Mental Health Awareness Month: A Guide For Salon Owners
Published date 30 May 2024
Within the hair and beauty industry, we understand that running a salon comes with its challenges. From managing staff and maintaining a clientele, to keeping up with industry changes to ensure your clients remain satisfied with your service, the demands on salon owners are extremely high. Along with the hustle and bustle, it’s easy to overlook one crucial aspect: your own mental health. We’ll explore why mental health awareness is essential within the industry, and provide you with coping mechanisms to help take care of your mental well-being.
The Importance of Mental Health in the Hair & Beauty Industry
In a fast-paced and high-pressure environment, salon owners often juggle many roles that include business management, creative direction as well as client relations. Over time this can lead to stress, burnout and anxiety if not addressed properly. Therefore, taking proactive steps to manage the mental health of salon owners is essential, so let’s explore some strategies to help maintain a work-life balance to improve mental health.
Create boundaries
A salon owner needs to set clear boundaries between work and personal life. Ensure you have designated hours when you are not available for work-related calls or emails to allow yourself to switch off from salon work.
Team support
As a salon owner, you also have your team to support you too! Delegate tasks to trusted staff members to reduce workload, including admin, inventory management and social media. It is important to ensure that your team members are also able to cope with the demands of the job and that they are matched to their abilities and skills which are achievable within the hours they work.
Practice self-care
Making self-care a priority is super important. Whether it’s taking time for a hobby, exercising, or simply relaxing, find activities that will help you unwind and recharge.
Create a positive work environment
Establishing a supportive and positive work environment can significantly impact your mental health and that of your team members. Encourage open communication and provide regular check-ins, while recognising the hard work of your team. This is important when increasing the motivation and work ethic.
Network with fellow salon owners
Having a support network is crucial for mental well-being. Take the time to join local or online groups of salon owners to share experiences, challenges and advice. The sense of community can be comforting when knowing other salon owners may face similar issues.
Engage with professional organisations
Many professional hair & beauty organisations offer resources, training, and support networks for salon owners. Engaging with these organisations can provide valuable insights that you can implement within your salon.
Mental health awareness is crucial, especially for salon owners who take on multiple responsibilities and have high expectations. Establishing boundaries, practising self-care, seeking professional support, and building a robust support network, can help manage stress and maintain a healthy mindset.
National organisations and resources that specialise in providing mental health support services include:
- Samaritans offer emotional support 24 hours a day, in full confidence. Call 116 123
- Mind provides information on a range of mental health topics to support people in their area [9.00 am to 6.00 pm, Monday to Friday]. Call 0300 123 3393 or email info@mind.org.uk
- Anxiety UK runs a helpline staffed by volunteers with personal experience of anxiety [9:30am to 5:30 pm, Monday to Friday]. Call 08444 775 774.
- Citizens Advice provides free, independent, confidential advice for various problems and information on your rights and responsibilities.
- Step Change provides help and information for people dealing with various debt problems. Freephone (including from mobiles) 0800 138 1111 or visit the website on www.stepchange.org.
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