Panchthar 

The trend of visiting to beauty parlors has massively increased in the eastern part of Nepal, including Phidim in Panchthar. 

Women in many rural parts of the country still hesitate to visit beauty salons and some who do visit try to hide their little adventure. However, the situation is changing with numerous beauty parlors being opened. Lucky Suji has been running one such parlor in Phidim, Panchthar for the past 14 years. “In my initial days of establishing the beauty parlor, women were frowned upon for visiting parlors and were considered narcissists. Many of my clients used to come here hiding from their family. But those days are gone now,” shared Lucky.

Lucky is one of the women entrepreneurs who not only runs a beauty parlor but also trains those who are eager to learn this trade. She has been teaching at CTEVT as well. She shared, “Earlier, I had to pay Rs 1,000 as rent for my parlor, but these days I have to pay Rs 6,000 per month. Nevertheless, the income is also good these days as I earn around Rs 50,000 to 60,000 per month.” 

According to her, more and more women are becoming independent after acquiring basic beauty course of three months and mostly women from the rural areas are attracted to this business. “These days beauty parlor business has been mushrooming in the eastern rural areas,” added Lucky.
Another beautician Soni Begha, who has her beauty parlor in the western area of Phidim, said, “I bought this parlor at Rs 300,000 and I am doing well in the business. Many parlors have been opening in the area of late and I feel the business potential is great. I’ve taken three months’ beautician course and my clients are local women from the village.” 

The business is thriving in the eastern region with advertisements in local radios and social media attracting more youths to visit the parlors. Beauty parlors are also a great means for women to earn a decent income.