By Ghazali Ibrahim
Manchester United’s 1–1 Premier League draw against West Ham United at the London Stadium on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, has once again delayed the long-awaited haircut for viral fan Frank Ilett, known online as “The United Strand.”
United needed a victory to complete a five-game winning streak, the condition Ilett set for finally getting his haircut but late drama saw Benjamin Sesko equalise to deny the Reds a crucial three points.
Ilett, 29, pledged in October 2024 that he would not cut his hair until Manchester United achieved five consecutive wins in all competitions, a quirky challenge that has since gained him millions of followers on Instagram and widespread media attention. As of the West Ham match, his hair had grown for 495 days without a trim.
Before the match, United had built momentum under interim manager Michael Carrick, securing four straight wins over top-flight rivals including Manchester City, Arsenal, Fulham and Tottenham.
A victory over West Ham would have ended Ilett’s wait and allowed him to donate his hair to the Little Princess Trust, a UK charity that makes wigs for children with hair loss due to illness.
Following the 1–1 stalemate, Ilett acknowledged the setback on social media, noting that the challenge now resets and his long wait continues. Many fans have continued to support his stunt and its charitable aim, with Ilett posting that “the longer the better for charity” despite his disappointment.
United’s league form, however, saw the club remain unbeaten under Carrick after the draw, but falling short of the coveted fifth straight win now pushes the prospect of Ilett’s haircut and its symbolic end to a viral journey further down the calendar.
