Julia's Saloon

I will always love Pendo for trusting me enough to do her hair.

Bucket list item number nine: learn to plait the girls’ hair.

As of two days ago, we can check this one off!

With 40 girls each needing their hair done every 5-7 days, I’ve had lots of opportunity to watch and observe various braiding techniques before trying it myself.

There was a complex logarithm for choosing my first hair “victim.” Pendo happened to be looking for a hairstylist when I was walking by with no pressing tasks, has hair long enough I felt semi-confident trying, and is young enough to foolishly accept my offer. Bingo.

Welcome to Julia’s Saloon. (Not a typo. In Tanzania, they’re called “saloons” not “salons.”)

Over the next two hours in two different locations (we needed a stretching break and I needed to keep an eye on dinner), I laboriously accomplished my mission. Of course, I had no fewer than seven on-lookers at any one time, most incredulous…then bemused…then halfway impressed at my braiding technique. (Thank you, years of marching band requiring French braids!)

Pendo looked beautiful when it was all done…

...so why has she been wearing a beanie for the last two days?