Woman with world’s longest fingernails has them cut for the first time after almost 30 years

It was a nail-biting feat for Guinness World Records titleholder Ayanna Williams from Houston, Texas, famously known as the woman with the longest fingernails, as she decided it was time to let go of her record-breaking nails after 29 years of nurturing them.

Before having her nails cut by a professional, Williams, who first held the record in 2017, had them measured for the last time and it turns out she broke her previous record of 18 ft. 10.9 inches. The final combined measurement of her fingernails was 24 feet, which when stacked, is taller than a standard two-story house (which is about 20-ft. high).

A doctor at a clinic in Fort Worth, Texas carefully cut Williams’ nails using a rotary power tool.

Williams, a nail technician, was emotional by just talking about parting ways with her prized talons, which she religiously took care of and used about three to four bottles of nail polish (and took 20 hours) to jazz them up. But speaking like someone who is breaking up with a significant other, Williams said she is looking forward to new beginnings without her nails.

“I’ve been growing my nails for a few decades now. I’m so, so ready for a new life. I know I’m going to miss them, but it’s just about that time—it’s time for them to go,” Williams told Guinness World Records.

Many would be thinking how Williams did her day-to-day tasks with those lengthy nails. She said there were many challenges that came in having extremely long nails. She once explained that it takes her longer to perform tasks like household chores and washing dishes so as not to break her nails.

“With my movements, I have to be very, very careful. So usually in my mind, I’m already preparing for the next step that I have to do to make sure that I don’t hurt myself with my nails or break them.”

Though Williams held a remarkable record, the record for the longest fingernails on a pair of hands ever (female) still remains with American Lee Redmond, whose fingernails grew up to 28 ft. 4.5 in. until she figured in a car accident and broke them in early 2009.

So, what will happen to Williams’ record-breaking fingernails? They will be on display at the Ripley’s Believe It or Not Museum in Orlando, Florida.

Have you reached for your nail clippers yet?

Watch the day Ayanna Williams said goodbye to her 24-ft. nails here:

Banner and thumbnail images from www.instagram.com/guinnessworldrecords