Ramesh Salon

This shop has been at 3, Old Jail Road in George Town for a long time. We are very close to Stanley Hospital, so we see a lot of people passing by all day long—doctors, workers, and families visiting people. Being in George Town means it is always noisy and there is always something happening on the street. Ramesh Salon is a small place, just a typical local barber shop where men come to get a shave or a haircut. We have the old-style chairs that lean back and the big mirrors that have been on the walls for years. There is usually a newspaper lying around for people to read while they wait their turn. We don't have any fancy air conditioning, just a couple of ceiling fans that spin all day to keep the air moving. It’s a very straightforward business. We wake up, open the shutters, and start working. Sometimes we have a little television on the wall showing the news or a cricket match if one is playing. The walls are a bit plain, maybe a few posters of different hairstyles from a few years ago. We know most of the people who come in because they live or work right here in this part of Chennai. It’s a simple life on Old Jail Road, and we are happy to be part of the neighborhood. We just keep our scissors sharp and our combs ready for whoever walks in next to get their hair done.