Shahd Alhamdan

Saudi Gazette

JEDDAH — During the last days of Ramadan and the Eid nights beauty salons become the crowded place to visit in Saudi Arabia. Most of the hairdressers and the employees spend their Eid night at their workplace.



They barely contact their families or see them during these days, but mostly, in compensation, they receive a satisfying financial benefit somehow.



Saudi Gazette interviewed several females that are working in beauty salons to know more about their feelings and views during the last days of Ramadan.



Essam Ismail, an ex-beauty salon owner in Jeddah said, “The best days were the last days of Ramadan. I did not sleep during those days, and I used to have Iftar with the hairdressers and the other employees in my salon and were really pressed with clients increasing in numbers during these days.”



“Till date they remember those days and how I treated them despite the heavy workload,” he added.



The employees is salons love and enjoy their work, not only in the hope that they will benefit financially, but in the hope that their work would satisfy their customers, and pull in new clients.



“Most of the salon’s employees are dedicated in their work during last days in Ramadan. Actually some of them wait for this season to benefit from the gifts that they receive from the clients. They also earn double their salaries because of the tips and ‘Eidiya’ that they receive,” Ismail said.



A hairdresser, in a private saloon who asked for her name not to be mentioned, said, “This is my work and I love it. It is part of my duty to stay when there are lots of customers during the high seasons. The financial reward is normal. I received my salary but not necessarily that all clients leave a tip.”



Qamr Saada, a hairdresser in her 20s, said, “I am comfortable and relaxed in my work and I am used to a heavy load of work. When it comes to earning during this season it is normal, but fluctuates.”



Ahlam, a hairdresser also in her 20s, explained that she feels happy spending the last days of Ramadan and Eid day with her clients as well as with her colleagues. Her family understands her situation. She also said that she earns an extra good amount of money during this season.



Although some families understand the situation of their female working in saloon, some families still put pressure on their female members.



Halema, 50s, said, “I work under pressure on the Eid night and I become worried. I tell my family my situation and get their approval, because at the end I feel comfortable and happy. My family generally accepts me spending the night and the day of Eid at work but with irritation and annoyance.”



Randa Alliblabi, a make up and facial expert, said: “My family feels sad because I am not with them during Eid night and I do not go with them to Eid prayer. I don’t receive enough financial rewards so I feel ashamed of the fact that because of me they were late to visit their grandfather’s house. This year is my first year of staying at home during Ramadan. I am waiting for Eid night and Eid day to spend it with my family.”



Clients that delay their visit to salon until the last minute in Ramadan is one of the reasons behind salons’ employees work pressure and the need for them to sacrifice the first day of Eid.



“The most annoying thing for me is that some of the clients keep it until the last moment to come to the salon. Can you imagine the mess at the place in the last two days. However, the employees’ families should understand the condition of this type of work since the pressure of work during the last days of Ramadan and Eid increase,” said Ismail.