Sampath Vinayaka Smart Saloon

Our shop, Sampath Vinayaka Smart Saloon, sits right on Market Street in the Dondaparthy area of Visakhapatnam. We are located directly opposite the Grandhalayam, which is the local library. It’s a good spot because there are always people walking by on their way to the market or the library. We called it a smart saloon, but really it’s just a normal place where we do haircuts and shaves for the local men. The 530016 area is pretty lively. We have four chairs in total, and on most days, at least two of them are busy. The mirrors are big and we keep our combs in jars of blue liquid like you see in old-fashioned shops. We don't have any fancy hair products with names we can't pronounce. We use what works and what people can afford. The floor is usually covered in hair by mid-day, but we try to clean it up when there’s a gap between customers. We hear all sorts of stories from the people who sit in our chairs. Some are regulars who have been coming since they were boys. Others are just passing through the market and need a quick tidy up. It’s a friendly atmosphere, even if it gets a bit loud when the market is in full swing outside. We are just a part of the daily life here in Dondaparthy and we like it that way.