I have 44-inch long hair – men stop me in the street and offer to buy it, it’s creepy
A REAL-LIFE Rapunzel has been left creeped out by men in the street who offer to buy her 44-inch long hair.
Archaeologist and tech support Sofia Black, who lived in Edinburgh for 10 years, has spent a decade growing her enviable locks.
The 31-year-old used to shave her hair completely bald but stopped in 2013 because her hair grew so quickly and she was fed up of the daily task.
And 10 years on, Sofia is still growing her hair – with it now measuring 44in long.
Sofia loves her long hair and enjoys finding different ways to style it.
She’s inundated with compliments online and in person with people exclaiming “wow!” when they see how long and thick her hair is.
Many people have even approached her in the street and asked if she has extensions as they can’t believe that her hair was natural.
However, not all interactions have been positive as Sofia recalls an encounter with a mysterious stranger who stopped her in the street.
“One time I was approached by someone on the street who wanted to buy my hair”, she said.
“I had my hair down, and suddenly this guy appeared and handed me his business card.
“He explained to me that he was in the ‘business of buying hair’ and told me to call him when I decided to cut my hair and he would ‘give me a good price’.
“I thanked him for the offer but told him I was saving my hair [to donate to charity] and we got into an argument about hair donation versus selling hair for profit.”
Despite this approach by the creepy man, Sofia has had mostly overwhelmingly positive responses to her hair.
“My favourite reaction is from my niece who always says I look like a princess when my hair is down, and she aspires to have hair like mine one day,” she said.
“Most little girls tend to have this reaction.
“The most common question I get is ‘How do you maintain it? It must take forever’, which to me is very entertaining because having long hair for me is so much easier to maintain.
“Having short hair takes so much effort to style, while with my hair – I just brush it and then put it up in a loose bun and it’s good to go.
“Usually people notice with a big audible awe but I must admit I don’t really notice how long my hair has gotten until someone mentions it.”
After having her hair shaved down to her head, Sofia – who has moved back to her native Bulgaria – is planning on growing it as long as she possibly can now.
She said: “I cut it every-now-and-then but only when I see split ends, maybe once a year?”
“I plan on growing it for as long as I can at the moment, and then donate it.
“I can’t think of a better use for my hair.”