Mother trims Rasta in his sleep

At 15 years old, Alexander Reid decided that he was no longer going to eat meat and pledged to be a fully fledged Rastafarian. He started his hair-growing journey in 1971, but it was hampered when his mother decided to cut the locks from one side of his head while he slept.

“When it did reach my shoulders, mi mada cut off one side of it,” said the Barking Lodge, St Thomas, resident.

That did not deter Reid as after many readings, he decided that the Rastafarian faith is the one he belonged

to. He said that he continued his journey and has not turned back.

Now 63 years old, Reid’s hair is long to the ground, Reid said that he manages his hair quite well. He said that he takes pride in grooming and taking care of his hair.

“It look like this because when she (his mother) did cut off one side, I didn’t cut off the rest. I just make it continue to grow. From ‘71 til now, a yah so it reach,” he said as he demonstrated the length, which flowed to the ground.

“Mi let out it often but when mi a go bush mi roll it up. Mi wash it with a special shampoo every four days and it mek mi hair soft,” he said.