A woman who calls herself “Japan’s Rapunzel” has spent 15 years growing out her jaw-dropping locks.
Dancer and model Rin Kambe from Tokyo was never permitted to have long hair as a child because she was on the girl’s football team and had to keep it short.
But when Rin turned 20-years-old, she decided to grow her hair out as a “weapon of expression”.
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She hasn’t had a hair cut since and her hair now brushes across the floor. Her tresses are an incredible 5ft 10in long, which is four-inches longer than her height of 5ft 6in.
Rin revealed: “I grew up with strict parents and when I was a kid, I was on the girls’ soccer team and always had a short cut because of this.
”I grew my hair when I started dancing seriously at around twenty and my hair is now floor length.
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“I began to grow my hair because I wanted to shine in my own way.
“It felt like my hair was a weapon of expression. It grew naturally and healthily and is a thing of beauty.
“I think the perseverance to keep doing one thing without giving up gave me confidence.
“I don’t think I had the spirit to make the impossible possible without giving up before.”
Rin says she gets plenty of positive reactions from strangers but some people are more critical of her long locks. However, she refuses to let their words hold her back.
The dancer said: “I get a lot of reactions to my hair. There are men in the world who appreciate it and there are also people who think that it is a monster.
“I think it’s only natural that there are different opinions in the world and if I didn’t believe in myself I would be swayed by the negative opinions.
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“I’m willing to accept other people’s opinions. Either way, I’m glad people are interested in me because I transform it into a strength that shines in my own way.
“I get asked, ‘Is that real hair?’ because people can’t believe I’ve grown my hair this long.
“I am very happy if people, men and women alike, feel amazing when they see my dance show and how I use my hair in my performances.”
Rin keeps her long locks healthy by eating iron-rich foods, having seven hours of sleep per night and staying active.
She explained: “I eat a lot of iron-rich food and eat a well balanced diet.
“I think sleep is very important and I have about seven hours every day. Exercise and stretching are also important.”
Rin also keeps her hair out of the way by tying it up.
She added: “I can’t change my clothes or do anything unless I put my hair up. I change my outfits several times a day so it’s easier for me to tie it up.”
