Beauty Amidst Chaos in Kharkiv

“Even during wartime, people are keen to look their best,” shares Irina, co-owner of a beauty salon in the Saltivka area of Kharkiv. She and her husband, Vlad, established their salon a year into the conflict, at a time when Saltivka itself seemed to need a face lift. The large Soviet-style residential blocks were frequently bombarded, resulting in many homes boarded up, with only a fraction of the 800,000 residents still remaining.

In such trying times, one might think that locals would prioritize spending on practical necessities like new windows or furniture. But it seems that many prefer to invest in personal enhancements instead, possibly because any home improvements could be obliterated overnight by Russian artillery.

Lip fillers are particularly sought after, as are Botox treatments for forehead wrinkles and therapies for stress-induced hair loss. In the event of unexpected power outages—common in cities where residents might be without electricity for three to five hours—Irina adapts by using her smartphone’s light during procedures.

“We try to perform treatments when there’s natural light, though it’s not always possible,” she mentions.

The salon doesn’t quite fit the image of a luxury establishment. Housed on the ground level of a plain gray high-rise, it lacks an exterior sign and resembles a dentist’s waiting area inside. Currently, clients who’ve had Botox must navigate icy roads that have become impassable for vehicles. Just last week, one driver slid into a ravine attempting the trip.

Despite these challenges, the couple finds their salon a more calming place compared to home in Bolshaya Danilovka, located a short distance from Saltivka and even closer to the Russian frontline. Drones routinely circle overhead, targeting Kharkiv.

“It’s now common to see drones flying by. Just this morning, there were four,” Vlad said, showing a video he captured of drones in his backyard.

“Last July, we saw a swarm of about 60 flying at one time. There’s always a worry they could crash if they run out of fuel,” he added.

The couple’s children, Masha, 16, and Daniel, 14, attend one of six underground classrooms recently established in Kharkiv, as about half of all schools have suffered damage or destruction from Russian airstrikes. Along with subway stations converted for classroom use, around 2,500 students can now continue their education safely. However, carefree outdoor playtime is a distant memory.

Masha is currently undergoing treatment after a terrifying incident involving a Russian glide bomb, designed for high-altitude bombings and capable of delivering devastating payloads. “When Masha landed, we were just 300 meters away from where it fell,” Irina recounted. “Though she wasn’t physically harmed, she now experiences ongoing anxiety and panic attacks.”

The family faces additional struggles as well. Irina’s in-laws were recently taken off the street by conscript troops and are serving in a front-line unit, despite being middle-aged, diabetic, and understandably shaken.

“He’s been assigned to the Storm Group, which specializes in trench assaults near Zaporizhzhia,” Vlad said somberly. “We fear for his life.”

This grim reality is not uncommon in Ukrainian households these days, and very few families remain untouched by the war’s consequences. Irina believes these struggles make it all the more vital to keep smiling, even if that smile needs a little help from Botox.

“Despite feeling sad inside, at least you can look beautiful in the mirror,” she said, adding, “A few shots of vodka could help too.”