Story by Hannah George
A new enterprise on Spital Hill offers health, hair and beauty and community to women of the area. Dispensing with the conventional ‘shop floor’, Saf Saf is a homely haven providing everything women need to look good and get healthy.
Saf Saf is staffed by women from five cultures (experienced in all types of skin and hair). Owner Safiya, hopes to: “motivate every single female, women of all cultures – to try and make their lives different”.
Its discreet, secure location offers a salon; a cafeteria with comfy seats; a gym; a sewing room (containing five machines) and a massage room – all decorated in soft, feminine colours. The gym has treadmills, bikes, cross-trainers and dumbbells for a full workout. Blinds on all windows mean Muslim women can remove headscarfs to exercise, have their hair done and relax with friends.
One woman commented on Saf Saf’s friendly, professional atmosphere and her success with the gym: “I used to be a member at all different places and didn’t go but here I can come any day and I feel more confident as it’s women only”. The cafeteria offers a range of healthy sandwiches and snacks. Here women can talk about ideas for healthy living to staff members or chat with friends. A counsellor is available for those with more serious issues to discuss.
In the future Safyia (pictured right) hopes to provide focus groups for young women around education; arranged marriage and ways in which women can work to improve life in the area for themselves and their families. She hopes that the community which uses Saf Saf will “create a network, not only a focus group helping each other, but also empowering women in their own projects”.
Saf Saf is located above the Mangla on Spital Hill, but access is from the back of the shops off Spital Lane. Open Monday to Saturday 10am–6pm, Phone 273 0248.
Saf Saf’s salon is funded by UnLtd, a grant for entrepreneurs.