Getting faded for Eid: a glimpse into one Cairo’s busiest barbershops on Eid night

Walk down any street in the lesser gentrified and modernity-seeking streets of Cairo during the first days of the Eid and you will be provided with a feast for the senses. Sparkly faux-Nike hightops and modified high-speed motorcycles abound as the neighbourhood’s bad and best gather in one of those sweet, but very masculine moments, which define life in Arab cities- the gathering for the Eid fade. Amidst machismo and fumes of vape smoke, much back-tapping and kol sana wenta tayebs, the barber awaits his next customer while the boys watch on. My brother and my local barber off a small side alleyway in the centre of the city needn’t even ask for the style we desire- it has been the same every week for years when we have our weekly cleanup on a Friday afternoon. The method too is a straightforward one, a sit down, a cigarette is lit, tea is made, and the barber’s (as well as one’s own) latest woes are shared in a rare moment of respite in the bustling city. The weekly fade is one tradition for some of the more metrosexually-minded young men- the Eid fade, however, is a near requirement. “Zero mous” is the way to go. Some prefer a straightened long top, or jelled back, or maybe they opt for the natural curly top which most Egyptians have been gifted with since birth. Whatever it is, this moment of a very masculine jubilatory fade is an endearing, enduring and auspicious one. For one moment, in anticipation of a day of unrivalled excitement, the shabab are gathered to begin the festivities faded- make of the word “faded” what you like.

Shot by Omar Elkafrawy at ElMarg’s KFMBarbershop, the supporting photos encapsulate the spirit of the Eid fade in motion, where Cairo’s youth gather to set their style and celebrate the holiday. Renowned for its clean cuts and cultural significance, KFM has become a favourite among the local community and some of Egypt’s emerging rappers.