By Noimot Olayiwola/Staff Reporter

Beauty salons and spas across the country are seeing brisk business as a large number of customers, especially women, are visiting them ahead of the Eid al-Fitr celebrations.
A majority of the salons contacted by this reporter yesterday claimed that they were fully booked and bracing for extended working hours to cope with the increased demand.
“We have seen a steady rise in the number of customers in the past few days and are booked until Wednesday. I’m considering having extended work hours on that day so that we don’t disappoint our customers, more of whom will come for our services,” said Janet Ogari, AfroChic Beauty Salon manager.
Customers patronising the salon, which has opened in Abu Hamour, are asking for almost all the services provided by AfroChic - ranging from A-Z hair care to braiding, colouring, trimming, micro-weaving, manicure/pedicure, facial treatment and massage, waxing and threading, she said.
“The bulk of our customers, who include both Qataris and expatriates, are coming for micro-weaving, dreadlocks and cornrows,” she said, adding that many were also asking for manicure/pedicure and eyebrow tinting.
Similarly, customers are flooding Al Khor Beauty Centre for services such as henna designs, manicure/pedicure, hair extension and hot massage.
At Manila Beauty Centre, hair-cutting, colouring and blow drying are in high demand while Pambo Salon is busy with customers craving for braiding and fixing.
Especially high in demand among customers visiting beauty centres, including Nails Boutique, which specialises in the art of nail care, are manicure and pedicure.
“A majority of women, as well as some men, are particular about how their nails look and more customers are asking for nail care since the start of the week,” said Vicki Isidro, Nails Boutique operation superviser.
According to her, patrons are spoilt for choice at the boutique. “Being specialists in nail care, we have a wide variety of services - ranging from manicure/pedicure to nail enhancement and extension. We also offer other services such as spa and massage, waxing, threading, facials, make -up as well as hair services,” she added.
The increase in demand has not affected prices at most salons as charges remain at the same level as seen before the Eid rush. “We have not revised our price list. In fact, we can’t do so unilaterally as the municipality must approve of the list before we can start charging customers,” a stylist said.
At most salons checked yesterday, the cost of manicure/pedicure was fixed at QR100-150. There could be additional charges if the customer required spa treatment alongside the service.
Similarly, eyebrow threading cost QR20 at all outlets, weaving and threading hair extension QR200-300, hair colouring up to QR350 and blow drying QR100-275, depending on the length of hair and the class of salon.