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In the Guangxi Province of China, in the village of Huangluoyao, located in the city of Heping, there is a special village called "the village with the longest hair in the world." Over 200 women of all ages, including 80-year-old grandmothers, have long black hair. Huangluoyao Village belongs to the Hongyao ethnic group and has a history of several thousand years. Since ancient times, Hongyao women have had the custom of growing long hair and consider it a symbol of beauty. Huangluoyao has also set a Guinness World Record with over 60 women having hair longer than 1.4 meters, with the longest measuring over 2 meters. The village has attracted considerable attention, and many tourists come to discover the secret of the women's hair culture. Hongyao women have a secret formula for taking care of their hair that has been passed down from generation to generation. Since childhood, they wash their hair with fermented rice water to which they add herbs, grapefruit peel, tea residue, and more, washing their hair every three days. They usually start growing their hair at the age of 12 or 13 and then cut it at the age of 17 or 18. They keep the cut hair as a symbol of their coming of age and never cut it again. When they style their hair, they also incorporate the cut hair from their coming-of-age ceremony.

Women of different identities have specific hairstyles. Women who have become mothers must have two buns: one is made with the hair cut during their coming-of-age ceremony, and the other is made with the hair lost during daily combing. A raised bun on the forehead represents the status of motherhood.

If a girl is unmarried, she will wear a snail-shaped hairstyle, which must be wrapped in a scarf. The scarf can only be opened on the wedding night, so that her future husband can see it. For women of the Hongyao minority, long hair is sacred and symbolizes longevity, wealth, prosperity, and good fortune. This unique culture of the community must be passed down from generation to generation.

However, regardless of their age, Hongyao women have black and silky hair like clouds, making it difficult to find the secret to avoiding white hair. I believe that in addition to their favorable natural environment, good lifestyle habits, and simple way of life, they have unique tricks to take care of their hair. After interviewing an older woman, I finally found the answer. She said they never use modern shampoo but instead prepare a mixture of grapefruit zest, tea oil residue, and secret medicinal herbs in fermented rice rinse water. They boil it and let it cool before using it to wash their hair. With each wash, they first let their long hair soak in the rice rinse water so that it can fully absorb the nutrients, then they rinse it with spring water, comb it, and let it dry naturally. Well-maintained hair then becomes cascades of black, soft, and shiny hair, free from dryness and split ends, becoming a special feature of Yao villages.

Today, tourism in the Guoluo Yao villages is thriving, and many villagers have opened guesthouses. Long hair performances have an incredible allure, and dance and singing shows also showcase the beauty of the ethnic culture. Hongyao women sing and dance, wearing traditional scarlet and magnificent clothing that embodies the history and culture of the Hongyao ethnic group. Long hair has brought life and vibrancy to the lives of the Hongyao people, helping them overcome poverty and live a better life. Long hair holds significant meaning in the hearts of Hongyao women. It symbolizes longevity, wealth, prosperity, and good fortune. It is a natural instinct and a lifelong commitment. By focusing on one thing throughout their lives, they can shine brightly.

Consult local travel agencies

3. Huangluo Yao de Guangxi, World's longest hair