A 14-year-old, Amir Menendez has broken the 2024 Guinness record for world’s largest afro on a living teenager and man in the world. According to Guinness World Records, Amir’s afro measures 7.74 inches high, 9.77 inches broad, and 7.33 feet in diameter, breaking the previous record for men. He lives in California and his hairstyle is a serious business.
Last year, a Louisiana woman by the name of Aevin Dugas set the world record for having the world’s largest afro on a living person for the third time. Her afro measures 9.84 inches tall, 10.24 inches wide and 5.41 feet in circumference. From the longest hair in the world to an oddly large collection of any regular item, people have found unique ways to make their mark and land on the pages of the Guinness World Records.
Amir On Having The World’s Largest Afro
Amir says
“It’s pretty cool to be unique, you know, being one out of billions of people in the world”. “You don’t see something like my hair everyday. Plus, it’s a great conversation starter.”
“With my hair, I always had a theory that I could break the record. It was never a surprise for me, more like an accomplishment,” he explains. After realizing his potential, the high school freshman decided to let it grow, and his magnificent afro took shape over the past four years. “My hair has always grown at a very fast rate, and I eventually got it,”
he says.
Despite the numerous allegations of discrimination towards those with natural hair, Menendez claims that his classmates and teachers were “always supportive.” There was one catch, though:
“I usually have to sit in the back of the class,” he explains, “People behind me couldn’t see the board. “Some people will be criticising it because they say, ‘Oh, just chop it.’ However, they all genuinely thought it was cool and actively backed me for the most part,”.
With reports of larger afros, Guinness has recognised Menendez as the current record holder. The previous holder was 13-year-old Tyler Wright, whose hair measured 10 inches in height, 9 inches in width, and 5 feet, 10 inches in circumference when measured in June 2015.
Amir On Tackling The World’s Largest Afro
Through a lot of trial and error, he rapidly learned how to take care of it.
“If you want to keep it, I recommend, one, comb it out when it’s wet because if you do it when it’s dry it’s gonna hurt so much,” he says. “And two, I recommend keeping a lot of leave-in conditioner in there because it makes your hair look really healthy and, just, ‘out there.’
He started growing his hairstyle four and a half years ago and nourishes it with a proper haircare routine, keeping his hair in twists most of the time. To take care of the health of his scalp he oils and moisturises it while avoiding dryness on the lengths by using dry shampoo and leave-in conditioners between washes.
Menendez has a variety of other interests and is working hard to get a high GPA and to make the varsity football team. “I don’t necessarily believe I’m going to the NFL, but I do want to play in college,” he says. Now that he’s accomplished his hair goals, he is setting a new target.
In the medical industry, or as a virologist, is what Menendez wants to do.
“I want to develop vaccines, find treatments for diseases, or assist those who are ill so that they won’t be a problem any longer.” And the adolescent has a positive view, whether it’s on growing an afro that holds a record or going to medical school. He counsels individuals to stop caring about what others think of them.”Haters will always exist, no matter what you hope to achieve in life. Stay away from them. Simply go for it.”
