Are you feeling stressed in the salon? Avoid burnout by setting boundaries.

Being a hairdresser comes with a great deal of pressure. You’re not just cutting and colouring people’s hair every four to twelve weeks, but being a therapist, barista, life coach, gossip columnist and countless other occupations that didn’t appear on the job description when you applied.

As professional people pleasers, we’re happy to do it – it’s all part of the service. But what happens when we need to have a bad day? Sorry, no can do. Nobody likes a miserable stylist! We’re used to putting on a brave face and a positive personality to make everyone else feel better, whether we want to or not.

Anyone working in the beauty industry will tell you that clients often come to their appointments and offload– everything from work stress to marriage problems get discussed in a forty-five-minute appointment. Not only is hairdressing a physically taxing job but absorbing everybody else’s problems can often come at the expense of our own well-being and can lead to emotional exhaustion.

Fylde Coast Women’s Aid charity has been visiting salons across Lancashire providing information on how to identify signs of domestic abuse during a client’s appointment. An abusive partner is less inclined to accompany someone on their beauty appointment as opposed to the doctors, making it a lot easier to come forward if prompted by their hairdresser or nail technician. Employees are trained to notice signs such as bruising on arms and wrists as well as bits of missing hair which could be warning signs of abuse.

Our client’s well-being is a stylist’s highest priority, so if we can help in any way then of course we will. However, this exists as a stark example of how a lot can be expected from people in the industry, which is why it’s important to make sure that you take your own mental welfare into consideration.

This doesn’t mean that we have to be emotionally avoidant with clients, but that we should take a little time for ourselves when we can. Being in a better head space will, in turn, help us provide a better service to our customers.

Set boundaries

Not wanting to say no is a hairdresser’s greatest flaw. A lot of stylists and nail techs will work through their breaks to squeeze a client in and work extra hours to avoid client disappointment. However, it’s important to set boundaries for yourself so that you don’t burn out. Regularly surpassing your working hours will set an expectation for clients that you will work late if they ask nicely enough. Be strict with yourself and stick to your hours. Your clients should respect your choice.

Eat!

A lot of people in the industry tend to skip their lunchbreaks to fit extra clients in and instead fuel themselves with coffee and biscuits. Not eating properly leads to fatigue and caffeine crashes which can be dangerous if you’re on your feet all day. Even if you don’t eat a full meal, regular balanced snacks throughout the day will help you perform and feel better.

Fresh air

Even though there may be no time for it during your working day, getting out in the fresh air can do wonders for your mental health and give you a good dose of vitamin D – especially in the summer months. Working in a salon all day and then going home for the rest of the evening means you don’t see much daylight, so even a thirty-minute walk in the outdoors is enough to keep your good endorphins ticking over nicely and will help you sleep better.

Social media

Something else to add to your job description is ‘social media and marketing executive.’ Keeping your social pages up to date is almost as important as the job itself! This, of course, means that you’re editing and uploading in your spare time (which is already in short supply.) Perhaps think about setting screen time boundaries too and allocate your evenings to winding down instead of getting worked up about carousels and trending reels. Your head is more important than hashtags.

Life as a hairdresser is all about balance. Know your limits and listen to your body – you’ll thank yourself in the long run.