An Alabama man earned the Guinness World Record for longest natural beard locks on a living person.
Rudolf Martino of Birmingham started growing the impressive 3-foot, 6-inch facial hair more than a decade ago and told the record book it was culturally inspired.
“I have researched thoroughly into different cultures like Egypt, India, and various religions, to create a look that has been around for thousands of years [and] adding my own flavor,” said Martino, a former singer, dancer and weightlifter who now plays competitive billiards.
“The beard locks [were] inspired by the holy men of India, plus Jamaican Rastafarians who adopted their look from India.”
To maintain his record breaking locks, Martino applies a daily moisturizer and washes his hair — which can take up to an hour, and then another three days to dry — thoroughly every two weeks, he dished to Fox 54.
Martino said the reaction to his beard — which he sometimes keeps tucked in his shirt so it doesn’t get caught in doors — can vary.
“The looks I get are mixed, some in disbelief, and some in relief,” he told the outlet.
“There shouldn’t be discrimination against anyone’s natural hair, [and] myself being an African American, has pushed the envelope with a hair turban and robe – so the reaction sometimes is disarming, and residing in Birmingham, Alabama, this borders on heresy.”
He has no plans to chop it off.
“Just as a tree has roots, branches, leaves, and some fruit, I have as a symbol my hair, its roots, length, and strength,” he told the outlet.
“My fruits that I contribute to the world [are] my creativity, sharing, [and] caring to make the world a better, sweeter, and [more] tolerable place to live in.”
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