Mehndi stalls thrive in capital

Express Tribune

31-03-2025

Women proudly display their freshly applied mehndi (henna), showcasing intricate designs on their hands in preparation for the Eidul Fitr festivities in the federal capital. PHOTO: INP
On the eve of Eidul Fitr, beauty salons and mehndi stalls in the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi are experiencing an overwhelming rush, as women of all ages prepare for the festive celebrations with glamour and tradition.
Salons across the cities are fully booked, offering a range of services, including facials, makeovers, and trendy hairstyles. Many customers secured their appointments weeks in advance to avoid the last-minute rush.
Sara Ali, a beautician at a renowned Islamabad salon, said, "Our schedule is packed, and we are even working extra hours to accommodate the overwhelming demand."
Rozina, another beautician in Rawalpindi said that a lot of customers were requesting trending makeup and hairstyle bookings before the Eid festival, and the demand for mehndi application had also doubled.
Mehndi artists, too, were finding it difficult to keep up with the surge in customers. Many had set up temporary stalls in bustling marketplaces like Jinnah Super, Saddar, and Raja Bazaar, where women of all ages queue up to get their hands adorned with traditional henna patterns.
Sadaf, a mehndi artist at a prominent market in Islamabad said that she set up a temporary stall every Eid. This year, all trending options of mehndi designs were available for women clients. "I am happy with the overwhelming response; the crowd is almost double, and the business is a profitable option as Eid is approaching."
Ayesha Khan, a mehndi artist in Rawalpindi, shared that they had been working non-stop for the last few days, as girls and women want the best henna designs for Eid. "Some customers even bring reference pictures from social media, asking for the latest trending designs," she added.
Due to the high demand, prices for beauty treatments and mehndi applications have also surged. Salon owners attribute the rise to increased costs of cosmetics and labour. A salon manager at F-7 explained that imported beauty products had become expensive, and with inflation, they had to adjust their rates accordingly.
Despite the price hike, the festive spirit remained high. Many women in twin cities considered their salon visits and mehndi application an essential part of Eid preparations. Amina Bibi, a client at this salon, shared that no Eid was complete without a visit to the parlour and mehndi on both hands.
Binish, another client of a prominent parlour in Rawalpindi, said, "It's a tradition that we eagerly wait for every year."
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Rising prices hit beauty parlours
our correspondent
RAWALPINDI. Skyrocketing inflation has made it challenging and costly for women to adorn and beautify themselves, while beauty parlours and beauticians are thriving.
The desire to look beautiful has always been a heartfelt wish for women, a timeless passion that remains unchanged through the ages. Whether a woman is from Europe, the Indian subcontinent, or the jungles of Africa, her innate nature drives her to enhance her appearance.
This Chand Raat (the eve of Eidul Fitr), all beauty parlours in the open market doubled or even tripled their rates, making it difficult for women from middle-class families, labourers, and government employees' daughters-in-law and daughters to afford these services.
Meanwhile, women from affluent families continued to flock to beauty parlours, booking appointments in advance. These parlours offered services from 8am on Sunday until 10am on Eid day.
Current market rates included whitening facials at Rs2,500, eyebrow shaping at Rs350, pedicures at Rs2,500, simple haircuts at Rs1,200, haircuts with styling at Rs1,500, face bleaching at Rs300, and henna application ranging from Rs1,000 to Rs1,500.
According to Fauzia Rashid, Secretary of the Beauty Parlors Welfare Union, the prices of all beautification items, including creams and oils, have skyrocketed, with the cost of high-quality products increasing by up to 500% within a year.
She says the wages of parlour staff have also risen, and since Eid and weddings are their peak seasons, reducing rates is simply not feasible.