With 90 Inches of Flowing Brown Locks, This Real-Life Rapunzel Has Hair Brushing the Ground Behind Her
When 35-year-old Alicia Montez walks into a room, heads turn—not because of flashy clothes or high heels, but because of the cascade of chocolate-brown hair trailing behind her like a living veil. Measuring an astonishing 90 inches long, Alicia’s hair flows past her ankles and trails along the ground, a natural marvel that has earned her the nickname: “Real-Life Rapunzel.”
A Childhood Dream Grown to Life
Alicia’s love affair with long hair began when she was a little girl in Texas, obsessed with fairy tales and Disney princesses. But Rapunzel was different. “There was something magical about her,” she said. “The way she used her hair as strength, as a symbol of identity—I felt that deeply even as a child.”
Her mother kept her hair short for convenience, but when Alicia turned 12, she made a vow: she wouldn’t cut her hair again until she was at least 30. What began as a whimsical childhood promise turned into a lifelong commitment, and today, Alicia’s hair is not just a personal expression but a defining feature of her identity.
The Routine Behind the Glory
Maintaining 90 inches of healthy, glossy hair is no simple feat. Alicia spends up to four hours a week on hair care. Her weekly routine includes oiling her scalp with a homemade blend of argan, castor, and coconut oil, followed by a deep conditioning treatment. Washing her hair takes nearly an hour and requires bending over a specially installed sink to avoid tangling. Drying it naturally? That’s an all-day affair.
Brushing it alone is a workout. “It takes about 30 minutes if I’m being thorough,” Alicia said. “And I have to start from the bottom up, slowly untangling inch by inch. I don’t use combs—they break. Only wide-toothed wooden brushes.”
She avoids heating tools entirely, sleeps with her hair braided in a silk wrap, and never leaves it down when it’s windy. “I’ve gotten it caught in car doors, escalators, even a grocery cart wheel once,” she laughed. “That was not fun.”
Life with a Living Train
Alicia’s hair doesn’t just turn heads—it starts conversations. Strangers have asked if it’s a wig, if it’s real, or if she’s part of a performance act. Some even try to touch it without asking. “That’s the part I dislike most,” she admitted. “It’s not just hair—it’s an extension of me. People forget that.”
Children, however, are in awe. “One little girl gasped and asked if I lived in a tower,” Alicia recalled fondly. “She told me I must be a real princess.”
Social media has amplified her visibility. Her TikTok account, @TexasRapunzel, has over 1.8 million followers, with viral videos showing her hair swaying behind her as she walks, or tied up in intricate braids and buns. Her most viewed video—her husband brushing her hair while standing on a chair—has over 40 million views.
Challenges and Criticisms
Of course, there’s a darker side to standing out. Alicia has faced harsh criticism online, with trolls calling her hair “gross,” “attention-seeking,” or accusing her of vanity. Some criticize her for not donating it to charity. “I’ve donated hair before, when I was younger,” she said. “But this is not a wig farm. This is a personal journey.”
The weight of her hair—both literally and figuratively—can be tiring. At 90 inches, it weighs close to 7 pounds when wet. Back pain is a regular concern, and she works with a chiropractor to manage the physical strain.
“People see the glamour, the fairy tale,” she said. “But they don’t see the daily effort, the inconvenience, the judgment. Still, I wouldn’t trade it. Not for anything.”
Support from Those Who Matter
Luckily, Alicia’s inner circle is nothing but supportive. Her husband, Marco, whom she met in college, fell in love with her long hair and the strength of character behind it. “I joke that I married Rapunzel,” he said, smiling. “But really, I married Alicia, the woman who owns every inch of who she is.”
Their daughter, Mia, age 8, is already growing her hair long, inspired by her mother. “I want it to touch the floor like Mommy’s,” she beams in one video, her own hair halfway down her back.
Alicia’s mother, once the enforcer of haircuts, now marvels at what her daughter has achieved. “It’s not just about the hair,” she says. “It’s about how she stuck with something all her life. That’s rare.”
To Cut or Not to Cut?
As Alicia nears 36, she’s begun to reflect on her original vow. “I said I’d cut it at 30, but that came and went,” she admitted. “Now I ask myself: am I still doing this for me? Or because it’s what people expect of me?”
She hasn’t made a decision yet, but she’s open to change. “Hair grows. Maybe one day I’ll chop it off and donate it all. Or maybe I’ll be 80 with a braid down to my knees. Who knows?”
For now, though, the Real-Life Rapunzel continues to live her fairy tale—on her own terms. Her story is not just about vanity or aesthetics; it’s about commitment, self-expression, and resilience.
