00:05 COMM: 38-year-old Aevin Dugas, from Louisiana,
has the world's largest afro measuring a staggering 4 foot and 4 inches around.
00:13 Aevin: It's been 14 years since I actually
went natural.
One time I strived to get the hair that was straight and now I want it big and poofy.
00:22 Aevin: To get all the attention in public
- it's always a positive thing.
It's not like people really come up and say anything mean.
Usually, that's why my hair's in my face because then it kind of protects me and makes me feel
a little more comfortable.
00:32 COMM: Aevin has been growing her hair since
she was a child and 3 years ago achieved her dream of securing a Guinness World Record.
00:38 Aevin: The first measurement in 2010, I think
it was 4 feet 4 inches around.
I'm not sure how big it could get, but I mean I'll try as long as I can.
00:49 Man: That's you're real natural hair?
Girl, that's real nice
00:51 Aevin: Thank you
00:52 COMM: With the world record under her belt,
it's no surprise she attracts attention wherever she goes, and has become an inspiration to
others, like her hairdresser, Toby Johnson.
01:02 Toby: This is the greatest hair I've ever
seen.
It is natural and just beautiful
01:09 Woman: It's beautiful.
Basically Aevin inspired me to go natural.
01:14 Woman: When I saw her, I was just like...
it was still big, you know?
Part of me wanted to lay in it.
01:23 COMM: Although Aevin enjoys the attention
her hair has brought her, taking care of it isn't an easy job.
01:29 Aevin: It would take a day and a half for
it to dry, almost 2 days, like people think I'm joking, I'm remember washing my hair on
a Sunday...
I put it in braids, I let it dry, on Wednesday night, it was still damp.
01:41 COMM: Aevin has recently come out of a long-term
relationship and she worries that her hair could distract men when getting to know her.
01:48 Aevin: I guess it would be one of those things
that if I see that we're actually getting close, you know, moving onto another level,
I'll be like, "Oh hey, by the way, you know, I have really big hair".
01:59 Aevin: I did tell one guy and he was shocked
and he Googled me and was like, "Oh wow", and when I saw him again, he was wearing a
fro.
02:06 COMM: And she's had a great response to her
world record.
02:09 Aevin: The reaction in my hometown was actually
very positive.
Everybody was just so proud of me and they kept saying, "You're a celebrity", like, do
not call me that, I just have big hair.
02:17 COMM: However, the original inspiration for
Aevin's afro came when she saw a photo of her mother with one in the 60s.
02:23 Deborah: I am really proud and humbled by
the fact that she thinks it's because she liked my natural hair way before she was born.
02:32 COMM: And with her place in the record books
secured, she has no plans to take a trim just yet.
02:37 Aevin: Do I see myself cutting my hair?
No, I don't think so.
Me straightening my hair wasn't gonna change who I am, you know, I'm still Aevin, I'm still
an African-American and as far as, you know, putting chemicals in my hair - what's the
point?