Make sure you set some time in between clients to give you the opportunity to get in a mini-workout routine.
When you become a professional artist in the beauty industry, you think of the glitz and glamor of it all; working on music sets, photoshoots, and award shows.
What you don’t see are the moments of back pain, stiff wrists, and pain shooting down your legs. These are the ailments that artists rarely talk about because, well, they’re not glamorous, nor do artists want to complain about the downsides of doing the craft they love so much.
A few things you can do to lessen the discomfort is to have the right director's chair for your client - so you’re not bending down too much when doing their makeup or hair. Having the right chair will help, but also doing some mini-workouts between appointments help stretch out the muscles, which prevents them from stiffening up.
This is by far one of my favorite exercises to do — I usually use sliders with this, but you can do them without the additional accessory. Start by positioning your left leg behind your right leg until it’s two inches off the floor. Hold the position for 15 seconds and then switch sides.
Your back is what will feel the brunt of the pain at the end of the day - so make sure you do several forward bends. Not only will it help your lower back, but it will stretch out your hamstrings as well. This simple mini-workout feels so good. Stay in the position for 30 seconds to a minute. If you can’t hug the back of your knees, then try and touch your toes.
The more you practice this pose, the more flexible you’ll become, and soon you’ll be able to hug the back of your knees.
Nine times out of 10, you’ll be near a wall. Stand against the wall and slide down as if you’re sitting in an invisible chair. Hold the position for 45 seconds to a minute. Soon you’ll feel your quads warm-up and then burn. Try doing two to three sets to get the blood circulating and pumping to your legs.
Wrist exercises don’t get that much love and they should — especially if you work with your hands. Even if you’re on the computer, you can get some serious wrist issues, like carpal tunnel or tendonitis. They’re equally not fun, so make sure you give some needed attention to your wrists during your mini-workout.
Extend your arms in front of you with the palms facing up. Use your other hand to push the fingers toward the floor to give your wrist a good stretch. Hold the position for 10 to 15 seconds, and then stretch in the opposite direction. Do this two or three times or combine it with your wall sit — so you can do multiple exercises at once.
Practice this mini-workout routine between appointments to help reduce the aches and pains you feel in your joints.
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