Jean, a pensioner from Sevenoaks, Kent, hasn’t cut her hair since 1953—more than 50 years ago. The decision came after she hated a photo of herself at age 15 with short hair, taken beside flowers her father grew for the Queen’s wedding bouquet. Feeling it made her look like a boy, she vowed never to cut it again.

Now in her 70s and divorced with five children, Jean’s hair takes 45 minutes to wash, up to three hours to comb, and a full day to air dry in her garden. She only washes it twice a year using baby shampoo and prefers finger-combing to avoid tangles.