Why Inner Wellness is the Foundation of Hairdressing Excellence | 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 hairdressers need a daily reset routine just as much as clients…

As hairdressers, we show up for people – day in, day out. We make them feel beautiful, lighter, brighter and better. We hold space. We listen. We lift. We give our energy, our care, our creativity, and we love it. For most of us, hairdressing isn’t just a job; it’s who we are.

However, here’s the thing nobody really teaches us at college or on the salon floor: if you’re always pouring out, at some point, you will run dry… “You can’t pour from an empty bowl.” It’s a saying we’ve all heard, but in our industry, it hits different. This is a job where the energy exchange is constant. Where you can be carrying your own stresses – bills, health, relationships, family stuff – and still be expected to show up with a smile and a full cup for everyone else. It’s no wonder burnout is one of the biggest unspoken issues in our trade.

The high-energy, high-output nature of hairdressing is what makes it such a beautiful, powerful craft, but it’s also why so many of us hit a wall after years of not checking in with ourselves properly. We tell our clients to take time for themselves, but how often do we actually do it? In a world where the pace is always ‘go, go, go!’, taking a minute to check in with your own head and heart can feel like a luxury. However, we need to remind ourselves this is not a luxury; it’s essential.

How to spot when you’re running on empty: Signs it’s time to pause, check in and recharge.

• Snapping at people for no reason – little things wind you up way more than they should.
• Feeling knackered, even after a good sleep – like you’re dragging yourself through the day.
• Struggling to concentrate – feeling foggy, forgetful and zoning out mid-conversation.
• That heavy feeling in your chest – a tight knot of stress you can’t shake off.
• Dreading going into work – even though you love what you do, it starts feeling like a mountain to climb.
• No time or energy for the things you normally enjoy – everything feels like hard work, even outside the salon.
• Headaches, tight shoulders, aches and pains – your body carrying the tension for you.
• Feeling tearful or emotional out of nowhere – or, on the flip side, feeling numb, like you don’t care either way.
• Running on caffeine, sugar and fumes just to keep going.
• The voice in your head getting nasty – telling you you’re not good enough, not doing enough or not coping.

Burnout is your body and your brain waving a red flag. It’s not weakness; it’s wisdom. It’s your cue to pause, reset and refill your bowl before you burn out.

When we check in with ourselves regularly – even just for five minutes – we’re not just protecting our mental health, but we’re improving the way we show up for our clients, our colleagues and our craft. We’re building resilience, not just pushing through until we break.

Remember these three things:

1. You deserve the same care you give so freely to others.
2. Your wellbeing is just as important as your work.
3. You can’t pour from an empty bowl, but you can refill it.

It’s time to take control for yourself – not just for your clients, not just for the business, but for you. You’re worth that.