Long locks

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Most parents repeatedly remind their sons and daughters to get their hair cut. For the past 16 years, Xia Aifeng, 36, decided not to heed the hair-chopping advice. As a result, her hair is now longer than she is tall.

Hair grows at a rate of roughly 1 centimeter (0.4 inches) per month. When it reaches a certain length--anywhere from 24 cm to 84 cm (9.4 in. to 33 in.)--it usually falls out and is replaced by new hairs. So a strand of the average person's hair is replaced every 2 to 7 years. "This woman has a longer growth phase than most people," says Paul McAndrews, senior medical adviser for the International Alliance of Hair Restoration Surgeons, who studies hair growth. That means Xia's hair can grow for a longer period of time before it eventually falls out. And grow it has! Her hair measures 2.4 meters (7.9 feet).

With all this hair, washing it is quite a task. Even with help from her family, it takes Xia, who lives in China, an hour and a half to wash all of it. Because her hair's upkeep is so time consuming, Xia only washes it once a week. Since oil is produced in glands around hair follicles, or the structures from which hair grows, Xia likely has a buildup of oil, says McAndrews. But that's not necessarily a bad thing, he says. "These oils actually help moisturize the hair." The oils also keep the skin moist. Most people wash their hair more frequently, simply because they don't care for the oils created by their body.

Other than giving her an oily head, Xia's long hair doesn't put her at any increased risk of scalp-related conditions, such as dandruff. However, there are advantages to keeping one's hair at a more moderate length. Trimming off dead or damaged hairs keeps hair looking healthier. It also won't take 90 minutes just to wash it!

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