A beauty salon for everyone in Leipzig | DW Documentary
Summary
TLDRThe Grand Beauty Salon in Liip, Germany, is a unique space combating racism through the universal language of beauty services. Founded by Mara Hessa, a young Muslim woman, the salon employs a diverse team, predominantly with refugee or migrant backgrounds, offering a safe haven for clients from various cultures. The salon's mission is to foster understanding and break down barriers by providing a welcoming environment where clients can feel comfortable and appreciated for their individual beauty, irrespective of their skin color or hair texture. Hessa also aims to revolutionize the German beauty industry by advocating for more inclusive training and products that cater to a broader range of ethnicities.
Takeaways
- π Mara Hessa is combating racism through the establishment of an intercultural beauty salon, aiming to foster understanding and acceptance among diverse clientele.
- π€ The Grand Beauty Salon in Liip is a unique space where professionals with refugee or migrant backgrounds provide services, creating an inclusive environment for all.
- π₯ The salon's international team is nearly exclusively composed of individuals with diverse cultural backgrounds, offering a range of beauty services that cater to different preferences.
- πββοΈ Many clients are migrants who feel uncomfortable or unwelcome in conventional salons, often due to language barriers or cultural misunderstandings.
- π The salon aims to be a safe space where clients can relax without fear of discrimination or negative comments about their hair or skin color.
- π¨ The salon provides an opportunity for clients to rediscover their own beauty and gain self-confidence, inspired by the diverse beauty standards and practices represented by the staff.
- π The Grand Beauty Project, founded by Fra Fresh, was initially a mobile salon that organized workshops and has now found a permanent home in Liip.
- π The salon's location in a low-income area of Liip, known for its lack of cultural diversity, is strategic in its mission to educate and bridge gaps between communities.
- π©βπ« As an educator, Mara Hessa uses her platform to address and challenge the Eurocentric beauty standards prevalent in the German beauty industry.
- πΌ The salon operates on a donation basis and is funded by grants, providing a stepping stone for refugees and migrants to gain work experience and potentially obtain a residence permit.
- π The salon's model of operation and its focus on diversity could serve as an example for the broader beauty industry, which Mara believes could benefit from greater inclusivity.
Q & A
What is the primary mission of the Grand Beauty Salon according to the script?
-The Grand Beauty Salon aims to be a safe space where people from different cultural backgrounds can feel comfortable, be treated without prejudice, and share their thoughts freely.
How does the Grand Beauty Salon address the issue of cultural diversity in beauty standards?
-The salon employs a team with a refugee or migrant background and caters to various beauty preferences and standards, offering services that respect and embrace cultural differences.
Why do some clients feel uncomfortable visiting conventional beauty salons in Germany?
-Some clients, particularly migrants, feel uncomfortable due to language barriers and the lack of understanding or accommodations for their cultural or religious practices, such as wearing a headscarf.
What challenges do people of color face when visiting beauty salons in Germany according to Mara?
-People of color often face discriminatory experiences due to misguided beauty standards that are predominantly Western and white, which can make them feel inadequate if they don't fit the ideal of beauty.
How does the Grand Beauty Salon help clients rediscover their own beauty and gain self-confidence?
-The salon provides a welcoming environment where clients can receive services that cater to their unique beauty, allowing them to feel good about themselves and draw inspiration from other cultures.
What is the significance of the Grand Beauty Project founded by Frafra?
-The Grand Beauty Project was initially a mobile beauty salon that organized workshops to promote cultural exchange and understanding. It now has a permanent location and continues to facilitate first-time encounters between people from different backgrounds.
Why is the location of the Intercultural Salon in Grunau significant?
-Grunau is a low-income area with a history of negative views towards foreigners. The salon's location inside a park aims to educate people and challenge Islamophobia and xenophobia through interaction in a safe and welcoming space.
What is the professional background of the team at the Grand Beauty Salon?
-The team consists of individuals who are either professionally trained in their craft or self-taught, with nearly all members having a refugee or migrant background.
How does the Grand Beauty Salon support its staff who are refugees or migrants?
-The salon operates on a donation basis and is funded by grants, allowing staff without work permits to volunteer and gain experience, which could potentially help them obtain a residence permit.
What is Mara's role in the German Pop Academy, and what is her goal regarding the curriculum?
-Mara teaches at the German Pop Academy and is working to revise the curriculum to include training for diverse beauty needs, such as Afro hair, Arabic coal, or Asian eyeliner, to better serve a multicultural clientele.
How does the Grand Beauty Salon contribute to promoting tolerance and diversity in the German beauty industry?
-The salon serves as an example of a multicultural space that brings people together, fostering understanding and challenging prejudices, with the hope of inspiring change in the broader beauty industry.
Outlines
π Cultural Integration Through Beauty Services
The Grand Beauty Salon in Liip, run by Mara Hessa, aims to combat racism by providing a welcoming space for people of diverse backgrounds. The salon, staffed mostly by individuals with refugee or migrant backgrounds, offers services that cater to various cultural beauty standards. Clients, many of whom are migrants themselves, find comfort in a place that respects their hair and skin textures without prejudice. Mara's vision is for the salon to be a safe haven where people can relax and share their thoughts freely, fostering understanding and breaking down barriers through everyday interactions.
π€ Bridging Gaps: The Power of a Beauty Salon
The Grand Beauty Salon serves as a melting pot for different cultures, with staff and clients from diverse backgrounds. The salon's founder, Mara, has faced Islamophobia and understands the need for a space that is free from discrimination. The salon's team, which includes hairdresser IP Samir, a refugee from Libya, uses their skills to build bridges and foster a sense of community. Despite language barriers and cultural differences, the salon's atmosphere encourages open communication and mutual understanding. The salon operates on a donation basis and is funded by grants, providing an opportunity for refugees to gain work experience and potentially lead to a residence permit.
πͺ Advocating for Inclusivity in the Beauty Industry
Mara Hessa is not only a driving force behind the Grand Beauty Salon but also an educator striving to make the beauty industry more inclusive. She teaches at the German Pop Academy and is working to revise the curriculum to include training for diverse hair types and beauty needs. Mara's personal experiences with discrimination have motivated her to create a more tolerant environment within the industry. The Grand Beauty Salon in Liip is a testament to her efforts, serving as an example of how everyday places can bring people together and change perspectives, regardless of their differences.
Mindmap
Keywords
π‘Racism
π‘Intercultural
π‘Beauty Standards
π‘Migrant Background
π‘Discrimination
π‘Safe Space
π‘Self-taught
π‘Cultural Educator
π‘Prejudice
π‘Diversity
π‘Certification
Highlights
Mara Hessa is combating racism through the Intercultural Grand Beauty Salon, promoting cultural exchange and understanding.
The salon serves as a safe space for people of different backgrounds to feel comfortable and free from discrimination.
The international team at the salon consists mostly of individuals with a refugee or migrant background, enhancing cultural diversity.
Clients at the salon appreciate the team's professional training and adaptability to various beauty standards.
The salon addresses the discomfort some migrants feel in conventional salons, especially when wearing a headscarf.
Mara aims to challenge Western-centric beauty standards that can leave people of color feeling inadequate.
The salon provides a space for clients to rediscover their own beauty and gain self-confidence, inspired by diverse cultures.
Fra Fresh, the founder of the Grand Beauty Project, initially operated a mobile salon to organize workshops across German cities.
The salon's location in a low-income area with a negative view of foreigners aims to educate and foster community.
Mara's personal experiences with Islamophobia highlight the need for such initiatives in German society.
The salon serves as a meeting place to bridge cultural gaps and erase prejudices in a relaxed atmosphere.
Hairdresser IPSamir's journey from fleeing the Libyan Civil War to finding community in the salon showcases its impact.
The salon operates on a donation basis and is funded by grants, supporting refugees without work permits.
Volunteering at the salon can increase the chances of obtaining a residence permit for team members.
Mara teaches at the German Pop Academy, advocating for a more inclusive curriculum that addresses diverse hair types.
The beauty industry in Germany is criticized for its lack of diversity and knowledge regarding non-Western hair types.
Mara is working to revise the curriculum at the German Pop Academy to include training for diverse hair and beauty needs.
The Grand Beauty Salon in Liik is seen as an example of how everyday places can promote tolerance and understanding.
Transcripts
Mara Hessa is fighting Against Racism
with the help of makeup and mascara in
the Intercultural grand beauty
salon I think our society desperately
needs people coming into contact with
each other and that's something that
happens very quickly in a beauty
salon but can facials and manicures
really tear down barriers and help to
overcome
[Music]
prejudice
[Music]
those who work in the grand beauty salon
in liip are familiar with different
preferences and beauty standards between
cultures the international team consists
nearly exclusively of people with a
refugee or migrant background most are
professionally trained in their craft
and some self-taught but every client
seems seems to appreciate their
knowhow it's different here than in
other beauty salons I've only been once
before to a beauty salon in Germany and
then I went because of a
friend many of the clients are migrants
who rarely or never go to a beauty salon
in Germany they feel uncomfortable and
sometimes wearing a headscarf makes a
visit to a conventional hairdresser
impossible you can just close your eyes
while I apply the makeup maybe try to
relax a
bit did you get here
okay Mara wants the grand beauty salon
to be a safe
space a place where they like to be
treated where they feel
comfortable where they don't get any
comments about the texture of their hair
or skin color but can just have a seat
and share their thoughts about anything
sometimes in a more critical
way Mara says that a visit to The
Beautician in Germany can often turn
into a discriminatory experience for
people of color and she has little doubt
about the reasons for
this misguided beauty standards which
are both extremely Western and white
they can leave a person feeling
inadequate if they don't correspond to
this ideal of beauty
especially since they might not fit in
with any
other many salons only carry cosmetic
products for lighter skin
tones I've often tried to use makeup for
white skin and it makes me feel like a
clown but here it's all very natural so
I'm very
grateful in the salon guests can
ReDiscover their own Beauty and gain
self-confidence while getting some
inspiration from other cultures for
example when it comes to the styling of
Nails in venea Nails usually have
various designs and they're much longer
here is
here they're more natural and the colors
are also
[Music]
lighter Des there may be some designs
but they're smaller and more discreet
the don't worry it doesn't have to be
perfect fra fresh is an artist and
cultural educator she founded the grand
beauty project for a long time grand
beauty was a mobile beauty salon moving
between German cities where frala and
her team organized workshops but the
permanent location here in liik has been
open for a year
now we often see firsttime encounters
between people who otherwise wouldn't
have crossed paths in their everyday
lives in places where communities simply
don't
meet because people are more likely to
stay in their own C
speaking the same
language grunau is one of the largest
prefabricated housing Estates built in
the former
gdr nowadays it's a low-income area
where many residents have a negative
view of foreigners the Intercultural
Salon is located right here inside a
park Mara wants to use her work there to
educate people as a young Muslim woman
her own experience have made it clear
that this is a much needed
task islamophobia is very noticeable
when dealing with the German authorities
and within the school system I have many
nieces and nephews with whom I love
spending time and it drives me crazy
when I'm told again and
again wow you speak such good German and
I would like to reply Yes dear I'd sure
hope so I was born here and German is my
native language even worse are the
people who make nasty comments try to
spit at me move away or leave a room as
soon as I enter or start asking
insensitive
[Music]
questions as the assistant manager Mara
wants the grand beauty salon to be a
meeting place bringing people from
different cultures together in a relaxed
atmosphere and thereby erasing
prejudices so you want it shorter down
here and a bit longer on the
top you have beautiful thin
hair this is Karan Urban's fourth time
in the salon she's lived in liyun now
for almost 30 years but she hardly knows
anyone with a migrant
background over
here I'm
there are a few ukrainians living in our
building they're nice people but it's
not easy to talk to them because of the
language
barrier their German isn't that good
yet this hits close to home for
hairdresser IP
Samir in 2015 itis crossed the
Mediterranean Sea to flee the Civil War
in Libya before arriving in Germany
cutting hair has allowed her to improve
her German and make new
[Music]
contacts I've had no problems with the
customers they're all nice and
friendly and so is my team team
Alice good
team yes it really is a great team right
yeah I've
noticed last time for example when so
many were sitting
outside ifum had her own hair salon in
Libya and achieving the same in Germany
is her biggest professional
goal I would like to open a salon of my
own but it's hard for
me I have my job but in Germany you need
to be certified as a master Craftsman
before you can open your own
salon and then you need a lot of
money even though most of the
conversation with clients is Small Talk
the connections create a greater Mutual
understanding there are many obstacles
for
[Music]
sure until she finds a permanent job in
Germany itis can keep practicing and
gain recognition for her craft a grand
beauty the beauticians work on a
donation basis and the project is funded
by
grants many on the grand beauty team
have only been granted temporary
protection as refugees and don't have
work permits the volunteer hours only
count as an internship but they increase
the chances of obtaining a residence
permit
since our program is part of an art
project it gives people the opportunity
to work on a voluntary
basis you don't necessarily need a
residence permit for that and if
everything works out well if everyone
gets along and is ready to turn this
into a part-time job we'll continue down
that
path ideally working in a salon could be
a stepping stone to getting into the
German Beauty
industry which could do with a lot more
diversity according to
Mara in Berlin Mara teaches at the
German pop Academy a training center for
aspiring makeup
artists and on the side she freelances
as one
herself the fact that she hasn't been
offered a permanent job anywhere she
traces back to her
headscarf
I would have loved to train as a
hairdresser but I didn't fit in so well
with the teams at the salons where I
applied not even after getting my
diploma as a makeup artist and hair
designer so to be able to dress the way
I like I had to start my own
business in today's class she doubles as
a model while teaching the German pop
Academy is an international school with
locations worldwide and a diverse
student body but Germany's beauty
industry still mostly revolves around
everything related to White
bodies the fact that so many of those
who train hairdressers in Germany simply
know nothing about how to treat afro
hair is a
disaster it's absolutely absurd and
definitely needs to be dealt
with how is it possible that this is
being Incorporated in the training in
England for example but here in Germany
the curriculum has nothing on this
[Music]
topic to change this Mara is now working
with the German pop Academy to revise
the
curriculum afro hair Arabic coal or
Asian eyeliner
she wants to train for all her customers
needs even if the models remain Western
European for the time
being if you have normal hair spray it
with something first so that it doesn't
get all
fuzzy Mara is convinced that beauty
salons can promote tolerance and that
the grand beauty salon in liik can serve
as an
example I think this is exactly what we
need everyday places like this to come
together even if we don't like each
other on the street or don't want to
look at each other the best thing is
when something changes inside our
customers and they get a new
[Music]
perspective
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