For the hair and beauty industry, a busy period means that salon owners, booth renters and mobile specialists give it their all to make up for those slow seasons throughout the year, often resorting to the classic venti latte diet and tiring long shifts. Although working nonstop is great for your wallet, it's important not to get carried away. Taking a break every once in a while and maintaining a healthy diet are essential for staying focused, happy and healthy. However, by working unceasingly, there are various issues that may arise, ranging from health problems to erratic decision-making and unpredictable mood swings, which can affect your relations with clients and your team.
For most hair and beauty professionals, backaches, muscle cramps and even breathing problems are common, but overworking yourself can significantly worsen these conditions. If you have been experiencing any of these, it's best that you consult with a medical specialist. Ignoring certain symptoms can cause long-term if not permanent damage. For example, hand pain or numbness from non-stop haircutting can cause carpal tunnel syndrome and arthritis, while standing hunched over clients all day is the cause of joint pain. Finally, excessive inhalation of hairspray and other toxic products may lead to breathing difficulties, and, in consequence - lung disease.
To avoid these conditions in the first place, taking a break in between bookings is a must. Avoid overusing your hands and apply cold packs to your wrists if you experience minor pain in that area. You should also consider investing in orthopaedic footwear to reduce leg and foot pain during work. As for avoiding lung problems, make sure your work area has good ventilation and look into purchasing non-toxic products.
Overworking yourself also means not finding the time to relax and enjoy a balanced meal. It's a known fact that the hair and beauty industry runs on vast quantities of caffeine, which does help specialists get on their feet and stay focused for hours on end. However, without adequate lunch breaks and a healthy diet consisting of proteins, carbs and essential vitamins, you can expect a loss of energy, thinning hair, brittle nails and many other ailments. During a busy day, it's recommended that you find at least 25 minutes for a lunch break in between bookings.
Do you have days when even the slightest inconvenience infuriates you, or you’re guilty of making rash business decisions that you immediately regret? These are signs that you should take heed of. Overworking yourself not only wears you out physically, but mentally as well. If you’re easily irritated every time someone drops their shears, a client is late for their appointment by a minute or two or the stylist next to you isn’t cutting a customer’s hair the way you like it, then you may be overworked. Even if you don’t confront your team and clients over these things, they know that something’s bugging you. Your team members may begin to feel uneasy around you and customers might choose to go elsewhere for their treatments, thus worsening your reputation.
Prevention is better than cure, so make sure you take at least 5 minutes to clear your head if you have time in between bookings. Step outside for a breath of fresh air and snack on foods such as nuts, oats and dark chocolate in order to improve concentration and increase levels of serotonin - the feel-good chemical. Also, consider purchasing green and herbal teas to help you relax during a busy day.
You know it’s time for a break when you begin to make rash decisions that have serious repercussions. Anything from unintentionally making double bookings and choosing not to store client colour formulas, to creating offers on products you haven’t stocked up on and promoting free slots for days that you’re closed. In the eyes of your customers, you may come off as unprofessional, but in reality, you’re just tired and require a much-needed break from work. After or even during a tiring busy period, find time to relax, especially if you’re feeling agitated - even if it means taking a few days off. Additionally, if you have a team of specialists who can run your business when you’re away, consider looking into a salon software system to keep an eye on everything. With Booksy, you can follow staff schedules, income and bookings - even while away from work. Wait no longer - start your free trial today!
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