The elderly man, Nguyen Van Chien, a 92-year-old said his faith does not allow him to cut(hair) whatever he was born with or washed hair and has therefore never seen the inside of a barbershop for 80 years.
According to Van, he also has not washed his dreadlocks for those eight decades over the fear of losing his life.
The nonagenarian told Reuters he coils his hair and ties it up using a scarf whenever he wants to look neat and presentable. The 92-year-old added that he cannot dare use a comb to straighten, detangle or style his tresses because it goes against his seven gods and nine powers.
Vietnam’s 92-year-old Nguyen Van Chien who has gone almost 80 years without a trim
Chien’s 5th son, Luom, 62 helps him to manage his giant locks
5-meter long dreadlocks
“I believe if I cut my hair I will die. I dare not to change anything, not even combing it,” Chien told Reuters pic.twitter.com/ukK6bpdDGG— ONE FOR ALL (@mohsinstats) August 26, 2020
While coronavirus lockdowns caused many men to grow their hair longer than usual, none compare with Nguyen Van Chien, 92, from Vietnam, who is the proud owner of 5m long dreadlocks, which he hasn’t cut, washed or combed for nearly 80 years. pic.twitter.com/C3iNgTATsl
— Ameerah (@Overacupofqahwa) August 26, 2020
“I believe if I cut my hair I will die. I dare not change anything, not even combing it,” Van said. The Vietnamese national revealed back when he was in school, management asked him to cut off his hair and since that went against his faith, he left and never looked back.
At some point in his life, Van had nice thick hair that had a fine black colour. He would comb it whenever he needed to look presentable.
However, things changed when he believed he was called to serve the purpose of his deity. The man’s son also subscribes to the same faith and said he once witnessed a man die after attempting to use a string to reattach his hair.