The longest black hair on record belongs to Jessica L. Martinez, whose afro measures 11.42 inches tall, 12.2 inches wide, and 6 feet 2.87 inches in circumference.
The title is "largest afro on a living person (female)," which sits separately from Simone Williams’s "largest afro (female)" at smaller dimensions. The distinction between the two categories remains unexplained in official records.
Who Holds the Record
Jessica L. Martinez, justice advocate and CEO of Somebody’s Auntie, holds the record for largest afro on a living person (female). Her crown measures 11.42 inches tall, 12.2 inches wide, and 6 feet 2.87 inches in circumference.
She’s the second Black woman to break the record, and the achievement arrived in November 2025 at a moment when natural hair was being debated across social media all over again.
Martinez sees it as bigger than a measurement. She told People Magazine that breaking the record confirms the things that make us different and unique should always be celebrated, and that natural hair is not a trend but a lifestyle.
The record came to someone who had already built a career around justice work, and the timing feels right.
Simone Williams of Brooklyn, New York, is also named for largest afro (female), with dimensions of 8.07 inches tall, 8.85 inches wide, and 4 feet 10 inches in circumference.
Two Holders, Two Titles
The two records sit side by side but cannot be compared directly.
Simone Williams holds largest afro (female) at 8.07 inches tall, 8.85 inches wide, and 4 feet 10 inches in circumference. Jessica L. Martinez holds largest afro on a living person (female) at 11.42 inches tall, 12.2 inches wide, and 6 feet 2.87 inches in circumference.
| Holder | Title | Height | Width | Circumference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Simone Williams | Largest afro (female) | 8.07 in | 8.85 in | 4 ft 10 in |
| Jessica L. Martinez | Largest afro on a living person (female) | 11.42 in | 12.2 in | 6 ft 2.87 in |
Whether the categories match or whether measurement methods changed between records remains unclear, so treating Martinez’s numbers as a straight improvement would be a mistake.
Williams took the title from Aevin Dugas, who held it for eight years before. What shifted between Williams and Martinez is unclear from the wording alone.
What the Record Means
The record carries weight Williams and Martinez both describe as deeper than measurement.
Williams frames her natural afro as a reflection of who she is as a Black woman: dynamic, larger than life, and something she wears as her biggest accessory even when the rest of her outfit stays plain.
She connects it to a longer history.
For many years, Black women have worn their hair as it grows from the scalp as a symbol of freedom and liberation, and Williams says she feels that same freedom, liberation and confidence when she walks out with her natural fro.
Martinez calls natural hair not a trend but a lifestyle.
For years, she compared her hair to the people around her and tried to fit in. When she finally stopped fighting with her hair to conform to the environment around her, she felt a freedom she didn’t know she needed.
The moment she stopped comparing her hair to others and stopped holding on to individuals’ comments or glances when she walked by, she found peace.
Breaking the record confirms what she has always known: the things that make us different and unique should always be celebrated.
Hair Bias and the CROWN Act
Public perception of Black hair remains charged. Williams gets stares, comments and compliments when her hair is big and styled, but the attention that comes with visibility is not always welcome.
Black women across the U.S. continue to face criticism of their hair choices in schools, workplaces and society at large, and many have felt forced to damage their curls and coils just to avoid the discourse that follows wearing their hair as it grows from their scalps.
The CROWN Act passed in New Jersey but not federally, leaving Black women and girls in 21 states vulnerable to outdated biases. Hair-based discrimination remains legal where the law has not taken hold.
Martinez plans to advocate in the natural-hair industry and work toward ending hair discrimination worldwide, using the record as a platform to challenge the systems that have long tried to shrink Black women into conformity.
Williams’s Care Routine
Williams washes once a week with very little sulfate-free shampoo, sectioning her hair into four twists in the shower before she starts. The routine is low on cleansing, high on conditioning.
- Section hair into four twists while in the shower.
- Wash with a small amount of sulfate-free shampoo.
- Apply conditioner generously to detangle.
- Rinse, then apply hair moisturizer and olive oil gel.
- Retwist the hair into about eight smaller twists.
- Air-dry completely.
She says she religiously uses three products, though she doesn’t name them.
The whole system grew out of necessity: Williams transitioned from straightened to natural hair around age 23, partly to save salon costs when moving into her first apartment, and began her natural-hair journey nine years before setting the record.
Now she avoids salons entirely except when verification requires it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who has the longest black hair?
Jessica L. Martinez holds the record for largest afro on a living person (female) at 11.42 inches tall, 12.2 inches wide, and 6 feet 2.87 inches in circumference as of November 2025.
Simone Williams also holds a record for largest afro (female) at 8.07 inches tall, 8.85 inches wide, and 4 feet 10 inches in circumference. The two titles use different categories that remain unexplained.
Can African American hair grow long?
Yes, African American hair grows long naturally.
Both Jessica L. Martinez and Simone Williams grew their natural hair to record-breaking dimensions, with Martinez’s afro measuring over 6 feet in circumference. Williams began her natural hair journey at age 23 and reached record size within 9 years.
