5 Minutes to Mental Fitness | Louis Byrne

Louis Byrne is an international hairdresser, session artist and mindful coach. His reset and wellbeing plan, ‘I can, I am and I will,’ encourages people towards growth, positivity and mindful living. Throughout this series, Louis explores why inner wellness is the inner foundation of hairdressing excellence. This month, he explains why even stylists need a reset…

Hairdressing isn’t just about blow-dries and balayage; it’s about people, energy and emotions. You’re not just transforming looks; you’re holding lives, stories, pain, joy and grief… and you’re still expected to stay on time and smash out 10 clients a day! We give so much, but how often do we give back to ourselves?

According to the Mental Health Foundation, 1 in 6 people in the UK experience a common mental health problem (like anxiety or depression) every week. For frontline, client-facing workers like us? That number is even higher.

The British Beauty Council found that 63% of beauty and hair professionals report struggling with mental health, with over 80% saying they don’t feel equipped to manage the emotional side of the job.

This is exactly the reason why I created ‘I Can, I Am and I Will’ and the ‘RESET Method’ – a quick daily tool for mental fitness that fits right into your salon life. It’s not therapy and it’s not fluff; it’s real self-care for the working creative.

Try This: The RESET Method
Keep it simple. Keep it honest. Stick it on your locker.

• R – Reflect: What’s coming up for you right now? Be real with yourself.
• E – Express: Write it down. Say it out loud. Move it out of your system.
• S – Shift: Get up. Stretch. Walk around the block. Change your energy.
• E – Empower: Hit a mantra: I Can. I Am. I Will. Every time you say it, you take your power back.
• T – Take Action: Choose one small thing you’ll do today. Text a mate. Ask for help. Drink water. Breathe before your next foil.

A 5-Minute Ritual That Grounds You
You don’t need an hour. Just a moment. Here’s mine from yesterday:

• I Can hold space without taking it all on.
• I Am present and powerful.
• I Will move my body at lunch and reset.

… that’s it. No BS. Just truth, connection and accountability.

The Power of Community

Here’s the thing: we’re not meant to do this alone. Hairdressing is a tribe. A culture. When one of us struggles, we all feel it. So, share this method with your team. Start the day with it. Try it in your next training session. Say it to a client in your chair. “Wanna try this thing with me real quick? I Can, I Am, I Will.”

It opens doors. It builds trust. It’s the spark that starts the shift – in you and in them. Because when we reset together, we rise together.

Transformation Starts on the Inside

We know what a new haircut can do. Someone walks in heavy and walks out lighter… we do that. That’s our magic. But, if we’re not checking in with ourselves, it’s easy to burn out.

So, let’s make 5 Minutes to Mental Fitness non-negotiable. Like heat protectant before a tong or patch tests before bleach.

I can. I am. I will. RESET. Do it for you. Do it with your team. Watch what happens…