Brittney Griner cut her hair in Russian gulag as brutal temperatures caused her hair to FREEZE

Brittney Griner has returned to the United States, but left a part of her back in Russia when she was forced to shave her head.

Griner’s ten-month detention ended yesterday when she was released from Russia via a prisoner swap. 

Griner’s Russian attorney Maria Blagovolina told ESPN, Griner cut her hair two Sundays ago due to the prison’s brutal conditions.

Cold temperatures in Russian showers forced Brittney Griner to cut off her long locked hair

Blagovolina added that each time Griner showered, her hair would freeze, which led to her cutting her locks off.

‘It’s very cold in there and every time she washed her hair she got cold and would get a chill,’ Blagovolina said. ‘She should have waited until New Year’s Day.’

Griner also caught the flue while incarcerated, but has been recovering from that.

Even with her hair cut off, Griner said multiple times that she was ‘happy’ to be headed home

Griner is now safe and back on American soil to be reunited with her wife Cherelle (pictured)

Griner was arrested at a Moscow airport back in February and was sentenced to nine years in prison for possession of marijuana.

The United States government conducted a prisoner swap with the Russians, getting Griner in exchange for a Russian arms dealer.

It’s unclear if or when Griner will return to the court for the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury with the season beginning May 19th against the Los Angeles Sparks.