Texas Salon Adapts to Welcome Hijabi Muslim Women
Despite Dallas' sizable Muslim population, many individuals have experienced feelings of isolation and mistreatment due to misconceptions. To foster inclusivity and awareness, a prominent salon on Knox-Henderson has introduced a dedicated area tailored to Muslim clients, NBC 5 reported Tuesday.
Salon 5014 made a few adjustments to its second floor to accommodate Muslim women who wear hijabs. The hijab, a symbol of modesty, is not to be removed in the presence of unrelated men.
This initiative arose with the arrival of hairstylist Chi Selim, who promotes herself online as a hijab-friendly hair professional. Selim's personal journey of adopting the hijab a year ago exposed her to the challenges faced by Muslim women in the beauty industry
"They expressed how it was difficult to find a professional hair salon. Even when they do find a salon that they can go and get their hair done, that they feel a little like discriminated against because they just throw them in a closet, don't even shampoo them and just cut it."
She identified a gap in the industry and sought the support of salon owner Rachel Voss to establish an empowering space for Muslim women without compromising on the overall salon experience.
Voss provided a wall barrier to create privacy, allowing Selim to attend to both non-hijab clients and those who wear the hijab. Iman Alfakih, one of Selim's clients, emphasizes the significance of this private space, offering a relaxing salon experience while respecting religious beliefs.
Alfakih lauds the newfound convenience, which allows her to focus solely on booking appointments without concerns about privacy. Selim envisions the proliferation of hijab-friendly salons throughout North Texas, aiming to help hijabis feel both beautiful and included.
Source: Agencies
