Senior Fauzah Kargbo began her journey with hair at just nine years old when she began practicing on dolls and eventually moved on to family members and others. Doing hair became a passion of hers; however, the passion came from the rest of her family considering they all know how to do hair as well.

In the summer of 2019, she had appointments booked every day, with some days even having multiple appointments a day. This was due to an increased interest in protective styles during the summer season. This year, she wonders whether her clientele has dropped because of the pandemic, or if they have actually gone up. 

“I’ve gotten many clients and I try to do as much as I can, but due to covid I choose to keep a limit to the number of people in my house during the day,” Kargbo explains. 

When the pandemic first hit, many businesses working from home were shut down, but with some modifications to safety and health practices, multiple businesses have reopened. 

Kargbo has been doing hair from her home for years, so when COVID hit, there were a lot of things that she had to change to stay safe from the virus. 

“I require my customers to wear masks, I make sure to clean the chairs used, and I wash my hands between each client,” Kargbo said. 

Lots of hair salons have been shut down due to COVID, while Fauzahstyles continues to run, causing more people to come because of their limited options. Having more customers could increase the amount of money she makes, which could also be very risky and dangerous, but Kargbo thinks otherwise. 

“I do not think it is dangerous. If I have my mask and they do as well we are not in contact” Kargbo says.

Despite this, she considers that “being closer than six feet to someone else that you don’t live with can put you at risk due to the fact that we are not aware of what others might have unconsciously been exposed to.” Kargbo says 

While Kargbo is perfectly fine with doing other’s hair and simply taking the right steps to stay safe, her mother is not.

“I feel like anyone could have it and not know and by allowing just anyone into at home, we are putting ourselves at risk,” Kargbo’s mom, Mariatu Bangura said. 

Many people can also be asymptomatic, so they have no idea whether they are spreading the virus or not.

“People can come over to get their hair done and we won’t even know they have it because they don’t show any signs. It is just dangerous,” Bangura said.

While it is risky, her mother acknowledges the efforts she is making to save up. 

“Although I don’t like it, I’m glad that Kargbo is using her time wisely to make money instead of staying in the house all day,” Bangura explained. 

On the other hand, her sister is completely comfortable with it.

“Honestly I have no problem with it as long as they’re wearing a mask. I don’t think anything could happen if we are doing what we need to do,” Mariam Kargbo states. 

Kargbo plans on continuing to run Fauzahstyles during the pandemic, making sure to limit the number of people allowed into her home, and taking many precautions to stay safe.