If you’re one of the 1.4 million hair salon workers, then you probably know the various benefits and drawbacks of the career field. Hairdressers get to enjoy a flexible schedule and a career that lets them work with their hands and be creative. Sounds great, right? But a majority of the day is spent on your feet. Standing all day can cause foot pain and discomfort from your feet all the way up to your neck. It can also cause poor posture, joint damage, and varicose veins. While you may not be able to (or want to) switch your career path, there are some things you can do to lessen the pain and discomfort with these tips for hairdressers. Keeps reading to learn more.
Top Tips for Hairdressers:
Sit When You Can
This first one might seem obvious, but it’s important to reiterate. When working a job that requires standing all day, it’s important to take advantage of any opportunities to sit.
As a hairdresser, you might find small windows of time where you don’t have a client in your chair. Even if it’s only for 5 minutes, take the time to sit down and alleviate the pressure on your feet.
While this may not seem like a lot of time, imagine you get 5 opportunities to sit for 5 or 6 minutes – that already adds up to half an hour off of your feet. Every little bit counts to help lessen foot pain from standing.
Shift Your Weight and Walk Around
When you have a client in the chair, you can help lessen pain by shifting your weight. If you constantly stand in one position all day, you’ll notice you might have more foot pain in one or two areas.
Instead, try shifting positions to help evenly distribute your weight over both your feet.
Another way to help avoid aches is to walk around instead of standing still. This may be difficult when you have a client but use any excuse to walk. Instead of reaching over to grab something on the other side of the table, you could walk around the chair to grab it. Repeating this with every client will give you ample opportunities to walk (even if it is just a short distance).
Tips For Hairdressers: Find the Right Shoes
Finding the right shoes may be the most important part of alleviating foot pain after a long day. It might be tempting to wear cute shoes, but your feet will thank you if you opt for comfortable shoes instead.
In fact, there are many options that are both stylish and comfortable! Just take the time to find a good pair of shoes (or a few different pairs) to wear to work. You’ll notice an immediate difference in how your feet and shins feel after switching to a more supportive and comfortable shoe.
Add Insoles
To take this one step further, you could also invest in some good insoles.
Insoles are a great way to cushion your feet during a long day of standing and will relieve foot pain. They can also improve your posture and decrease inflammation. That’s why we suggest using these with your comfortable work shoes for additional support.
If you’ve been experiencing a lot of foot pain from standing, custom designed orthotic insoles are available. These are specially designed with your feet in mind so you can enjoy all the benefits possible.
Ask to Cover Hard Floors
Many hair salons opt for hardwood or tile floors. However, hard floors can cause a lot of extra wear and tear to feet because the lack of cushion puts a lot of pressure on your feet and legs.
To avoid this, ask your boss if you can place a small rug or rubber mat around your workstation. If allowed, this will provide an extra cushion so your feet and legs aren’t subjected to quite such a hard area all day.
Massage Your Feet
Another way to alleviate pain after work is by massaging your feet.
After standing on your feet all day, you might notice that some areas hold more tension than others. Take the time to work on any areas that feel especially tense. This will help relax your muscles (and yourself) after a long day.
Another good technique is to grab a tennis ball and roll your feet over it for a few minutes. This is a great way to stretch out all of your foot muscles at the same time, and it’s usually more comfortable than massaging your feet with your hands.
Ice Swollen Feet
So up until now, we’ve talked about tips for hairdressers to help prevent pain. However, it’s important to take care of your feet at home too.
If you notice your feet or legs have swelling or inflammation after a long day, try giving them an ice bath. Soaking your feet or legs in ice for 20 minutes after work can help reduce the swelling.
While this may not seem important, it can help a lot. Standing all day can cause micro-damage to your feet. By soaking your feet in ice water, you are helping your body heal itself so it can be reading for your next long shift of standing.
Do Yoga
We’ve mainly focused on ways to alleviate pain from your feet and legs. However, many people also experience neck and back pain from standing all day.
Yoga is a great way to stretch out all the tense muscles throughout the body. In addition to helping with the pain associated with standing all day, yoga can also help you improve your posture, boost your energy, lose weight, and improve your cardio health.
You can even do some light stretches while at work. Flexing your knee is a great way to prevent knee pain from standing, while hamstring stretches can help alleviate leg pain from standing.
Do you own a salon and notice your hairdressers aren’t feeling energized (especially in the winter)? Well there are many tips for hairdressers, simple things such as stretching can energize your employees and help boost their moods too!
Tips For Hairdressers To Alleviate Foot Pain from Standing All Day
Do you love your job as a hairdresser, but feel so worn out by the end of your shift?
Standing all day can cause aches throughout the body. It can be hard to focus on your client when you and your feet are feeling so sore.
However, there are some simple things that can help. Investing in insoles, wearing comfortable shoes, and giving your feet an ice bath after work are all ways you can alleviate body and foot pain from standing.
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