Arif Salon

Arif Salon is located on the first floor of the East Block in Hazratganj. You have to walk up the stairs to find us. It’s a pretty simple setup with chairs and mirrors. We’ve been in Lucknow for a good bit now. Mostly, we just do haircuts and shaves for the men who work around here or live in the nearby blocks. It is not the kind of place with a fancy waiting lounge or anything like that. There are usually a few newspapers lying around and a small television in the corner that we keep on for news or cricket matches. The floor gets covered in hair pretty fast when it’s busy, so we are always sweeping. Our tools are basic but they work fine for what people need. We don't do anything too complicated, just the usual styles that people ask for. Sometimes a customer wants a head massage after a cut and we do that too. It can get a little loud when there are four or five people talking at once, but that’s just how it is. Being upstairs means we don't get as much dust from the street, which is nice. We open up early and stay until the shops downstairs start closing. It’s a straightforward place to get a trim. We know most of the guys who come in and we remember how they like their hair done without them asking twice. Sometimes we run out of tea, but the shop next door helps us out.