POV: Dee & Talitha

Talitha discovered a community at Dee's salon, Pamoja, seven years ago. More than just a place for hair styling, Pamoja offers support, friendship, and cultural connection. Dee’s dedication transforms routine appointments into essential social lifelines, fostering a sense of belonging and togetherness for her diverse clientele.

Words and Photo by Rhiannon Davies

Talitha: About seven years ago, I was waiting on getting my eyebrows done, Dee came past, struck up a conversation and gave me her card. I was not long in Scotland, and just put the card in my bag, because I was still going down south to get my hair done. But then I needed it done here, and I went through every single one of my handbags, got the card out, and never looked back.

Dotta: I used to do that quite a lot. I don’t nowadays because I can't take any more clients. Each client takes a good three hours, sometimes even six. 

T: I'm normally really socially awkward, but I find it so comfortable here. 

D: The thing is, it's not just hair. One girl wrote in a review, ‘it's not a hair salon, it's a community hub’. We talk about a lot of  things. It’s somewhere you can come and be yourself. It's home, if that makes sense. 

T: It feels like home to me. I've not got family here and Dee has been a fantastic support. When I come in, I feel like I just open up. I can unload and I feel comfortable doing it. 

D: It's a family. I used to be quite a social person. I was always going out. But I don't feel the need anymore because I have tons of friends who come here. We have relationships outside too. If I don’t hear from someone for a while, I’ll check in on them, just to know they’re ok. 

T: When I had my baby, neither me or my partner had family in Scotland. So Dee was bringing food packages and coming to help look after my other one.

D: Last week, a lady came all the way from Inverness. She's Scottish, but she adopted a Black girl so she’d been trying to get someone to do her hair. She travelled all this way and asked for an appointment the next day. At first, I said I couldn’t because I was celebrating Eid. But then I heard the story and agreed. The girl was so happy, it made it all worth it. The lady gave me a 50 quid tip. 

There are other hair braiders in Glasgow, but I don’t just do braids. That's my secret. It's about community building.

T: That’s s true because I went to somebody else and she was nice, but you could tell it was definitely just a business. 

D: I'm a migrant myself. I know how this country can be and I've been here for so long. I've raised all my kids here. It is not easy. And I share my experience freely. I'll tell you everything you want to know. We play African music. We drink tea. All ages and backgrounds come here.

T: We had that gathering last year as well. Dee put food out and it was so good to see all the different customers and family. 

D: The thing is, for people from ethnic minority communities, it’s not easy to find time to socialise because we are always doing something. We are either working or raising children. But people always need their hair done.

T: Everybody frees their time to get their hair done, because it's a necessity. There's no choice in the matter.

D: One girl had plans to open a salon with lots of different hairdressers where people can just walk in. I said that’s not what people want. You are the business. You are the brand. That would take away the personal connection. But the world is changing, and the younger generation might want to come, get their hair done and go. But you would take away from the people who really want that social interaction. 

T: My hair is definitely my confidence. I think that's true for a lot of the Afro Caribbean community. If I tried to do my own hair, I would struggle and probably wouldn't go out. It’s also great to talk to somebody who actually cares.

D: I talk to Talitha a lot. But once she goes out, whatever she told me, goes in my heart and stays there until I see her again. There's no crossover information. And I don’t judge at all. I just listen. I just talk. 

I've been in Glasgow for so long and I'm a qualified social care worker. I know about all the services available. I'm like a directory. I have all the contacts and I give them for free because that’s an important service too actually. 

T: If you move here from a different country, you might get lucky to find here. And then before you know it, you've got all these things that you need sorted. 

D: My salon is called Pamoja which is a Swahili word. It means togetherness. Me, my friends, my family and you. We're all here together.