shock as anyone else about the length because my hair is normally worn in a shrunken style,” Dugas said.
The GWR record holder said she wouldn’t change a thing and was honored to be a part of GWR. She shared that as a child, she’d look for the “longest hair” title, under the impression that long hair was prettier than her natural hair.
Now, she’s showing Black women and girls worldwide that natural hair is beautiful, inspiring them to embrace it.
“It’s about pride in textured hair, which leads to self-love,” she said, adding, “The natural hair movement was already well on its way, but the afro title really did help bring it to another level. Inclusion and representation of everyone is everything.”
