i have the 12" braid from my oldest son. our rule was simple. kept clean and neat it could be down to your toes. otherwise, off it goes! my son became a knight at medieval times and his hair was a big draw to the damsels, ,lol' the braid i have is from his high school years. i offered it to his wife, a former high school admirer, but she didn't want it. i will keep it and when i'm gone they can do whatever with it. speaking of gone....he now has a cue ball hairdo.