May is Mental Health Awareness Month! A time to raise awareness of trauma and the impact it can have on one's physical, emotional, and mental well-being. Today, we celebrate National Hairstylist Mental Awareness Day.

Professional hairstylists give so much physically and mentally. Not only do you stand on your feet for 8 hours a day in the salon, but you're also expected to slay hair, schedule appointments, have a social media presence, respond to client concerns in a timely manner, maintain your personal life; all while staying sane. Such unrealistic expectations can really take a toll on your mental health.

Which is why Booksy declares today, May 27th, National Hairstylist Mental Health Awareness Day. Today ensures that hairstylists are being heard. A day that gives you a safe space to talk about your problems and encourages hairstylists to make time for their mental wellness.

In short, it's a day for DE Pros to reset and refuel mentally! Here's a few ways to prioritize your mental health in honor of National Hairstylist Mental Health Awareness Day:

It's critical to set boundaries with your clients to protect your mental peace. Especially when you are more accessible than ever to them via text, email, social media, and booking apps.

How many times has a potential client slid into your personal DM's asking if you do a particular hairstyle? Or had an existing client text you outside of working hours with a "quick" question about their strands? It happens more than stylists like to admit, causing anxiety and frustration because boundaries aren't clear. Clients should always know the following:

1. Your exact working hours.
2. The best way to contact you regarding appointments, hair concerns, and general questions.
3. Response time.

Here's an example response message with clear expectations for your clients and yourself:

" Hi, thanks for contacting [business name].

For inquires, scheduling questions, and bookings please visit [website]. Or text [business number].

All inquiries will receive a response within 24-48 hours. Wednesday - Friday only.

Thanks in advance for your understanding and cooperation."

As we just mentioned, besides styling behind the chair, nowadays hairstylists are required to wear multiple hats to run a successful hair salon. The perfect breeding ground for anxiety if you are not blocking out time to focus solely on your salon operations.

We highly recommend scheduling at least 5 hours (or more) a week to tackle salon operations.   This may include responding to messages, correcting scheduling issues, processing payroll, and inventory to name a few things. DE Pro Tip: schedule this time at the beginning of the week when the salon is less busy. 

Break the habit of trying to manage salon operations when clients are steaming, when color is processing, or during lunch breaks. Research proves that constant multitasking isn’t good for your mental well-being. According to Forbes, multitasking reduces your efficiency and performance because your brain can only focus on one thing at a time. When you try to do two things at once, your brain lacks the capacity to perform both tasks. Which isn't good for your mental well-being or the well-being of your salon.

Let's normalize taking mental health days! It's recommended to take 1-2 mental health days per quarter to avoid burnout, depression, and anxiety.

According to Booksy, 1 in 5 hairstylists are likely to experience an anxiety disorder. The popular booking app did a recent survey asking clients how they felt about their hairstylists. Here’s the stats:

• 20 percent of clients noticed their stylist seemed anxious
• 16 percent of clients thought their stylist seemed depressed
• 27 percent of clients felt their stylist seemed stressed

Numbers don't lie. Take the self-care break you need to put yourself first. Mediate, book a spa day, unplug the electronics, chill in bed with your favorite music playlist. Do whatever it takes to replenish your mental, emotional, and physical well-being.

Aerobic exercise works wonders for your physical health! But did you know exercise also improves mental health by reducing anxiety, depression, and negative moods? That's right, getting your body moving and heart rate up at least 150 minutes each week (30 minutes a day, 5 days a week) even improves cogitative function and alleviates symptoms such as low self-esteem and social withdraw.

So, step away from the salon at least 30 minutes a day to jump rope, swim, walk, run, dance, etc. Incorporating a regular exercise routine creates a positive impact on your physical and mental well-being.

Remember, today belongs to you! Find a safe space and do whatever it takes to prioritize your mental health in honor of National Hairstylist Mental Health Awareness Day.