Afghan women despair over Taliban’s beauty parlour ban: ‘I cannot work and live as a woman’

The ban is the latest blow to women’s social lives and earning capabilities, with salon worker salaries often the only source of income for households

Beauty salons were one of the last remaining areas of work open to women under the Taliban government

Reading Time:3 minutes

An Afghan beautician packs her stuff on the last day of the deadline issued by the Taliban authorities to close down beauty salons, in Mazar-e-Sharif on July 25. More than 60,000 women have lost their only source of income as beauty salons shut in Afghanistan in yet another ban by the Taliban targeted at women. Photo: EPA-EFE/STR

Published: 6:00am, 27 Jul 2023

Shirin booked her bridal makeover weeks ago, but instead of relaxing as beauticians pampered her, everyone in the Kabul salon was on edge, ready to hide the bride should the police appear.

Shirin was the last customer at a salon in Afghanistan’s capital, one of thousands across the country closed on Tuesday by order of Taliban authorities.

“I have someone on watch outside in case the Taliban arrive. If something happens, we’ll put her in the bathroom or store room and look busy packing,” salon owner Aziza said. “Even if they put me in prison, I will do her makeover because I promised her.”

As some beauticians fluttered around Shirin, others were busy packing up the salon.

Beauticians at work at Ms Sadat’s Beauty Salon in Kabul in 2021. Thousands of beauty salons across Afghanistan closed on Tuesday by order of Taliban authorities. Photo: AP

Like tens of thousands of other parlour employees, they have been pushed from one of the last remaining areas of work open to women under the Taliban government.

Select Voice

Choose your listening speed

Get through articles 2x faster

1.25x

250 WPM

Slow

Average

Fast

00:0000:00

1.25x