daez: Hi Solomon...why did you loc your hair? Solomon: I loced my hair as part of my vow as a Rasta..... daez: Solomon, how long have you been loced? Solomon: Since 1993.... daez: When you first started locing, how did you form your locs? Solomon: I didn't "form" it....I just stopped combing my hair...and it grew... daez: So all you did was wash it, no twisting? Solomon: That's correct...all I did was wash it and oil it.... daez: We call this freeform locing....is that what you would call it? Letting your locs form of their own free will?? Solomon: I would have to say yes...hmmm....I feel that freeform is like your will has to be free in order for your spirit to flow... daez: Solomon, would you please explain for everyone who doesn't know what a Rasta is? Solomon: A Rasta is an ancient Christian...one who stands up for the rights of their people who are oppressed. A true Rasta knows the meaning of love for humanity and all of what Jah (GOD) has created... daez: And locing your hair is part of this understanding? Solomon: Yes, truly it is part of understanding...but also it goes a lot deeper than just understanding...it's a "way of life"...striving to live a righteous life daily..So locing MY hair is not just for FASHION...it's part of my livity!! The way I see locs is a lot different than a lot of people see them...those are "FASHION DREADS", and I am not feeling that...it's not about trimming your hair, forming your locs...it's a lot different than that! Cutting and trimming your locs..OMG!!! Don't EVER do that....that is NOT Rastafarian...all these people who loc their hair for fashion reasons, it's definetly NOT the same thing... daez: So can you explain to those of us who don't know what the spirituality of locing is all about? We've been having some pretty deep conversations the past few days, and I would like people to really understand what YOUR locs mean to YOU... Solomon: My spirituality is the main reason for locing my hair..the locs of my hair are like antenna's, and I feel all the different frequency's, good and bad...some people may have questions about spirituality...MY spirit is the whole essence of my being...my locs are like extensions of what's inside....it's truly what I feel..the main reason is not about the material things, the things you own...MINE are who I am...and having clean life, clean hands... you cannot live in Zion if you have blood on your hands...This is a tough question...no one has ever asked me this before and I want to make sure I explain it the right way...I've done radio interviews, magazines...but this is tough. To get to the spirituality....that's tough...but it's not really all THAT tough, because spirituality to me, may mean something different than it does to someone else...I know that I am here to give others what I may know, and what they may not know they can share with me...this is how we learn to grow together....so if I were here for vanity..material things...I would not be serving Jah.....how can I move into the Kingdom if I am not sharing and serving my brothers and my sisters?? If someone really takes the time to read this, they will be blessed...for reading it.. daez: Because you are sharing your spirit? I know I feel it...you have this very positive, strong aura that surrounds you...I like it... Solomon: That's just the Almighty that shines thru me...It's HIM..I give thanks to Him for giving me the positivity...If you have eyes you will see...if you have ears you will hear....glory to the words because they have power...I would rather speak LIFE than DEATH....I choose LIFE...now you can also choose death depending on WHO you serve..sharing...you never know...that could just change someone's life by sharing...and that is my joy...another jewel in my crown...but ALL the honor and glory belongs to Almighty GOD, not me..when you really think about it, I can't share anything with HIM, but he can share EVERYTHING with me....and if I take my next breath, it's because of Him that I do.. daez: So Solomon, this is so deep....there are a LOT of people who loc their hair for fashion sake...I know that was a part of why I did it...it was part of a cleansing for me..but it was also because I wanted them, but I wanted them to look formed and cultivated....YOUR crown is truly a crown!!! How do you react to people with cultivated locs since I know it's a covenant with God to you..does it make a difference knowing locs have now become a "popular" way to wear your hair? Solomon: The answer to this question is there are a lot of people who do it for fashion reasons, to look a certain way...but you also said it was part of a cleansing for you...that you wanted them formed and cultivated..there's nothing wrong with having them cultivated if it's part of you growing...as long as you continue grow and move to the next level....some people may not ever get to the next level of livity.....as long as you start out doing for fashion reasons, you did state it was part of a cleansing for you....that is part of spirituality....you have to cleanse yourself in order to receive the gifts of the spirit...it's like a plant..in order to grow a plant you have to begin it by cultivating it...but somewhere down the line it begins to grow and thrive on it's own...you're spirit always grows, and it's going to continue to grow as long as you allow it to...and so will your hair...for the people who don't gain spirituality from locing their hair then they are just vain, and hypocrites....I would rather be BALD than be a hypocrite, or to be vain..because the reward of vanity and being a hypocrite is death, and I DEFINETLY wouldn't want that kind of judgement upon me... daez: Okay, so I would like to know have you had problems getting jobs, being a Rasta...having locs?? Tell us how you make your living? Solomon: YES!! I've had many problems because of my locs....either they want me to cut them, or shave...and for no man, woman, child on this earth will I cut my locs...because I come in clean, sober, with a clean mind....they want to judge a person because of their locs...now a white person can come in with long, stringy hair, and they get the jobs...it's not right to judge you like that...I do what I have to to make a living....I own an entertainment company called Solomonic Entertainment....I do artist management, I'm a sound engineer...a producer...I promote concerts, as well as fund raiser's for different organizations...In order for me to make a living, I HAD to go into business for myself.... daez: I know a lot of people say locs are dirty and nasty....do you feel this is truth or myth? Solomon: HELL NO!! That ain't true!!! Cleanliness is next to Godliness, so yes it is a myth that locs are supposed to be dirty and nasty in order for them to grow...if your hair is dirty and nasty, I feel that YOU are dirty and nasty if you carry the dirt around with you...so how can you even be a fashion dread if your locs are dirty and nasty?? Plus it stinks!!! What woman or man would want to lay up with someone with nasty hair?? To me, if you have nasty hair you have a nasty disposition about LIFE.... daez: So Solomon, I feel kind of silly asking this in light of your reasons for locing..but would you share your loc maintaince routine with me??? Solomon: That's not a silly question, it's actually a good question that people need to know, because everyone takes care of their hair differently...well, I wash my hair twice a week..it takes a couple of days to dry...I use Dr. Bonner's Castille Soap to wash it..I use olive oil, and coconut oil to maintain the moisture in my hair as well as my scalp...I don't use conditioner on my locs, but it definetly a good thing to use for your hair...I get my conditioner naturally from the olive oil and coconut oil I use, so I guess that's my conditioner....that's it.... daez: Solomon...your locs are amazing...they hang all down past your waist!!! Do you "style" your locs? By that I mean, do you wear them in different ways, you know up...down...pinned..pony tailed.... Solomon: It would really depend on maybe the event I am going to or if I am in a relationship with someone...I rarely wear a hat if I am in a relationship with a woman...unless I am going to a concert...then I will put my hat back on...I do not wear hats or shoes in the house...because of the way I was raised...it's disrespectful to wear a hat in the presence of a gathering of bretherin or sisterin...occasionally I do wear my hair in a ponytail....if I wear my hair down I am in a relationship....if I am in a relationship, I never cover my hair...I believe if we are together, I share ALL of me... if we are going out to dinner or a concert, if we're going to see friends, I wear my hair down..depending on the environment we are going to be in I wear it down...I don't wear a hat all the time...sometimes I do tie it up in a knot and wear it without a hat...plus I don't like to sit on my hair when it's down....I broke off a piece of a loc and I didn't even know it until my Mother told me...I almost cried....lol... daez: LOL...So Solomon, I noticed a couple of your locs are hanging by a thread...I know I would freak out if mine were to break off!!! How can you be so calm about it? What do you do when one is about to break off? Do you tie it in a knot, or do anything to prevent it from breaking off?? If not, why? Solomon: No I don't do anything to keep it from breaking! If it's gonna break off, it's gonna break off!! It will grow back, it's only hair....man, if it breaks it breaks...I ain't trying to fix it once it's broke... daez: You have children....what do you think about people who loc little kids hair? Solomon: I have two children...they don't have locs...because I feel when they are of an age to make that decision for themselves they can make that choice themselves..but people who loc their children's hair..I don't see it as something wrong because every person makes those decisions for themself... daez: This has been fascinating talking to you Solomon....I really have enjoyed our chat...is there anyhing else you would like to add regarding locs or Rastafari?? Solomon: Yes, I have enjoyed this, it's been a pleasure sharing with you and other's just briefly about locs...and about Rastafari... daez: Would you like to add anything else? Go on....lol... Solomon: No, I don't feel that there is anything else to add...I just feel what's done is done.. daez: Well thank you sooo much Solomon...I really appreciate your sharing... Solomon: Thank you for allowing me to share just a little bit of what I know....always a pleasure.... |
| A Chat with Rasta Solomon and daez.... |
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