A "real life Rapunzel" says strangers constantly beg to touch her 5ft-long locks.
Ivanna Stelmakh, from Lviv, Ukraine, always dreamed of having Princessy hair when she was a child.
She sported a short 'do as it was easier for her mum Yaroslav to manage.
READ MORE: ‘Men trolled me over weight gain but now call me a skinny hag – women can’t win’
But when she turned 17-years-old, Ivanna decided to start growing it out.
She used hair care tips passed down from her mum, gran and great-gran to achieve her enviable tresses.
And years after following their advice to trim split ends and follow a healthy lifestyle, the 36-year-old's hair is 61in long.
Ivana said: “From a young age, me and my mother dreamt of long, luxurious hair but she lacked the patience to care for this.
“It was much easier for me to have short hair as a child.
“My mother taught me to take good care of my hair and she passed along secrets from my grandmother and great-grandmother.
“I finally began to grow my hair out. Believe me, it’s hard work.
“Haircare takes a long time. I trim the ends and it’s important to choose the right shampoo and conditioner.
“I lead an active and healthy lifestyle and I eat lots of fruit, vegetables and chocolate. My mum always jokes that the chocolate helps my hair grow.
“I love how shiny, silky, and long it is. It’s difficult to brush but I’m good at doing different styles.
“I entered competitions for several years and won the first-place prize for my long hair.
“In Ukraine, they wrote about me, and I was on TV and it felt like I had achieved my goal.
“After that, I decided to change my look. I liked my shorter hair for a time, but I started to feel like I had lost my superpower, my peculiarity – a part of myself.
“People told me I would never have hair that long again but look at me now."
While some doubted Ivanna could grow her hair out again, she proved them wrong.
The majority of people swoon over her famous barnet – but she's received some criticism too.
Ivanna added: “They always say, ‘Wow, is that real?’ or ask if they can touch my hair. Others also ask for tips on haircare or ask how long it took to grow.
“Men react differently. Some are annoyed by such long hair. They ask about the money and hours it takes to look after it.
“Others find is extraordinary and love the ideal of beauty and femininity. They start talking about their secret desires – such proposals are quite common.”
READ NEXT:
Woman with massive eyebrows ditches them for rare glam pics – and is unrecognisable
- Dating guru says common habit could be wrecking your sex life
- Woman living in council house called 'slag' for joining OnlyFans – but is now millionaire
- Woman gets 'petty' revenge on couple who sat near her on empty beach
For more lifestyle stories, you can sign up to the free Hot Topics newsletter here
Source: Read Full Article