In Search of that 'Designer' Look

For most women, their looks, self-presentation is nothing to joke with. They devote time and money to dyeing their hair, using cosmetics, obtaining pedicures and manicures, and dressing in clothes they spent huge amounts of time shopping for and eventually buying. The thing is that some women are just too over-concerned with their beauty. Most days, they carefully select the right outfits from their wardrobes and groom themselves thoroughly. But guess what? Men are the reason for all these. This is because more often than not, men are fascinated with a woman’s beauty. There is a good chance that a man gives more importance to a woman’s beauty than to her intelligence. So don’t be surprised to see a woman becoming too fussy about the way she looks or appears.

On the other side of the coin, some women are often easily moved to assume that beauty and good looks are a significant indicators of happiness and success. Take for instance this festive season; scores of women are doing different things to themselves in the name of ‘beauty.’ Right below my flat in downtown Monrovia, I have been seeing a band of women queuing up at the entrance of a makeshift beauty salon in preparation for changing their looks for the Season. They begin gathering there as early as 5:45 a.m., even though the salon’s owner might not show her face any earlier than 8:30 a.m.

There are some lime green and pink posters hanging on the steel door at the entrance, enticing the customers to enter the salon. On the posters are price listings for each category of hairdo, braiding, washing and styling, and weaving. In the braiding class, prices have skyrocketed from US$10 to US$20, while prices range between US$5 to US$25 in the weaving category and in the washing and styling grouping, the prices stand at US$10 to US$20. In fact, across the board, the prices ultimately are determined by how the customer desires to be styled.

When it comes to weaving, for instance, the number of packs of hair weave the customer wants to use must be factored in. More packs mean more money. While some customers are taken by surprise by these prices, bewildered that their self-beautification budgets for that day might not help them out, others find it more fun.  They are cool with the prices and are flushed enough with cash to pay even beyond the prices listed, only to ensure that they get that special ‘designer’ look.

Saturday in downtown Monrovia is usually characterized by, among other things, women flocking to the different beauty salons of all scales to get their hair done. The trend of hair-dos among these beauty salons is continuously evolving. It is easy to spot scores of girls seated in line at the various hair salons, waiting to change their looks with a single hairdo. In fact, most Liberian girls consider Saturday a hair-fixing day. 

There are some who have made it a duty to have their looks changed on a weekly basis, no matter what. Others would have their hair shampooed and dried twice a month or typically have them weaved every two weeks.  Naturally, women continue to go to great lengths to change their looks. Even those with naturally bushy afro hair might perm their hair to straighten it. Though beauty salons are devoted to ensuring that ladies get the right hair-do to make them beautiful – or presentable at best – it certainly becomes a challenge with towering prices required to get the job done.  And this is where the line is drawn: how much are you willing to pay for a hairdo that will last only a week or two at most?