‘Real-Life Rapunzel’ Cuts Off a Meter of Hair After Years of Growth—The Stunning Transformation Will Amaze You

For years, Anaram Alizadeh, 25, was admired for her knee-length hair, earning her the nickname “real-life Rapunzel” from friends, family, and even strangers who marveled at her 1-meter-20-centimeter-long mane. Her hair was a defining feature of her identity, drawing endless compliments. But behind the admiration was a struggle that eventually led her to make a bold and emotional decision to chop off a meter of her hair.

“I was really scared I wouldn't like myself anymore if I cut my hair—people would call me a real-life Rapunzel—and it really felt part of who I was,” Anaram said. “I just couldn't bring myself to finally cut it all off.”

Despite her fears, she went through with the transformation, and the result was life-changing.

The Struggles of Extreme Hair Length

Anaram, a political science student at the University of Zurich, Switzerland, never intentionally set out to grow her hair to her knees. However, thanks to her Persian genes, her hair was thick, strong, and fast-growing, requiring little effort to maintain its impressive length.

While she loved the attention and compliments, her long hair became increasingly difficult to manage. Washing and styling it took an entire day, and hairdressers often refused to cut it, saying they couldn’t handle such long tresses.

"Hairdressers didn't want to cut it—they just couldn't handle it," she recalled. "The ends would get really dry from tying it up, so I'd trim five to 10 centimeters off every so often—up to twice a year."

Despite this, she held off on any major haircut for six years, only trimming her split ends once a year. But as time went on, the sheer weight of her hair began to affect her health.

Neck Pain, Scoliosis, and a Doctor’s Advice

What was once a signature look became a physical burden. Since childhood, Anaram had suffered from scoliosis, a condition that causes a curvature of the spine. The increasing weight of her long hair worsened her posture, strained her neck and shoulders, and intensified her pain.

Even her physiotherapist strongly advised her to cut it.

"It eventually felt like it was a part of self-care—it was affecting my posture and causing neck and shoulder pain," she explained. "Even my physiotherapist advised me to cut it."

The Emotional Big Chop

After years of hesitation, Anaram finally booked an appointment with her family hairdresser in January 2025. Just a week later, on February 1, she sat in the chair, ready for a transformation six years in the making.

As the scissors snipped through one full meter of her thick locks, Anaram couldn’t hold back her emotions.

"The first thing I did after the cut was shake my head—I cried with happiness," she recalled. "It just felt so light."

The long-overdue change left her overwhelmed but instantly relieved.

A New Purpose: Donating Her Hair

Beyond the personal transformation, Anaram also saw her haircut as an opportunity to give back. She had previously donated her hair at 19 to a charity that makes wigs for cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Inspired by that experience, she decided to do it again.

She paid $110.97 for the big chop, and her hair is now in the hands of a local charity that will use it to create wigs for people battling cancer.

Life After the Transformation

Since the drastic haircut, Anaram has no plans to grow her hair back to its previous length. Instead, she’s embracing the freedom that comes with shorter hair.

"I’ll probably stick to short hair for some time now," she said. "In my culture, we always say hair holds energy and memories. I got rid of the bad energy by cutting my hair, and it’s time to make some new memories."

Now, washing and styling her hair is no longer a day-long chore, and she’s enjoying the newfound ease of her shorter locks.

After years of living as a real-life Rapunzel, Anaram’s decision to let go of her signature hair is more than just a makeover—it’s a symbol of self-care, transformation, and a fresh start.

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