Let’s Talk Hairdressing Burnout by Stephen Boyle

I don’t think it’s a new phenomenon but I do think it’s more prevalent at the moment due to Covid and various lockdowns. I have seen lots of hair friends change careers and many more go freelance. But why is this???

I think many hairdressers are physically and mentally exhausted. With the lockdowns, all the stopping and starting has put a lot of stress on everyone from assistants, stylists, colourists and salon owners. 

As hairdressers we strive for perfection, well most of us!! Lol! We put a lot of pressure on ourselves. We want to be the best we can be, and in order to do this we are constantly up-skilling & learning the latest techniques. Online and Instagram classes have replaced in person classes for the last few months.

I personally am constantly “working”. I’m not talking about physically doing hair. Whether it’s the new necessary part of our job: which is Instagram. This can be updating our pages, watching and learning from other hairdressers or clients contacting us via “the gram”.  

I think it’s important to have boundaries in this area. In the day and age of where we are constantly contactable I think it’s important to have off days/hours. Whatever works for you. I know if you are freelance this will be less, as you have to book clients in etc yourself. But even if you have set admin days/hours. Switch your phone or Instagram off for a few hours daily. Easier said than done I know!!!

These boundaries can apply to work colleagues even your salon manager if you are employed. 

I feel coming back after lockdowns is so stressful. Personally I found the preparation part the worst, ordering stock, trying to arrange a million appointments, organise new skin tests etc. 

But then when we go or went back, it’s the colour corrections, extra long roots or home haircuts. Clients want their hair the way it always was but don’t realise things (mainly colour) might take 2 appointments, corrections more. 

Also trying to fit into our clients schedule, even if it means working extra days or hours can be exhausting. While I understand the desire to fit as many people in as soon as possible, especially after lockdowns, or even before or after holidays, it’s not always worth it. Working 50+ hours a week is not healthy or attainable long term. You will suffer and so will your clients.

Managing clients expectations is a huge challenge. I think this is due to Instagram and Pinterest. 

Sure don’t we all want the most stunning pics on our insta feeds, so it’s only natural that clients want hair like this too. 

But it’s when your client with fine shoulder length hair wants Jennifer Lopez’s mane. We know she has been coiffed to an inch of her life. She has a lions mane worth of extensions. But the majority of clients don’t.  We don’t want to disappoint them, we are perfectionists.

This can be stressful too. 

A really amazing hair colorist I know left the industry recently due to the pressure and she was sick of clients  and their unattainable Instagram pics. When she said this it kind of hit home. I feel the same somedays. 

And If we don’t get it right, (let’s be honest we all fuck up sometimes) it’s the worst feeling ever.  I’ve often thought about quitting hair because of this. 

I do this job because I love doing hair. So do most people. I love making people happy. But if we can’t perform at our best what’s the point. It is like a vicious circle. We won’t please clients which again will result in anxiety and self doubt.

So the moral here is to try prevent the burnout before it happens. Set boundaries, and stick to them and don’t be afraid to say no! 

Written by Stephen Boyle

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@stephenboylehair on Instagram