Helene's first haircut ... in 29 years

"I've never gotten a haircut and my hair is almost six feet long," says 29-year-old "Rachael Ray" viewer Helene, who is actually shorter than her hair.

"It's at the point where I can step on it; I pick it up, I carry it." She credits her mom with getting her hooked on the long locks. "She had two boys and then I came along, and so I think she finally had the little girl with the long hair... she put big the bows in my hair all the time, and as I got older I just liked it, and I kept it."

But it's now so long that it takes an hour to brush and braid in the morning. And, with her impending graduation from graduate school and budding career in industrial psychology, Helene is ready for her first haircut.

She's taking the plunge right in Rachael Ray's studio. After the first chunk is cut, leaving the rest around shoulder length, there are no tears and she is excited to let hair pro Kyan Douglas complete her new look.

"It feels like a release!" she says. When she sees her shorter, wavy 'do for the first time she is thrilled and remarks, "I feel amazing."

We think she looks amazing, too.

How long have you gone without a haircut? Can anyone beat 29 years? Let us know in the comments below.