The recent closure of beauty salons in Kabul by the Taliban has had a devastating impact on the 60,000 women who worked in the sector and exacerbated the already severe humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan. The ban on beauty salons, justified by the Taliban as interfering with religious practices and adding financial pressure on grooms, has left women without a safe space to socialize and work. Many women have turned to operating secret beauty businesses as a form of resistance and to provide for their families.
Young women like Breshna and Mursal, who were forced to stop their education after the Taliban came to power, have defied the ban and continued to work in the beauty industry in secret. Despite the risks of fines, imprisonment, and attacks, they believe that fear should not dictate their ability to feed their families or pursue their ambitions.
The closure of beauty salons marks another setback for Afghan women, who have already lost access to education and public spaces. Many women, like Breshna, who found solace and purpose in working at beauty salons, now face uncertainty and fear of retaliation for continuing to offer their services underground. The ban on beauty salons further restricts women’s autonomy and economic opportunities in a country already grappling with a dire humanitarian crisis.
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