The Express Tribune hi five - May 25

Ms MAY 25, 2014

ISSUE NO. 101

Eastern Elegance

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The Other Side of Beauty The highs and lows of the beauty industry

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inside fashion smashion —

Say goodbye to summer skin problems

domestic goddess —

The juicy goodness of Lemon Chicken

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Section In-Charge: Sarah Munir Sub-Editor: Amna Hashmi

The budding fashionista, Zari Faisal

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Ms

the buzz

THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, MAY 25, 2014

Beauty and the Beast

Beauty is more than skin deep...

Behind exquisite hairdos and elaborate makeovers lies the story of thousand of hardworking Pakistani women who toil away in salons, trying to make others look beautiful. While the customers get to enjoy 15 minutes of fame, thanks to their services, these salon workers walk away with little more than half-hearted expressions of gratitude and Rs 50 in tips.

Granted that customers are not responsible for salon staff, sparing a moment to have a polite conversation or exchanging a smile can go a long way. You may find that the staff at your favourite salon includes young girls who learnt their craft at local welfare institutes and support their family with whatever little they manage to earn. You might meet sole breadwinners like 32-year-old Nancy who are striving for a better life by providing waxing, pedicures and other non-glamorous services.

“I have been working in this salon for the past six years,” says Nancy who works at one of Karachi’s leading salon chains. “I have two children and dreamt of giving them the best education possible so I work here, round the clock, every day of the year, just so that they can study O and A levels.”

Unfortunately for Nancy, the pressure of earning fell entirely on her shoulders after her husband was diagnosed with a liver disease due to his alcohol addiction. “Yes, I have to work very hard throughout — sometimes on public holidays too. But I am happy as my children are doing great in school and my clients love my work.”

Nancy is hardly the only salon worker trying to escape domestic problems through her work. “I work just to get out of my house,” says 15-year-old Annie, displaying the bloody gashes on her arms to explain why. “My stepfather steals from and abuses my mother and me physically. One time, the situation got so bad that I tried to commit suicide! Working made me forget about my depressing home life. I have received more love here than I ever did from my family.”

While Nancy and Annie were lucky enough to find cooperative colleagues, others have to put up with politics, even at the workplace. It is a well-known fact that internal conflicts are rife in the world of glitz and glamour and beauty salons are no exception. It often happens that existing employees are threatened by a newcomer who may be more experienced or better qualified than them. Such was the experience of 28-year-old Rasheeda who was left to fend for herself upon joining the salon she worked at previously. “Before I started, I received training at Gul-e-Rana Academy and thought I would do great but my very first day on the job turned out to be an eye-opener,” she shares. “The other girls were so jealous! They passed rude comments and never included me in their social circle. Some even tried to steal my clients.

I was free a lot of the time and our boss concluded that none of the clients wanted my services.” Rasheeda continued to bear the ridicule until one day, the taunting turned into verbal abuse and false accusations which compelled her to resign.

by Tehmina Khan Naturally, an unhappy workforce is likely to create many problems for those who have to manage them. Shaheena, owner of a local beauty salon and spa, sheds light on parlour politics and how they can affect the day-to-day operations. Although Shaheena maintains a strict policy of not interfering in the personal lives of her staff, she admits sometimes it is inevitable. “I have to make sure there is no dispute serious enough to impact the work,” she shares. “It is even harder to conceal any such dispute before the clients lest the reputation of my salon get tarnished. The biggest challenge is to ensure no personal politics get so out of hand that I am forced to fire one of the girls. What a waste of talent and training that would be.”

But beautician Fatima Kamal has more than inter-parlour politics to worry about. “The main problem I face in running my own salon is with the employees. Most important is that many big parlours bribe the workers with a few extra thousand rupees and steal them away,” she claims, resentfully. “So much time and effort is spent on training employees and it is heart breaking to have them jump ship suddenly. Same is the case when an employee starts clandes-

The health threat is particularly severe around small-scale, neighbourhood salons that operate with little oversight and take no measures to avoid or reduce their usage of detrimental beauty products, such as glues, polishes, dyes, solvents and hair solutions tine home visits to clients’ houses for extra cash. I have let off many employees for this.”

Considering the amount of hard work that is put into their education, it is hardly surprising how Fatima and other salon managers feel. “It takes a long time teaching the girls the basics,” confesses Fatima. “Many of them are complete newbies when they come to us but I try them out nonetheless.

I teach them different services and have them test it out on one another to gauge their talent. Usually, there is a trial period of about two to three weeks based upon which, a decision is made.”

Indeed, training is a crucial aspect of life as salon worker, especially considering different types of clients that come, all hoping for impeccable service.

“99% of customers at every parlour are very finicky about cleanliness,” explains Fatima. “I keep a strict check on everyone’s appearances and hygiene after one client complained that my employee’s nails were too long and kept

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THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, MAY 25, 2014

poking her during a facial. Now, I check their nails too!”

Horror stories involving unhappy clients are common throughout the industry and almost every salon owner, manager and worker has one to tell. “Women who come to my salon have their own favourite workers who they prefers,” explains Shaheena. “They aren’t comfortable with new faces and don’t trust their work.”

Some customers think the salon workers to be their personal assistants, cursing and yelling at the slightest mistake. “There was a lady who slapped me in front of everyone once and that too for a trivial reason,” confesses Anita, a salon worker. “The wind from the fan blew some cotton onto her freshly painted toenails and the varnish began to come off as I tried to remove the cotton. Next thing I knew, she suddenly hit me across my face and as if that wasn’t humiliating enough, my boss shouted at me the entire day after that. It was a horrible experience!” she says.

On the contrary, one can argue that it is justifiable if a client is dissatisfied with the service provided since they are the ones paying for it. “I once went for a facial and the worker was constantly on the phone while doing it!” claims housewife Sadaf Alam. “A facial is supposed to be relaxing. Needless to say I

couldn’t relax at all and complained to the manager.”

However, perhaps the most pressing issue is the health risks salon workers have to bear due to the nature of their work. The threat is particularly severe around small-scale, neighbourhood salons that operate with little oversight and take no measures to avoid or reduce their usage of detrimental beauty products, such as glues, polishes, dyes, solvents and hair solutions that contain a multitude of unregulated chemicals. According to Dr Jaffrey, a general practitioner in Karachi, “These salons are often compact so the fumes and chemicals aren’t always expelled.” Extended exposure to these chemicals and noxious fumes can cause serious illness such as allergies, respiratory troubles, reproductive harm and even cancer. “But we should remember it isn’t just fumes and chemicals. Constant contact between skin, hot wax and small appliances like cuticle removers, tweezers and nail files being shared with multiple customers — many of whom may carry fungal infections — breeds more infections. Same goes for unsterilised scissors and combs.”

It is no secret that the implementation of labour laws in Pakistan is minimal.

However, if everyone plays their respective roles, as owners and customers and accept the salon workers an individuals, things can change for the better.

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Ms

en vogue

THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, MAY 25, 2014

Eastern Lala Textiles welcomes the blistering summer with its new formal collection, Dahlia

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THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, MAY 25, 2014

Indulgence Collection: Dahlia by Lala Brand: Lala Textiles Make-up/Photography: Ather Shahzad

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Ms

mother superior

THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, MAY 25, 2014

Summer Skin Care

Your guide to treat the most summer skin irritations by Nayab Najam

While winter may be dreaded universally for its harmful effects on the skin, let it be known that summer isn’t much better. Extended exposure to the sun and huddling in air-conditioned rooms for long periods of time indeed takes a toll on the skin and considering how long and intense the summer months in Pakistan are, there is no avoiding it.

The skin being the most exposed organ of the human body operates as a protective outer layer that constantly battles harsh weather, pollution and disease so as to keep our insides safe. Prolonged exposure eventually results in dull exteriors or pigmentation issues which reflect poorly on a person. Fortunately, MsT is here to highlight some of the most common summer skin problems and help you overcome them.

Breakouts Breakouts are practically inevitable in the hot and humid summer weather, especially in the big, pollution-ridden metropolitan cities.

Breakouts occur because of large amounts of natural oils, sweat, pollution and other impurities mixing together under the clogged pores.

The heat clogs the tiny pores found on the skin, resulting in a series of pimples or spots lining the face, neck and even shoulders.

To keep breakouts under control, dermatologists around the world prescribe regular cleaning and exfoliation to release the impurities and dead skin cells from the skin. In addition to this, beautician Rani Saeed, recommends non-oil based products. “This includes everything from face-washes to soaps and make up,” she explains. “Stay away from heavy skin care products that weigh your skin down and make it greasy. Grease is where breakouts start.” Mineral-based makeup is the ideal alternative for the summer season as it is free from all toxins and harmful chemicals found in other products that deteriorate skin quality. Additionally, products containing salicylic acid have also been proven to curb breakouts and skin irritations.

Sun burns For people who spend a lot of time outdoors during summer, sun burns can be very problematic. These are especially serious for people with fair skin and can cause the skin to crack and peel off if not treated accurately.

Of course, avoiding the sun as much as possible is the best way to

prevent sun burns but that is impossible to do so. The easier method would be to invest in a good quality, high SPF (Sun Protection Factor) sunscreen that will shield skin against harmful UV rays. “With the help of just a small amount of SPF, we draw a shield onto our skin,” says beauty-blogger Areej Usman. “If you cannot use heavy sunscreen lotions, opt for a light, everyday moisturiser with UV protection.”

Nonetheless, in case one does contract a sun burn, a few applications of aloe vera gel can work wonders on the skin. Aloe vera is known for its soothing properties and is readily available in the market. A milk soak (half part milk, half part water) also calms burns. Bakhtawar, who runs the renowned Pakistani beauty blog JeeBees, recommends applying a slice of tomato to the burnt region. “To keep your skin fresh during the day, keep a bottle of rosewater in your bag and spray it over your face from time to time,” she suggests. “This will prevent scorching and keep your skin hydrated and refreshed all day.”

Heat rash Suffering from tiny, red bumps on your shoulders, chest and back? You aren’t the only one. Skyrocketing temperatures and humidity bring on the heat rash wherein clogged pores and sweat ducts trap perspiration under our skin. This manifests itself in itchy, red blisters, found most commonly is skin folds and area which our clothes rub against.

When it comes to heat rashes, it is imperative not to scratch lest it aggravate further and leave a mark on the skin. “Lightweight and airy fabrics which allow sweat to evaporate are the ideal remedy for a heat rash,” suggests Rani. Cooling agents like aloe vera and oils can also be used to calm the inflamed skin.

Insect bites Summertime is a veritable breeding ground for mosquitoes and other insects that make it impossible to do anything, be it a nap or a stroll in the garden. Most people resort to insecticides and repellent sprays but unfortunately, those don’t always work and can be harmful to one’s skin and lungs if used too much. A quick way to eradicate a painful insect bite is by applying any essential oil on the affected area, such as peppermint or eucalyptus. Aloe vera gel can also help eradicate a bite.

domestic goddess 7

THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, MAY 25, 2014

Recipe

Lemon Chicken Roast This lemon-flavoured chicken roast is a tangy twist on the original roast and makes for the perfect family meal, especially when served with roasted potatoes

Method •

Before purchasing the chicken, have the butcher put deep diagonal gashes on it to allow for the marinade to seep in. You may cook the chicken with skin for a crispier finish.

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Mix together all the ingredients (except garlic and butter) to make the marinade.

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Cover the chicken in the marinade, wrap in a large plastic bag and refridgerate for about five to six hours.

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Retrieve the chicken and transfer onto a baking dish.

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Cut a lemon into thin slices and place them in the gashes on the chicken. Place the garlic and butter in the cavity. You may also add vegetables of your choice to the baking tray, such as potatoes and carrots.

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Bake the chicken at 250oC for about an hour or until its surface becomes a brown colour, leaving it uncovered in the oven.

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Saima Absar does her best to be a good wife, mother, community manager and citizen. She enjoys reading and holds a degree in media management.

Follow her on www.pinterest.com/ saimaabsar

Ingredient:

Chicken (whole) 1

Salt 2 tsp

Black pepper 1 tsp

Garlic powder 1 tsp

Onion powder 2 tsp

Butter ½ 1/2 cup

Garlic cloves 4 -5

Lemon juice 4 tbsp

Oregano 1/2 tsp

Thyme 1 pinch

Take the roast out of the oven and cover it with foil until serving. Your lemony chicken is now ready!

Lemon rind 1 tsp

woman of the week 8

THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, MAY 25, 2014

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