Helen Williams, a wig artisan based in Lagos, has secured a place in the Guinness World Records by fabricating the world’s lengthiest handmade wig. This extraordinary wig spans an impressive 351.28 meters (1,152 ft 5 in), and Helen invested 11 days and over two million naira (£2,031; $2,493) in bringing this remarkable creation to life.

Acknowledging her accomplishment, the Guinness World Records highlighted on its official social media account, stating, “Helen Williams from Lagos, Nigeria, has set a new record for the longest handmade wig, measuring an incredible 351.28 meters (1,152 ft 5 in).”
Helen crafted the foundation by combining wig-cap netting and black fabric onto a bicycle helmet. She then finalized the hairpiece using 1,000 bundles of hair, 12 cans of hair spray, 35 tubes of hair glue, and 6,250 hair clips.
“Finding the materials to make the longest wig was not an easy task,” shared Helen. “My experience as a wigmaker helped a lot.”
Helen, an experienced wigmaker of eight years, typically crafts an impressive 50 to 300 wigs weekly. However, despite her extensive background, the process of creating this record-setting wig posed unique challenges.
“At some point, I felt exhausted,” she admitted. “However, friends and family encouraged me. I did not want to let them down, so I maintained my focus. The outcome is the longest handmade wig in the world.”
Securing a suitable space for laying out the wig in a straight line and accurately measuring it posed a significant challenge for Helen. None of the venues she explored, including various running tracks, proved long enough for this purpose. Ultimately, she chose the Lagos–Abeokuta Expressway, a lengthy road connecting the cities of Lagos and Abeokuta.
Following this achievement, the exceptional wig is now housed in Helen’s office, where she welcomes anyone interested to come and appreciate it at their convenience.
Having been an avid reader of the annual Guinness World Records book since her childhood, Helen is delighted to now hold a record herself.
“It will take a while for me to digest,” she said.
“This achievement is one of the best things that has ever happened to me. I still canno