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I admit, the glitz and glamour attract me. Pictures of hot models, slick hairstyles—ah!I see all that and enter, feeling totally good about myself, my “beautification” guaranteed, after all, I had just forgotten my vow to myself, that of never entering a beauty parlour ever again!
I admit, the glitz and glamour attract me. Pictures of hot models, slick hairstyles—ah!
Life at its best.
I see all that and enter, feeling totally good about myself, my “beautification” guaranteed, after all, I had just forgotten my vow to myself, that of never entering a beauty parlour ever again!
Now brews trouble.
“How may I help you?”
Help is not the word, dear, it is condescension. In any case, “I am looking for a haircut. Just a haircut.”
“Of course Ma’am. Are you looking for a change in style?”
“Well, perhaps—”
So far, so good.
I am taken to a plush recliner for a hair wash. My back sinks in. I relax, ready to be pampered. As the shampoo soaks, my eyes close, I hear a voice.
“Your hair is so rough, Ma’am, do you want to try one of our hair packs?”I appreciate your business acumen, love, but did you really have to burst my bubble that way?
The voice continues, “And an exfoliation for the whiteheads on your face.”Yes, it’s the whiteheads now, after the blackheads. Wonder how they exfoliate purpleheads?
“The pollution has wreaked havoc on your skin. The pores are all clogged. Would you like a facial?”
Of course. Pollution. Lack of care. Clogged pores. Wonder why I never seem to find anything wrong when I get dressed each morning?
“Um— No. JUST a haircut.”
I don’t feel all that good now. Was it just me, or do all beauty salons work hard to rob you of all good feelings about your hair/skin/body?
It would be so nice to have a parlour with some lovely quotes on beauty all over— and a lady who says, “Wow, such beautiful skin, ma’am. I’d definitely recommend a facial to retain this glow!” would win my heart any day, rather than the one who circles and labels my pimples like an anatomy diagram!
Perhaps it’s vanity— or that I am easily flattered, but hey, I would leave the place feeling on top of the world! Isn’t that what beauty is all about, ultimately?
Sigh, I vow, for the umpteenth time, to never step into another beauty salon again!
This piece was first published here.
Image Source: Still from Sketch Comedy Every Girl In Beauty Parlour Ft. Tena Jaiin by Paayal Jain
Vaidehi is a teacher and mentor who is extremely passionate about pedagogy, writing and the arts. read more...
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UP Boards Topper Prachi Nigam was trolled on social media for her facial hair; our obsession with appearance is harsh on young minds.
Prachi Nigam’s photo has been doing the rounds on social media for the right reasons. Well, scratch that- I wish the above statement were true. This 15-year-old girl should ideally be revelling in her spectacular achievement of scoring a whopping 98.05% and topping her tenth-grade boards. But oddly enough, along with her marks, it’s something else that garners more attention – her facial hair.
While the trolls are driving themselves giddy by mocking this girl who hasn’t even completed her school yet, the ones who are taking her side are going one step ahead – they are sharing her photoshopped pictures, sans the facial hair, looking nothing less than a celebrity with captions saying – “Prachi Nigam, ten years later”.
Doctors have already diagnosed her with PCOD in their comments, based on photographic evidence. While we have names for people shamed for their weight – body shaming, for their skin colour- racism, for their age- age shaming, for being a female- sexism, this category of shaming where one faces criticism for their appearance has no name. With that, it also has zero shame attached to it.
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