A Black woman from Brooklyn has been announced as Guinness's new record holder for the largest afro.
According to Guinness, Simone Williams' afro is 8.07 inches tall, 8.85 inches wide and over 4-foot-10-inches in circumference.
Williams told Guinness that she was interested in setting the record after hearing about 45-year-old New Orleans natural hair influencer Aevin Dugas, who held the Guinness record for nine years.
"[Dugas] inspired me to make the attempt. I googled 'world's largest afro' and when she came up I was in awe. At the time, I didn’t think my hair was anywhere close to hers, she was goals! But I was so happy to see that she was recognized and there was a chance for others to be recognized too," Williams said.
In an interview with Guinness, she explained that when she was in middle school, she began to get relaxers and straightened her hair until college. By age 23, she decided to go natural because it was becoming too costly to constantly go to the hair salon.
"The process was very difficult at first since I was accustomed to wearing my hair straight and I didn’t know how to manage my natural hair texture," she said.
These days, Williams said she washes her hair weekly using sulfate-free shampoo and a lot of conditioner because it helps her detangle it. She generally sections it into four twists when she showers and uses hair moisturizers as well as olive oil before re-twisting it into eight smaller twists, she told Guinness.
She told the New York Post that she uses Aussie 3-Minute Miracle Moist, Shea Moisture Coconut + Hibiscus Curl Enhancing Smoothie and Eco Style Olive Oil Gel.
Williams joked that while she's happy she made the decision to go natural, she has had to move on from wearing hats and generally has to look out for things that may get caught in her afro.
"I love that my hair has a mind of its own. It’s versatile and it’s my favorite accessory," she told Guinness. "When my hair is fully styled and big and voluminous I get a lot of stares, a lot of comments, lots of compliments – I want to think that everything is positive, but there are some people who stare like they have no idea what’s going on or what they’re looking at."
"Rocking a natural ‘fro is something that really symbolizes your pride in being Black. And I feel like whenever I wear my hair very big and beautiful, I just feel that pride within me. Styling my hair like this is a silent reflection of who I am as a Black woman, it’s dynamic, it’s larger than life, and it’s fun! Sometimes I leave the house and if I have on a plain outfit, my hair will be my biggest accessory," she added.
Williams noted that for many Black women, wearing their hair naturally is a "symbol of freedom and liberation" that she also feels when she walks out of the house.
She suggested that it's not an easy process to switch to natural hair and takes a lot of time, with many days being "bad hair days."
"I only use three products religiously and sometimes try a new product once in a while. Don’t think what works for someone else is going to work for you," she said, adding that she is already thinking about other Guinness World Records she can break, like those for afro puffs or pigtails.
"Being a Guinness World Records title holder now feels so exciting and it’s such an incredible accomplishment for me… It’s something I can share with my family and generations years from now," she added.
