Novelty Salon

Novelty Salon is on Orderly Bazar Road in Varanasi. We are very close to the Khadi Aashram, so it’s easy for people to find us when they are out doing their errands. The shop is a typical local salon with high chairs that spin and big mirrors that cover most of one wall. We’ve been here for a good amount of time, and the floor tiles are a bit worn down from all the walking back and forth. Every morning starts with cleaning the combs and getting the water spray bottles ready. The street outside is always noisy with rickshaws and people talking, but inside it’s a bit more relaxed. We usually have a news channel on the small television in the corner. Most of our customers are men from the nearby houses who come in for a shave or a haircut. We don't use any fancy apps for bookings; people just walk in and wait their turn on the wooden bench. Sometimes the wait is long, so we offer them a glass of water while they sit. The walls were painted blue a few years ago, and they are starting to peel a bit near the ceiling. It doesn’t bother anyone much. We just focus on using the scissors and the razors correctly. It is a straightforward business where we know most of the people who walk through the door by their first names or faces. It is just life here.