Close to two years of living through the COVID-19 pandemic, but Samoan resilience is shining through the beauty and art on display in Apia’s hair stylist salons.

And while there is no turning back, even if the pandemic is stopped in its tracks, the end of the year Christmas get togethers is compelling the various salons to roll out the latest in hair styles for their clients.

Forget about the threat of a deadly virus, economic crises and or environmental perils this festive season, for now it is about hair style and how good one looks.

The Samoa Observer visited a cocktail of hair salons catering for all ages from as young as a toddler to as old as 90. 

Various salon owners talked of their different products with pride for their much sought after creativity and feel good products. Each salon owner was asked what their top hair-do requests were and some other items of interest.

Yvette Ioelu owner of Yvette Hair Salon said: “It is like Samoa does not know that we are in a pandemic, people have money to spend.

“There are a lot of clients who can come over for more than four times a week. So they would spend about 400 tala a week doing hair.”

The hair care expert has been operating for over 20 years and obtained a Pivot Point qualification from New Zealand. The internationally recognized qualification gives her confidence to give advice on hair and beauty care products. 

“It is the thing now because everyone wants it.” said Yvette of the two-tone coloring.

Yvette’s Hair and Beauty Studio’s second most popular product is the permanent straightening. 

She has also introduced a keratin smoothing treatment which is pricier but safer for the hair as it treats the hair as well. According to Yvette, only two other salons have introduced it. 

The product is new to Samoa because it was expensive to bring in but Maria’s Pharmacy now has it so she buys from her. 

She is aware that other hairdressers get it from overseas. Her Christmas period busy-schedule is also due to a special offer of $100 tala for hair and make-up with the client getting to save 40 per cent of the cost for both. 

“There are about 5 end of year parties per night so the salon is always busy these days,” said Yvette. 

“Other than hair and make-up, she also offers waxing especially for the facial area. It is my passion.”

Peata Daizy Pula, the owner of Peata’s Salon who opened her own salon seven years ago after working for Salon Sheree, the oldest salon in Samoa to date which has been around for over a decade.

Business wise Peata’s only slow product since the pandemic is the overseas wedding market due to the shutdown which has stopped the wedding parties from travelling to Samoa. But while the weddings have been postponed, the wedding parties have kept their bookings and do not ask for refunds.

Peata said that her most popular product is the “balayage” which is like the two tone style. She also said that grey coverage is very busy as well as curtain fringes while permanent straightening is not as busy as before. 

Her clients consist mostly of locals so the coronavirus has not really impacted her business except in the last year when there were actual shut downs.

“It is usually busy in November and December, last year was the slowest ever because of the uncertainties, the lockdown and the new normal is that we are busy all throughout,” she said.

She only takes children from 12 years on and needs parental consent for chemicals used on their hair. 

According to Peata White Sunday this year was busier with mums especially as she was also busy during Mother’s Day and now the festive Christmas season is still keeping their team working through to Sunday at times. Going on her own has been the best decision she has made. 

Peata also employs her 16 year old daughter Aoone Keil, who started working with her when she was a very young child, but could only stand on a stool at the time.

“She is a natural. I think I raised a tough girl.” Peata said of her daughter Aaone who is admired by some of her young clients for her ability to be a hairdresser at such a young age.

Leilani, her make-up artist, has been doing make-up for seven years. Recently she added on her items of sale, “Lash extensions”. 

Lani said that lash extensions are very popular and she does classic sets and hybrid sets which have more volume and lash removals. 

“I have a high demand for events, some people just get lashes done without makeup because lashes lift your countenance and your confidence,” she said.

“Because sometimes, you wake up in the morning and it looks like you already put effort on your face.”

According to Leilani, eye lash extensions is a long and intensive process that can take up to 2 hours and it has been very busy business in that she goes to work at 9am and finishes at 8pm. 

West Style Hair Beauty Salon owner Lucky takes pride in his high volume and low prices. A Chinese Businessman and one of busiest, he employs 17 young staff all between the ages of 22 and 28. Lucky said that his cheapest treatment is wash and dry for 20 tala. 

“Business is good for me,” said Lucky when asked about how he is faring since the coronavirus. 

He had been in the industry for ten years in Samoa and was a teacher of hairdressing in China so he trained all his local staff. 

He alone mixes chemicals while the girls he employs apply them on the clients. He has two branches, one in the ground floor of Lotemau and the other at Nia Mall. Both branches are thriving. His top three products are hair straightening, trim and normal wash and he also had to work through to Sunday this festive season.

“I came to Samoa in 2012 and I did the same thing in China,” said Lucky. 

He had two children and is waiting to bring them to Samoa as he is now a permanent resident. He always plans to expand his business. 

DZignZ Hair and Beauty Salon owner, Donna Fonoti, said that her business was slow last year but this year seems to have picked up around the same time. 

As she has been operating for 37 years, she has let go of a lot of the other services such as weddings and takes off pedicure and manicure and gives it to younger people. 

“I am tired. I want a change but it is my passion,” said Donna. “It has been good this month but the rest of the year has been slow.”

As for the Salon Sheree owner Sheree Stanley Stehlin, she told the Samoa Observer that she has owned and ran her salon for 43 years, which means she runs the oldest salon and beauty business in Samoa to date.

“Right from my childhood into my teens through high school, hairdressing was the one thing I ever wanted to do,” said Sheree.

“The total aspect of hair and beauty, the technical side of it as well, has been my life’s focus. Now I am about ready to ease out of it.” 

Sheree also runs a real estate business and says that the salon has kept her above water due to regular clients which she has had for many years, some of them for as long as 43 years. 

She has also seen some of her clients pass on and remembers them fondly. 

In terms of the high standards her salon has set over the years, Sheree says she does not apologise for her price tag as she knows that they are worth it due to her experience and qualifications.

While being interviewed by Samoa Observer in her salon, one of her clients called out that she does a great job with make-up and booked her next one as a result. Sheree only does make up for her regular clients and on demand.