Caleb Foster
The world record for the longest fingernails has been hotly contested over the years, with several notable record holders. The current record for the longest fingernails on a single hand is held by Shridhar Chillal of India, whose nails measured an impressive 909.6 cm (358.1 in) in aggregate length. In the female category, Lee Redmond of the USA holds the record for the longest fingernails ever on a pair of hands, with a total length of 7 m 51.3 cm (24 ft 7.8 in). Unfortunately, Redmond lost her nails in 2009, but she still retains the overall female record.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the person with the world's longest nails | Shridhar Chillal |
| Age | 82 |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Location | Pune, India |
| Year he stopped cutting his nails | 1952 |
| Length of the longest nail | 6.5 feet or 197.8 centimeters |
| Combined length of all nails | 909.6 centimeters or 29 feet 10.1 inches |
| Current status of the nails | Cut and on display at Ripley's Believe It or Not! museum in New York City |
| Other previous record holders | Lee Redmond, Ayanna Williams, Melvin Boothe, Christine Walton, Louise Hollis |
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What You'll Learn
Shridhar Chillal's 6.5-foot thumbnail
Shridhar Chillal, an Indian man from Pune, held the world record for the longest fingernails ever grown on a single hand. His nails had a combined length of 909.6 centimetres (358.1 inches) or nearly 30 feet. Chillal's longest single nail was his thumbnail, which measured 197.8 centimetres (77.87 inches) or about 6.5 feet.
Chillal's journey began in 1952 when, at the age of 14, he decided to stop cutting his nails. He was inspired by a Chinese priest whose nails had grown to around 22 inches in length. Despite opposition from his family and teachers, Chillal persevered with his goal. He faced numerous challenges due to his long nails, including difficulties in finding employment and social acceptance. Even his romantic pursuits were impacted, as potential marriages were thwarted by the strong objections of the prospective brides' families.
As his nails grew, Chillal began to experience physical difficulties. The weight of his nails caused disfigurement of his fingers and loss of function in his left hand. He also suffered nerve damage in his left arm, which led to deafness in his left ear. Despite these challenges, Chillal proudly displayed his nails in films and television appearances, such as Jackass 2.5.
Finally, after 66 years of growth, Chillal decided to cut his nails. On July 11, 2018, at the age of 82, he flew to New York City and participated in a "'nail-clipping ceremony'" at the Ripley's Believe It or Not! museum in Times Square. His nails were cut using a small circular saw, and they are now on display at the museum.
Chillal's story is a testament to his dedication and perseverance. Despite the challenges and difficulties he faced, he achieved his dream of having the world's longest fingernails on a single hand, with his 6.5-foot thumbnail as the star attraction.
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Chillal's 30-foot nails on a single hand
Shridhar Chillal of Pune, India, holds the world record for the longest fingernails on a single hand. Chillal's journey began when he was just 14 years old, after an incident with his teacher. One of Chillal's friends accidentally broke the teacher's long nail, resulting in both Chillal and his friend receiving a scolding. The teacher told them that they would "never understand the kind of care required not to break [a nail]" unless they grew their own long nails. In India, it is considered a sign of wealth for a man to have at least one long nail, as it indicates that the person does not need to engage in manual labour.
Chillal took this lesson to heart and decided to grow out the nails on his left hand. For over six decades, he nurtured his nails, facing various challenges along the way. As his nails grew, Chillal experienced difficulties due to their weight and length. He suffered disfigurement of his fingers and lost function in his left hand, unable to open it from a closed position or flex his fingers. The weight of the nails also caused nerve damage to his left arm, resulting in deafness in his left ear. Despite these obstacles, Chillal persevered and achieved remarkable lengths with his nails.
When they were finally measured, Chillal's nails had a combined length of 909.6 cm (approximately 358.1 inches or 29 feet 10.1 inches), which is about the same length as a London bus. His longest single nail was his thumbnail, which measured an impressive 197.8 cm (about 77.87 inches or 6.5 feet). To put this into perspective, when laid together, his nails spanned a length of over 31 feet, equivalent to the height of a three-story building!
Chillal's dedication to growing his nails is commendable, and his achievement gained worldwide recognition. In 2018, at the age of 82, Chillal decided it was time to part with his prized possessions. The nail-cutting ceremony was a momentous occasion, with his nails being carefully removed using an industrial cutter instead of regular nail clippers. The procedure was captured on camera and shared by Guinness World Records.
Today, Chillal's nails continue to be admired by people from all over. Three of his fingernails are currently on display at the Ripley's Believe It or Not! museum in Amsterdam, Netherlands, while the rest can be seen at the Ripley's museum in Times Square, New York City. Chillal's story serves as a testament to the extraordinary feats that can be achieved with dedication and perseverance.
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Ayanna Williams' 24-foot nails
Ayanna Williams, a Texas resident, held the Guinness World Record for the longest nails in the world on a pair of female hands. Her nails measured 24 feet 0.7 inches in March 2021, though she had been growing them since 1992 or 1993.
Williams' last manicure before cutting her nails took three to four bottles of polish and up to five days to complete. The polish alone took two to three days. She had her nails cut at a dermatology office in Fort Worth, Texas, using an electric rotary tool—her first nail cut in almost 30 years.
Williams' decision to grow her nails was inspired by her mother's long, red, pointed nails. She also stated that she was excited for new beginnings and that she planned to regrow her nails, but not to their previous length. Now, she only plans to grow them to about six inches.
Williams' nails are now preserved and on display at the Ripley's Believe It or Not! Museum in Orlando, Florida.
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Lee Redmond's 24-foot nails
Lee Redmond, born in 1941 in Annabella, Utah, held the Guinness World Record for the longest fingernails on a pair of hands (female). She started growing her nails in 1978 or 1979, and they reached a combined total length of 8.65 metres (28 feet 4 inches) in 2008. Her right thumb nail was the longest individual nail, measuring 90 centimetres (2 feet 11 inches).
Redmond's nails grew into extended arches, and she attributed their shape to her daily manicure routine. She would soak her nails in warm olive oil, clean them with a toothbrush, and apply a bottle and a half of nail hardener to each nail. She then painted them gold. In a 2007 interview, Redmond commented that her nails grew an impressive inch and a half every year.
Despite her long nails, Redmond was able to perform daily tasks such as making cups of tea, cutting her children's hair, using a mobile phone, washing dishes, and even driving. She also enjoyed riding bikes with her younger sister, Sierra, who had normal-length nails. Redmond stated that her nails did not interfere with her care of her husband, who suffered from Alzheimer's disease.
On February 10, 2009, Redmond's nails were broken in a car accident in Holladay, Utah. She was a passenger in an SUV that lost control and crashed into multiple vehicles. Her injuries were serious but not life-threatening, and she survived, although her nails did not. After the accident, Redmond found it much easier to perform daily chores, and she decided not to grow her nails out again.
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Melvin Boothe's 32-foot nails
Melvin Feizel Boothe of Pontiac, Michigan, held the Guinness World Record for the longest fingernails on a pair of hands for males in 2010. His nails measured 9.85 meters or 32 feet 3.8 inches. Melvin was born on November 28, 1948, and passed away in December 2009 at 61 years of age. He served in the U.S. Army and retired from Pontiac General Hospital after 27 years of service. Melvin started growing his nails in the 1970s and was 61 years old when he received his Guinness World Record title.
Melvin's left thumbnail was his longest nail, measuring 114.3 cm or 45 inches. He shared that he started growing his nails as a hobby, and it gave him something to do. Melvin was happy with what he had accomplished and felt great to be in the Guinness Book of Records. Unfortunately, he passed away just seven months after receiving his record confirmation.
Melvin's story is quite incredible, as he became a recluse for decades and inadvertently grew his fingernails to record-breaking lengths. His nails were so long that he had to learn to navigate his daily life without damaging them. Despite the challenges, Melvin was proud of his achievement.
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Frequently asked questions
The longest single nail in the world was the thumbnail of Shridhar Chillal from Pune, India, which measured 197.8 cm (6.5 feet) long.
Shridhar Chillal is an Indian man from Pune, India, who held the world record for the longest fingernails ever on a single hand, with a combined length of 909.6 cm (358.1 inches).
Shridhar Chillal cut his nails in July 2018 after 66 years of growth.
Shridhar Chillal's nails were cut with a power tool at the Ripley's Believe It or Not! museum in New York and are now on display there.
The record for the longest fingernails on a pair of hands is held by Lee Redmond, who started growing her nails in 1979. Her nails measured 7 m 51.3 cm (24 ft 7.8 in) in 2003.
