Helen Williams, a Nigerian professional wig maker, has achieved a new Guinness World Record for creating the tallest wig ever, measuring 15.37 metres. This accomplishment surpasses the height of a three-storey building and marks her third major global title in wig making. Williams overcame significant technical challenges to complete the project, which took two weeks and cost over ₦3 million.
Helen Williams, based in Nigeria, has added another milestone to her career by crafting the world's tallest wig, officially recognized by Guinness World Records at 15.37 metres tall. This feat builds on her previous achievements, including the longest handmade wig at 351.28 metres and the widest at 3.65 metres. Additionally, she holds records for attaching the most hair clips to a wig (94) and on a head (97) within 30 seconds.
The creation process was arduous, spanning two weeks and utilizing 250 bundles of string hair. The total cost exceeded ₦3 million, equivalent to approximately £1,551 or $2,066. Williams faced early setbacks, as an initial test structure collapsed, prompting a redesign. "Before the attempt, I did a test run and to be honest, the test one failed," she recounted. "Making the wig stand was going to be very difficult but I went back and started designing again."
Guinness World Records highlighted the engineering demands, noting that while long wigs rely on familiar techniques, the tallest required innovative support to remain upright. Williams described it as her most technically demanding project: "The longest wig was easiest as a wig maker, but the most technical and most challenging record was the tallest wig... if the internal structure doesn’t hold you won’t get the record."
Reflecting on her success, Williams emphasized perseverance. "To have a record is like climbing a mountain. The climb is hard and full of challenges but the view from the top is incredible," she said. "Breaking another record shows that nothing is impossible." She affirmed her ongoing ambition: "I don’t think I’ll ever stop breaking records. There are more records to break, more boundaries to push and more dreams to achieve."
This record underscores Williams' dedication to pushing limits in hairstyling, inspiring others in creative fields.