I think we can all agree that the job of being a hairstylist looks rather glamorous from the outside perspective. Who wouldn’t want to get pretty every morning, and go spend their day hanging out with other beautiful women, making their clients feel great about themselves? This is indeed teue, being a hairstylist is an absolutely amazing career, but it can take a physical tole on your body if you aren’t careful. The rigor of standing for long hours, using your hands, arms and upper body all day long, and often not getting a chance to take a break can eventually make you feel much older than you really are. So what are some things that we can do to help ourselves not only feel better physically, but also mentally and emotionally so that we can be 100 percent focused when we are behind our chair? Let’s find out!
Stretch, yes stretch. Get up an extra 15 minutes early in the morning and take the time to really stretch your back, legs, arms, wrists and hands. This will help release any toxins built up in your muscles, and prepare your body for a busy day behind your chair.
Hydrate! While water is most definitely not the most exciting beverage, it is essential to our well being. Start your morning with a large glass of water before you hit the coffee pot. Your body is dehydrated from sleeping all night, and this will help get your system re hydrated and ready for your day. Try to keep a water bottle at your station so that you have it handy throughout the day, as you work. This will not only keep you hydrated all day long, but it will also help improve your complexion and digestion.
Take your vitamins! We all remember our mothers telling us this as young children, but the fact is it’s more important in our adult lives than ever. Because we are the always able to sit down and eat throughout our day, taking vitamins and even herbs will help our bodies continue to get the nutrients they need to keep us going, and help boost our immune systems so that we get sick less often. I suggest a super Bowl complex for mental clarity and energy, and vitamin Dewey in the winter months to replace our lack of sunlight and keep us ferlings upbeat. You can also ask your doctor for suggestions on which vitamins and herbs to take that will help keep you feeling good.
Eat! Even if it’s just a quick snack, having a little something to eat helps give you energy and keeps you from getting “hangry”. Try to eat things that are good for you like fresh fruit, yogurt, veggies, Hummus, peanut butter, cheese and nuts. These are all light foods that are high in protein, so they will keep you feeling full longer and give you energy instead of making you feel tired after you eat them.
Dress for comfort and style. As hairstylists, it is a huge part of our job requirements to look well put together from our hair and makeup, to our clothes and shoes. However, because we are up and moving all day it is also necessary to be functional in our attire. Wear clothing that fits you well and that you can mice easily in. Invest in GOOD, SUPPORTIVE, shoes. They may not be the cutest things in you cliset, but your feet, legs and back will thank you at the end of the day.
Enjoy the silence. As hairstylists we do a lot of listening, and talking throughout our day. Our minds are constantly multitasking as we do our job and thing about the next ten things we have to do in our day. When you have a moment to sit down or take a quick break, give your brain a rest. It will help you to re group your thoughts and stay focused throughout your day. Try reading something educational, or writing about something related to our field, or even step outside and get some fresh air. These things use a different part of our brain and allow us a bit of healthy distraction.
Never forget to smile! We live in a very busy society, and face many challenges from day to day, sometimes just giving a client a sunny smile and a cheerful hello is all it takes to turn their day around completely. This will also start your visit off on a lighthearted note, hopefully getting both of you to focus on positive conversation as you spend a few hours together.
There are certainly many other things that we can do to help keep ourselves looking and feeling well as we move forward in our careers and continue to grow and learn. These are just a few things that I have done that have helped me exponentially, and I hope they do the same for you! Have a happy hair day!