A woman in Ang Thong caught the attention of marketgoers yesterday, April 29, with her thick, tangled hair, which she has maintained uncut for over a decade and now measures more than one metre long.
The woman, identified as 65 year old Boonchu, was shopping at Suwaphan Mueang Thong market when passersby noticed the unusual hairstyle.
Boonchu told reporters that her hair has grown this way for more than 10 years. Over time, it gradually tangled into a thick, rope-like cluster on its own, without styling or salon treatment.
She said the hairstyle has not affected her daily routine. She washes it every two days and uses a hairdryer to dry it thoroughly so moisture does not build up.
The 65 year old claimed she previously cut off the tangled hair once, but became seriously ill and bedridden not long afterwards, with treatment failing to fully heal her condition.
After her health improved, Boonchu decided to ordain as a nun and make merit. When she later left the nunhood, she allowed her hair to grow naturally again, and it later formed into the same tangled shape.
Since then, Boonchu has not dared to cut her hair for more than 10 years.
In Thai spiritual belief, this type of naturally tangled hair is known as phom phi chor or phom phi phuk, loosely meaning hair tied by spirits or “ghost hair”. The belief is that the hair forms on its own because a spirit or sacred force is protecting the person.
DailyNews reported that believers think it should not be cut without a ritual performed by a respected spiritual practitioner, as cutting it improperly may bring misfortune or illness.
The story Woman’s metre-long tangled hair turns heads in Ang Thong as seen on Thaiger News.
