Deborah Rodriguez went to Afghanistan with nothing but a desire to help and a degree in cosmetology. There she joined the Kabul Beauty School, which welcomed its first class in 2003. Well meaning but sometimes brazen, Rodriguez, one of the school's first teachers and its eventual director, stumbled through language barriers and overstepped cultural customs as she learned how to empower her students to become their families' breadwinners, teaching them the fundamentals of coloring techniques, haircutting, and makeup.
Yet within the small haven of the beauty school, the line between teacher and student blurred. As the students share their stories, Rodriguez found the strength to leave her unhealthy marriage and allow herself to love again, Afghan style. With warmth and humor, Rodriguez reveals the magnificence of the burqa--and presents the remarkable tale of an extraordinary community of women who come together and learn the arts of perms, friendship and freedom.

This book was left in the Little Free Library. It was released for the D for December release challenge.