Mom sets world record for longest hair donation

By Lauren Beavis

A mom has set a new world record for the longest hair donation - after chopping off 67 inches.

Ruth Tripp, 38, donated her locks to The Little Princess Trust - a charity which makes wigs for children who have lost their own hair.

The mother-of-four from South Molton, Devon, has now been awarded the title of Guinness World Record holder for the largest single donation of hair by a woman.

Ruth, an accountant, said: "My hair got to the floor and I knew I needed it to come off as it was just going to get damaged.

"I knew it would be harder to look after so I thought it would be better to give it away now, so somebody could actually use it and make the most of it.

"I didn't think it was that much hair because I'm so used to having long day, I didn't think it could be a record. I had no idea."

Instead of opting for a bob hair-style, like many of the Little Princess Trust donors, Ruth decided to go 'all the way' to get most out of her donation.

Ruth has always had long hair and decided to start growing it when it was already at the bottom of her back, around six years ago.

She said: "My son was in the neonatal unit when he was born and the charity there who would always go 'look at your hair.'

"I thought I could cut it off to raise some money.

"But rather than just cutting my hair off, I thought it would be best to donate my hair as well and I found The Little Princess Trust.

"I then thought about how much I would eventually have cut off and just thought I should go for it, so had it all cut off."

Ruth would wash her locks using normal shampoo and conditioner, but it would take a 'few hours' to air dry.

She says that young children would often say she's got "princess hair" - which made her even more determined to donate her locks.

Ruth said: "People would say 'it's not all yours, is it?' but it is.

"If I took my hair down while I was out, then children would say 'mommy look at that princess's hair' and they would ask to have hair like that.

"That's what children want, they want hair like that - so I knew I should give it to someone else."

Ruth had her hair cut during a family fun day, where she raised money for The Little Princess Trust and Supporting Neonatal Users and Graduates (SNUG).

She then went to The Little Princess Trust's headquarters in Hereford, where she delivered her hair and saw how the charity make the wigs.

Wendy Tarplee-Morris, the founder of The Little Princess Trust, said she "never thought" someone would date 67 inches of hair.

She said: "We always encourage our supporters to grow their hair as long as possible to help us make wigs for children with hair loss.

“But I never thought I’d see the day when someone would donate ponytails measuring 67 inches.

“We are so grateful to Ruth for her extraordinary efforts for The Little Princess Trust and the young people who receive our wigs."

The previous world record holder for longest hair donated was 61 inches (155cm).

The previous Little Princess Trust record was set in 2023, when an anonymous supporter donated 52 inches of hair.