Guinness World Record: Nigerian sets record for longest wig measuring over 350 metres

Nigerian wig artisan Helen Williams has achieved a remarkable feat by crafting the world's longest handmade wig, measuring an impressive 351.28 meters (1,152 feet 5 inches).

Helen dedicated 11 days and invested over two million naira (£2,031; $2,493) in bringing this extraordinary creation to life.

Her achievement comes after a colleague Nigerian national Hilda Baci lost the title of the longest cooking marathon in history to Alan Fisher.

The 26-year-old has officially clinched the title for the lengthiest individual cooking marathon, clocking in at an impressive 93 hours and 11 minutes. This achievement was confirmed after a thorough review of all evidence by Guinness World Records.

Yet, a recent statement on the official Guinness World Records website unveils that Alan Fisher has now eclipsed Hilda Baci's former record. Alan has set a new and astounding cooking marathon record of 119 hours and 57 minutes, accomplished at his restaurant in Japan.

But it appears Nigeria will have a reason to smile again following Helen Williams's achievement in the Guinness World Record.

Below is an article on Hellen published on November 14, 2023:

Nigerian wigmaker Helen Williams has created the world’s longest handmade wig, measuring 351.28 metres (1,152 ft 5 in).

Helen spent 11 days and over two million naira (£2,031; $2,493) making the wig.

After constructing the underlay with wig-cap netting and black fabric attached to a bicycle helmet, she completed the hairpiece using 1,000 bundles of hair, 12 cans of hair spray, 35 tubes of hair glue, and 6,250 hair clips.

“Finding the materials to make the longest wig was not an easy task,” Helen said. “My experience as a wigmaker helped a lot.”

Helen has been working as a professional wigmaker for eight years, producing anywhere from 50 to 300 wigs per week.

“I have trained hundreds of students and have made thousands of wigs,” she revealed.

Despite having such extensive experience, creating the record-breaking wig was not a simple feat for Helen.

“At some point, I felt exhausted,” she shared.

“However, friends and family encouraged me. I did not want to let them down, so I maintained my focus. The outcome is the longest handmade wig in the world.”

The biggest challenge Helen faced was finding a space to have the wig laid out in a straight line and accurately measured, as none of the venues she visited – including several running tracks – were long enough to accommodate it.

She eventually decided to do it beside the Lagos–Abeokuta Expressway, a long road connecting the cities of Lagos and Abeokuta.

Helen now keeps the wig in her office, where she invites anyone to come and look at it “whenever they want to”.

Having grown up reading the annual Guinness World Records book each year, Helen is overjoyed at now being a record holder herself.

“It will take a while for me to digest,” she said.

“This achievement is one of the best things that has ever happened to me. I still cannot believe it.”

More wig world records

- The world’s widest wig was made by Dani Reynolds (Australia) and measured to be 2.58 metres (8 ft 6 in) wide on 12 November 2022.

- The world’s tallest wig was made by Emilio Minnicelli (Italy). It was modelled in the main square of the Bologna Piazza Maggiore on 15 May 2004, where it was measured to be 14.3 metres (46 ft 11 in) tall.

- The world’s longest hair extension was made by Nikola Kulezic (Serbia) and measured a length of 820.29 metres (2691 ft 3 in) on 26 June 2013.

Helen Williams from Lagos, Nigeria has achieved a new record for the longest handmade wig which stretches an incredible 351.28 metres (1,152 ft 5 in) ???? pic.twitter.com/gwGdqjF8Wp

— Guinness World Records (@GWR) November 14, 2023