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Stylists make their careers out of caring for other people, and hair is only part of it.
Porechenskaya/Adobe Stock
But a lot of the time, no one is checking in to make suretheyrefeeling good.
All the while, they may also be helping their regulars talk through their personal issues.
Consistently stretch your back and legs.
Give extra TLC to your hands and wrists.
Cutting and styling hair for a living requires constantly working your hands, fingers, and wrists.
In fact, 2019researchshows that hairdressers are more likely to report musculoskeletal disorders compared to other professionals.
Heat increases blood flow, promoting healing and muscle relaxation.
Hold this for 30 seconds and repeat four times on each hand.
Take active breaks throughout the day.
Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize.
As this happens, the skin dries, leaving theskin barriervulnerable.
Thats why you should keep a moisturizer handy and regularly apply it throughout the workday.
(Here are some more ultrahydrating, derm-approvedhand moisturizers.)
Set boundaries with clients when you’re gonna wanna.
In addition to the physical toll, caring for customers all day can also be emotionally exhausting.
Be mindful of how sneaky unpaid emotional labor is in the service industry.
To preserve your mental health, set verbal boundaries with clients when you oughta, Avellino says.
If a client is depleting your energy, you might take a page from Hazans book.
When she feels overextended by a clients oversharing, she shifts the conversation back to the task at hand.
I say something along the lines of, Sorry, I just have to focus on your color.
I want to make it perfect for you, she says.
Preserve your energy by simply being a sounding board, rather than inserting yourself, which can drain you.
Use grounding techniques to minimize stress and anxiety.
This can create a sense of distance from whatever is stressing you out, Avellino says.
Perhaps the most important thing to remember when it comes to stylist self-care: Youre worth the effort.
