Collagian Hair Salon

If you head over to Rushabh Avenue on Jain Derasar Road in Isanpur, you’ll find Collagian Hair Salon at Shop No Gf-4. We are right opposite the Savita Complex, so it’s a pretty easy spot to pick out. This part of Ahmedabad has its own rhythm, and we’ve become a part of it over the years. The shop is on the ground floor, which makes it easy for people to just pop in when they’re passing by on their way to the Derasar. We keep the place fairly basic with just the essential furniture and tools. There’s a specific smell to the shop, a mix of hair tonic and the tea we brew in the afternoons. I usually spend the slow hours between customers tidying up the magazines or wiping down the mirrors. It’s not a glamorous job, but it’s ours and we take it seriously enough. We get a lot of young guys from the nearby college areas, which is maybe where the name came from originally. They usually want something quick so they can get back to their friends. Then there are the older men who want to take their time and talk about the neighborhood changes. We listen to it all while we work. The fan rattles a little when it's on high, but it keeps the Isanpur heat away. We just try to keep things simple and honest, focusing on the person in the chair until the job is done.