Ambica Hair Dresser

Our shop is right across from the police chowki in Shahpur, near the Bahai Center. It’s a busy spot with cars and rickshaws constantly going by, so there is always a lot of noise coming in through the door. We have a couple of old-fashioned barber chairs and some large mirrors that have seen better days. It is a straightforward place where people come in for a quick trim or a shave. We don't have any of those fancy reclining seats or air conditioning that the big malls have, just a couple of ceiling fans that keep the air moving. I spend my morning sharpening the razors and cleaning the brushes before the first few guys show up. There is a small television in the corner that is usually tuned to the news, but mostly we just listen to the traffic outside. The walls are painted a simple blue, and we have a shelf full of different talcum powders and aftershaves. Sometimes the guys sit around for a while after their cut just to chat about what’s going on in the neighborhood. It’s a small space, so it gets crowded pretty fast if more than three people are waiting. We just keep working through the day, sweeping up the hair and keeping the capes clean for the next person. It’s been this way for a long time, and we like being right here in the middle of Shahpur, even with the sirens.