Alabama man with a more than 3.5-foot long beard earns world record
Rudolf Martino earned the Guinness World Record title for longest natural beard locks on a living person. WVTM 13
Birmingham resident Rudolf Martino has earned a Guinness World Record for the longest natural beard locks on a living person, measuring an impressive 3 feet, 6 inches.
Martino, who began growing his beard over a decade ago, says his style is deeply inspired by cultures around the world.
“I have researched thoroughly into different cultures like Egypt, India, and various religions to create a look that has been around for thousands of years, while adding my own flavor,” Martino explained. The former singer, dancer, and weightlifter—who now competes in billiards—added that his beard locks draw inspiration from Indian holy men as well as Jamaican Rastafarians who adopted similar styles.
Maintaining his record-breaking beard is a meticulous process. Martino applies a daily moisturizer and washes his locks every two weeks, a routine that can take up to an hour to wash and three days to dry, he told Fox 54. Despite its striking length, he sometimes tucks the beard inside his shirt to avoid it getting caught in doors.
Reactions to his beard, Martino said, are a mix of awe and disbelief. “There shouldn’t be discrimination against anyone’s natural hair,” he said. “Being African American and wearing a hair turban and robe in Birmingham, Alabama, the reactions can sometimes be disarming, bordering on heresy.”
Martino has no intention of cutting his beard. “Just as a tree has roots, branches, leaves, and some fruit, I have, as a symbol, my hair—its roots, length, and strength,” he said. “The fruits I contribute to the world are my creativity, sharing, and caring to make the world a better, sweeter, and more tolerable place to live.”
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