FARIDABAD: Like most beauty parlours in Delhi and NCR,
Simmy is preparing for the big rush during the Karvachauth festival on
October 7. The
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Simmy attends
to a client. (TOI Photo)
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beautician's diary is already brimming with appointments
for the special day. But unlike other parlours, Simmi's clients are all men.
Welcome to Queer Beauty Parlour, probably the first beauty treatment centre
run exclusively for transgenders in and around capital. And by the looks of
it, this unique centre which gives gays not only beauty solutions but also
their own free space, is a runaway hit with the community.
When NGO, Pahal Foundation, which works with gay men under a community
initiative to spread awareness about HIV/AIDS in Faridabad, started the
parlour in April this year, it expected just a few clients from within
Faridabad. But within six months, Simmy -- a transgender himself -- and his
support staff have their hands full.
"Transgenders who wanted a feminine appearance found it almost
impossible to get any beauty treatment anywhere. The parlours for women just
did not take them and those meant for men would make them a subject of
ridicule. Hence the concept of a beauty parlour for transgenders found favour
and the initiative started as a self help group effort in April," says
Yadavendra Singh, who heads the Pahal centre in Faridabad.
Pahal's centre in Ashoka Enclave's main market in sector 35, where the
parlour is located, had become a quiet refuge for the community which came to
seek solace from the trauma they faced in society. In this community space,
Pahal then decided to add a single beauty counter with all the basic
paraphernalia required to make a parlour tick.
"It was felt that awareness was not enough. It was important to create
economic opportunities for the community as well. The idea was put up before
the community and beauty found mention in the discussions. Many members
expressed the need for beauty parlours for transgenders," says Singh.
Pahal Foundation is an outreach initiative for gays in Faridabad as part of a
project on HIV supported by the Haryana State AIDS Control Society.
Simmy, 24, who has trained under a renowned beauty expert who also happens to
be a transgender, was the first to join the initiative. Simmy says he is more
comfortable working at Queer Beauty parlour than he was at the other places.
"This is our space and we don't have to follow the rules set by society
for behaviour expected of men or women. Around seven to eight clients come
every day," he says.
In fact, Simmy is now training others through regular classes at the centre.
The course fee has been kept low at Rs 1,000.
At the parlour, a variety of beauty products are lined along a large mirror.
But unlike other parlours, pasted on the wall are stories about the worldwide
gay and lesbian movement through pictures and collages. On the counter where
combs and clips lie scattered, small pamphlets on safe sex and HIV/AIDs can
be seen placed neatly in one corner.
As Simmy works on a hairstyle for Kali, a transgender who comes regularly
from Madangir area for beauty treatment, he says the parlour is doing
reasonably well. Checking his hair in the mirror, Kali nods in agreement.
"I like it here. It is comfortable," he says.
The chart of services that the parlour offers resembles that of any other
beauty parlour. From simple threading, waxing to pedicures, hair colour,
light and heavy bridal make-up -- the single unit parlour offers it all.
Ramlila was a busy time for Simmy and his assistants as had an unexpected
assignment. They received clients from the community who wanted make-up done
for parts they were playing in Ramlilas.
Now Simmy is preparing for the rush on Karvachauth when the gay men fast for
their partners and like to dress up. At the Queer parlour, the community
hopes to get the right beauty treatment before breaking their fast and
returning to their homes, and their personal challenges.
