I hope with all the closures in the high street the beloved salon ain’t affected.
Salons don’t get the respect they deserve they’ve saved me time and time from being dissed by the hairgods since childhood.
But I’ve still had my casualty like the uneven fringe with a bad perm but again it’s trial and error.
I never really appreciated till I reached this age now how valuable it was hair appointments with my mum.
I remember being young and dreading going as I knew my seat will be glued for hours to spinnable chairs while long nails are prodding my scalp.
But overall time I got to enjoy it was like therapy you get to talk to your hairdresser about intimate stuff as I saw a woman talking about chemo and another about paying bills and how they are just about staying afloat and others about why London is so expensive which it is.
I always when I was younger used to get single plait done or my perm and watch endless episodes of some Nollywood drama and judge Judy on the screen while trying to resist the plate of Belgian biscuits on the table.
But one other thing I didn’t notice or appreciate enough was the stress of being a hairdresser.
I salute them people complain of having to walk to bus stop to go to work or school as they love comfort of bed.
Imagine standing for hours all day plaiting styling and washing and then after the customer another one.
As I say everyone has a skill some are singing some dancing some is hairdressing.
And once its in you it doesn’t feel like a job.
What I remember was one west african hair salon owner whose salon I used to go to in North West London who came to Britain with nothing, but then over the years accumulated a lot of businesses cab and barbers and what i loved about him he always checked on me no matter how busy the salon was and he spoiled his daughter like getting her a expensive dog..
I was saddened to hear he died from complication of diabetes at only 50+ years old .
His legacy proved not all immigrants are sponging of society as they are always spouting in the media they too make positive contributions to society, and he gave employment to anyone in need no matter their background or race.
I truly just wish he got to retire and enjoy his success.
That’s the worst thing for me working hard but not getting to enjoy.
Salons are assets to the high street lifeline for so many people especially lonely people.
But realistically times are changing and people are due to lockdown people brushed up heavy on their online hair tutorials, so most people now style their hair themselves, so I know that can be a headache for the hair industry now who are scrambling for more clients.
I truly hope more salons don’t get affected by closures as especially where I live salons are some people’s bread and butter.