Iswaryam Beauty Parlour

The parlor is tucked away on 7th Street Extension in Gandhipuram. If you know the bridge area in Tatabad, we are just a short walk from there. It’s a small shop, number 3, and we’ve been here for quite some time now. Most mornings start with me opening the shutters and getting the towels ready. Coimbatore gets quite dusty, so there’s always cleaning to do before the first person walks in. It’s a local place, so most of the ladies who come by live just a few streets away. We talk about the local markets and how things have changed around Gandhipuram over the years. My hands are usually busy with threading or hair coloring for most of the afternoon. The shop isn't huge, but it fits what we need. Sometimes the tea stall nearby brings over some snacks if we are working through lunch. We don't have those big fancy chairs you see in malls, but the ones we have are comfortable enough for a long hair wash. It gets a bit loud when the traffic builds up near the bridge, but inside we just keep the radio on low. People know they can just drop in and check if we are free or wait a few minutes on the bench. I try to keep the mirrors clean, though the fingerprints seem to appear out of nowhere. It's just a simple life running a beauty shop in this part of town and getting to know everyone.