Rolled and lacquered 13 metres: an American grandmother breaks the record for the longest toenails in the world | Instagram HLN

Armstrong did not cut her nails for 25 years to reach the record. Guinness World Records measured her nails with a total length of 1,306.58 centimeters, or just over 13 metres. The right thumbnail is the longest, measuring 1.38 meters.

Mike Marcotte of Guinness World Records confirmed the record in Minneapolis, where 63-year-old Armstrong lives. “Working with Diana was fantastic,” Marcotte said. “She was very patient when I measured her nails with the health experts. That took a while.”

Armstrong has been fascinated with nails her whole life, and she shares them with the Guinness Book of Records. “I have always had long nails, but not long ones. Even when I was young, I had longer nails because my mother always grew her nails.”

Armstrong had a similar experience with her daughter Latisha. Every weekend, Latisha gave her mother a manicure. When her daughter died of an asthma attack at the age of 16 in 1997, Armstrong was unable to trim her nails. The day before her daughter died, her nails were painted by Latifa.

“My kids never knew why I’m growing my nails,” shares Armstrong. “I kept it to myself until they grew up.” Her children were surprised by the sad reason, according to the new record holder. They were ashamed of what people said about me. It also made me feel bad, so I told them, “You can tell me to cut my nails, but I simply can’t.”

Armstrong told Guinness World Records that her life has changed dramatically since she decided to grow her nails. For example, she can no longer open the zipper, so that she can no longer wear certain clothes. She also no longer drives because her hands no longer fit the car and she has to use disabled toilets because her fingernails don’t fit into normal toilet cubicles. In many daily activities, she needs the help of her family.

The whole family was called to take care of Armstrong’s manicures. Manicurists do not have time to treat such long nails every time – it takes about five hours to file and paint nails – so her grandchildren took on the task.

Once every five years Armstrong goes to a beauty salon for an overhaul. Here they give the nails extensive processing, using, among other things, a file that is also used for woodworking. After about four days and 15 to 20 jars of nail polish, it can last for a while.

With her long nails, Armstrong holds the records for the longest nails for a woman and the longest nails for a woman ever. Thus, Ayanna Williams is expelled from the throne by a difference of 5 meters and 73 centimeters. Williams cut her nails the day her nails were measured. They are shown in Ripley’s believe it or not! Orlando Auditorium in Orlando, Florida.