Awadh Hair Dresser

If you head over to the Charbagh Sabji Mandi area, right near the Mohan Hotel, you’ll find Awadh Hair Dresser. We’ve been in this spot for quite a bit now, right in the middle of all the noise of the vegetable market. It’s a lively place to work because there’s always something happening outside the door. Inside, we’ve got the old-style chairs and big mirrors that have seen better days, but they do the job just fine. The floor is almost always covered in hair because we’re usually busy with someone in the chair, and we only get a chance to sweep properly when things quiet down in the evening. We have a small radio that plays songs in the background, though you can barely hear it over the sound of the clippers and the people shouting prices for tomatoes outside. It’s a small shop, and on hot days, the little wall fan works overtime to keep us cool. We don’t do anything fancy like the big salons in the city. People come in for a quick trim or a shave, and they usually stay to chat for a few minutes about the news or the weather. It feels like a community hub in a way, where everyone knows everyone else. We keep the razors sharp and the towels clean, and that’s about all there is to it. It’s a simple life here near the mandi, and we wouldn't have it any other way.