fullmetalhackit
New Member
Hi there.
I'm a trainee hairdresser with a health condition affecting my ability to stand for long periods of time, especially during flares. At these times, standing to work on hair means I suffer more joint pain, muscle pain/spasm, fatigue, loss of balance, etc. It has a cumulative effect, so I need to reduce the stress on my body as much as possible by pacing myself and conserving energy.
I have found that using a cutting stool makes a significant difference to my comfort and ability to do the job
However I have been told that I need to try to stand, to get the angles right.
This advice seems a bit odd, as I have seen so many of my own hairdressers, and their colleagues, cutting away on stools. I have surveyed several hairdresser friends, who all use stools from time to time - particularly during and after pregnancy.
However I am open to the possibilities that a) a hairdresser may need to adapt his or her techniques in some way to be mindful of posture, angles etc while cutting from a chair and b) some cuts may indeed be difficult to achieve while sitting without an additional adjustment, for example a platform to raise the height of the stylist even further., or a step-down area for the client chair.
I guess my question is this: can I be a competent hairdresser if I need to use a cutting stool most of the time?
I strongly suspect I can
But would be grateful for any feedback with regard to your experiences, or any hints and tips for adapting my technique accordingly.
I'm a trainee hairdresser with a health condition affecting my ability to stand for long periods of time, especially during flares. At these times, standing to work on hair means I suffer more joint pain, muscle pain/spasm, fatigue, loss of balance, etc. It has a cumulative effect, so I need to reduce the stress on my body as much as possible by pacing myself and conserving energy.
I have found that using a cutting stool makes a significant difference to my comfort and ability to do the job
However I have been told that I need to try to stand, to get the angles right.
This advice seems a bit odd, as I have seen so many of my own hairdressers, and their colleagues, cutting away on stools. I have surveyed several hairdresser friends, who all use stools from time to time - particularly during and after pregnancy.
However I am open to the possibilities that a) a hairdresser may need to adapt his or her techniques in some way to be mindful of posture, angles etc while cutting from a chair and b) some cuts may indeed be difficult to achieve while sitting without an additional adjustment, for example a platform to raise the height of the stylist even further., or a step-down area for the client chair.
I guess my question is this: can I be a competent hairdresser if I need to use a cutting stool most of the time?
I strongly suspect I can
But would be grateful for any feedback with regard to your experiences, or any hints and tips for adapting my technique accordingly.