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My Salon de coiffure explained this in its article on musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) in hairdressing: musculoskeletal disorders pose a real risk to professionals like you. These potential health issues, linked to poor posture and/or the repetition of incorrect movements at work, affect both employees and their employers. It is important to protect yourselves against them. There are several ways to do this. My Salon de Coiffure goes through the solutions with you.
Protecting yourself from MSDs in hairdressing: invest in quality equipment!
We cannot stress this enough: high-quality equipment helps prevent a large proportion of the problems that might otherwise arise. All too often, we still see hairdressers opting for cheap versions of certain pieces of furniture that are essential to their work. Be aware: these savings come at the expense of your health and that of your staff.
The example of hairdressing chairs
Take hairdressing chairs, for example. With My Salon, these are specifically designed to enable you to do your job in the best possible conditions. All our models are manufactured by European manufacturers and come with a three-year guarantee. We insist on this level of quality because we know that these chairs mean you don’t have to bend down.
The hydraulic pump fitted to all of them allows you to adjust their height so that you do not have to bend your body or arms. This way, you can carry out your haircuts with ease. Of course, it is possible to buy low-quality chairs at very low cost, or ones not specifically designed for hairdressing. But this carries the risk of adopting poor posture and, in the long term, developing serious health problems after a few months or years.
Organising your salon
Another example: the layout of your hairdressing salon is crucial for reducing the risk of musculoskeletal disorders. If your staff do not have to bend down repeatedly to fetch the equipment they need… If they don’t have to carry heavy loads at arm’s length… If their daily movements don’t require considerable effort… Then their exposure to MSDs is minimal.
My Salon de Coiffure counts among its founders not only a professional hairdresser but also a furniture specialist: why not take the opportunity to ask us for advice! Whilst optimising your salon’s performance and providing additional spaces to support your business (such as a retail area), we can suggest the best layout to ensure that nobody’s health is put at risk.
Best practices for preventing MSDs in hairdressing
Protecting yourself against musculoskeletal disorders also depends… on you, and on the best practices you instil in your staff. In this regard, you can, in particular:
- Avoid repetitive movements. Admittedly, in the hairdressing industry, the same muscles are constantly being used. Unsurprisingly, these are the muscles in the back, hands and arms. However, it is possible to organise a rota amongst staff to avoid constant repetition. For example, regularly taking turns at reception or the till can make a big difference.
- Back, neck, knees… Maintain good posture. It’s tempting, of course, to take the quickest route sometimes. You lean forward rather than adjusting the height of your chair whilst cutting… Stop! Take the few seconds needed to keep your back straight and avoid putting excessive strain on your arms and shoulders. They are your primary tools, even before the scissors and hairdryer: look after them as much as possible.
- Use suitable equipment. Quality shouldn’t just be about the furniture, but also about your pair of scissors that protect your joints, your hairdryer that doesn’t burn your hair, and so on… It may seem trivial, but in the long run, poor-quality equipment can also cause damage.
Also, bear in mind that there are modern solutions to prevent musculoskeletal disorders! For example, L’Oréal has launched the ‘15 Minutes Coach’ app. This enables professionals to do a few warm-up exercises and tailored workouts that help prevent such disorders from developing. Be careful, though: this is obviously no substitute for all the advice given above.