How African Hair Salons Become Safe Spaces for Women’s Healing

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In my photo series, HEAL BY HAIR, I explore the quiet support African women find in hair salons. Mental-health care can be costly and heavily stigmatised, but salon chairs often offer time, trust and companionship. Growing up in Abidjan, I saw that hair appointments were never only about braiding or styling. Women shared worries, laughter and painful experiences with people who understood their world. The salon became a place to pause and speak without fear of judgement. The series follows hairdressers and clients in Abidjan through these intimate moments. It was inspired by a programme that trains hairdressers in active listening, helping salons become more intentional spaces for emotional support. For me, photographing these spaces means recognising that healing can happen beyond a clinic. Sometimes, it begins during an ordinary conversation while someone cares for your hair.

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