Afghan woman runs secret beauty palour to survive amidst Taliban ban
An Afghan beautician, named Nikki, for purposes of anonymity, has shared the story of how she has managed to continue her work as a beautician despite the Taliban's ban on beauty salons.
The Taliban's return to Afghanistan has led to economic stagnation, with the country facing a worsening humanitarian crisis.
Despite three years of improved security, a third of the nearly 40 million Afghans now survive on just bread and tea, according to the United Nations. Unemployment is widespread, and the World Bank warns there could be zero economic growth over the next three years.
Nikki, who previously ran a salon in Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan, reopened her business four months ago in a hidden location. To avoid detection, customers visit discreetly, and some of her 25 employees live on-site to maintain the appearance of a family residence.
Before the ban, her salon served 30 to 40 customers daily, but now she receives only six or seven, according to the AFP.
Despite this, she has kept all her employees on the payroll, though her monthly income has dropped from 25,000 Afghanis to between 8,000 and 12,000.
Nikki is concerned about being discovered by the authorities, who have previously shut down other underground salons, destroyed equipment, mistreated staff, and imposed fines.
"We're working in hiding, and we don't know for how much longer," she told AFP.
