On the orders of the Taliban regime, hair and beauty salons across Afghanistan will close in the coming weeks. Their closure will result in 60,000 women losing jobs.

Salons have been permitted to operate since the Taliban retook control two years ago, but they revised their policy this month, reports BBC.

Also read: Taliban ban women's beauty salons in Afghanistan

The direction significantly restricts the facilities available to Afghan women, who are already restricted from classes, gyms, and parks, it said.

Zarmina, 23, was in a beauty salon getting her hair coloured dark brown when she learned of the impending shutdown.

"The owner got a big shock and started to cry. She is the breadwinner for her family," the mother of two said.

Also read: A tattoo at a time, Afghan woman takes on society's taboos

Zarmina, married at 16, claimed that a conversation with the beautician was enough to give her a rare sensation of freedom.

"I wasn't allowed to leave my house on my own, but I managed to persuade my husband, and was allowed to visit the beauty salon two or three times a year,” she said.

After the Taliban retook control in August 2021, following the withdrawal of US soldiers from the nation, the economic crisis crept into their life.

Since then, women's liberties have slowly dwindled, said the BBC report.

"Now women only talk about unemployment, discrimination and poverty," said Zarmina

When Madina leaves the house, she wears a scarf over her head. Her dyed hair is only visible to her spouse and female members of her household.

The 22-year-old is from Kabul and is obsessed with the current beauty trends.

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"Every woman I know loves to improve her style. I love the latest fashion and wearing make-up," she said. "My husband really loves to see my hair in different colours and cut in different styles. He always takes me to the beauty salon and waits patiently at the door. He compliments my looks when I walk out, which makes me feel good," she added.

Her dream was to become a lawyer, but the Taliban prohibited women from attending university. She has been unable to find work since, as women are barred from many other positions.

Madina recalls accompanying her mother to the salon as a youngster and recalls how people would openly discuss their life experiences with one another.

A beauty salon is a must-have for 27-year-old Somaya from the northwestern city of Mazar-i-Sharif.

After a heater in her apartment exploded three years ago, she suffered facial burns and lost her brows and eyelashes.

"I couldn't bear to look at my face. I looked ugly," she said.

"I thought everyone was looking at me and laughing at me because my eyebrows were gone. I didn't go out for a couple of months. I cried a lot during that time."

Her wounds were treated medically, and the beauty shop assisted her in regaining her sense of self.

"I went to the beauty salon and had micro-blading [a semi-permanent form of cosmetic tattooing]. It made me look much better," she says.

"When I looked at my eyebrows, I started to cry. They are tears of joy. The beauty salon gave me my life back."

Somaya is a mental health therapist with a master's degree in psychology. She has observed an increase in the number of women seeking her services since the Taliban enforced stringent restrictions. She is not the only one who visits the beauty salon for "therapy."

"For us, salons are more than places to do your make-up. It helped us hide our sorrows. It gave us energy and hope," she said.

Zarmina agreed to the observation. She kept gazing back as she went home from her final appointment to the salon.

She was well aware of what she was losing: her little attempt at independence.


(All names have been changed)