Matthew Hey used to keep his beard short. Then some children asked him to braid it. He liked the look and let it grow. Now the 54-year-old from Baldwin City, Kansas, holds the Guinness World Record for the longest natural beard locks on a living man. His single lock measures 5 feet 3 inches, or 1.603 metres.
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Guinness lists Dec 26, 2025, as the date Hey set the record in Independence, Missouri. During the attempt, his lock stretched across almost the entire length of a large wooden board. He beat the previous record, held by fellow American Rudolf Martino, by 21 inches. Martino’s beard lock measured 3 feet 6 inches.
How a Beard Braid Became a Record-Breaking Lock
Hey estimates that he began letting his beard grow out about 20 years ago. Guinness’s November profile says he has gone more than two decades without a trim. Its official record entry separately says he has grown the beard since 2009.
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Over time, the braid matted into one lock. Hey says it grew about 3 to 4 inches a year. Eventually, he could wrap it around his waist like a belt. Today it touches the floor when he lets it hang loose. For everyday wear, he folds it over several times and ties it up.
His grooming routine still consists of shampoo and conditioner, with no trims. He has no immediate plans to cut the lock, though he would consider it if he had a good enough reason. The record also prompted a question he posed in jest to Guinness. “Should I insure it?”
Life With a Five-Foot Beard
Hey told Guinness that he does not see the beard as a defining part of his life. He thinks friends are more likely to associate him with his hobbies. He likes Mazda RX-7 sports cars and Amiga computers. He also lifts weights, plays video games and enjoys spending time with loved ones.
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Some strangers compliment his beard or ask if it is real. Others give him disapproving looks. Hey said people could be more accepting of those who choose to look different. “Be tolerant and kind to people regardless of their appearance.”
Guinness featured Hey at the start of No-Shave November, when participants put down their razors and let their facial hair grow. It tracks natural beard locks separately from overall beard length. Canada’s Sarwan Singh holds the latter title, with a beard measuring 8 feet 3 inches. Hey plans to keep growing his lock and stick with the same care routine.
