The Real Housewives of Dubai’s Caroline Brooks On Shattering The Status Quo
The entrepreneur-turned-television personality opens a salon where all women are welcome
Caroline Brooks talks with sincerity. There’s a tone to her voice that is down-to-earth and effortlessly confident. A woman on a mission to solve a problem long overdue – one which shouldn’t still exist in 2022. With only a few weeks left until the doors of The Glass House open in the heart of Dubai’s City Walk, this entrepreneur-turned-television personality – and now, salon owner – is remarkably calm and collected, but clearly excited at unveiling Dubai’s first inclusive salon: a luxe haven where all women, regardless of skin colour or hair type, can go for a day of head-to-toe pampering.
“The term ‘inclusive’ means we are for everybody – for every skin colour, hair type, ethnicity and every size,” Caroline says, highlighting how the space will be able to service clients from all backgrounds and races, across a variety of services offered by experienced professionals. This means no more running around to multiple salons for various treatments; friends from all walks of life can get ready together, knowing they’re in the trusted hands of a staff that has been trained across all hair and skin types.
“We made sure that we went through an extensive hiring process to find specialists who really have studied all skin tones, all grades of skin, all types for the esthetician side of The Glass House,” Caroline confirms. “Then, for the hair side, even though we have some of the most experienced hairstylists I’m still making all of them get retrained and recertified,” adds the mogul.
Taking Harper’s Bazaar Arabia on an exclusive tour of the space ahead of its opening, Caroline’s attention to detail is impressive – right down to the triple-filtered water that gently flows out of the nozzles of the Paris-imported hair washing stations; mindfully placed outlets next to the pedicure station; and the light bites she plans on offering clients who may feel a bit peckish in between treatments (she has plans to include nut-free and vegetarian options on the menu.)
Both the space and her vision are impressive, but the question that truly begs to be asked is why it’s taken so long for a salon like The Glass House to come into existence. “I think that they didn’t think there was a demand…” Caroline says, alluding to Dubai’s beauty industry and its largely one-size-fits all mentality. “I also believe that because of how oppressed a lot of women of colour have been, they don’t really vocalise it, they just accept it.”
Caroline recounts tales having to venture near and far in search of salons and spas who could cater to her half-Hispanic, half-African American complexion and tresses, only to find she was needing to visit multiple locations on a regular bases or settle for sub-par service. “I wanted my fellow women of colour to feel like, ‘Oh my goodness, finally, we’re in a salon that is five star and we feel really good. We’re really well taken care of,’” she comments. Ultimately, she’s looking to create a space that caters to anyone who expects the very best when they head to a salon, no matter who they are or what they look like. “When you feel good, you look good.” Caroline says with a smile.
The Glass House opened its doors on the 6th of November. For more information visit theglasshousedubai.com
From Harper’s Bazaar Arabia’s November 2022 issue
