As a hairdresser, being on your feet all day is just part of the job. Unfortunately, if you work full time, it can be hard to take a moment to sit back, relax and take care of your feet. However, your feet are a very important part of your body, and if you don’t take care of them properly, they won’t hesitate to let you know all about it! Looking after your feet will allow you to enjoy all the other parts of your life, like running around with the kids, shopping, and long walks on the beach. Below are just a few tips on how to best take care of your feet after a long day of work.
Check Your Shoes and Socks
One of the most important parts of taking care of your feet is ensuring you are wearing the best shoes. When shopping for shoes, ensure you buy comfortable and well supported shoes. Avoid wearing high heels as this can put terrible stress on your feet and ankles. While you may worry about spending a large amount of money on a good pair of shoes, investing in good quality shoes that’ll you’ll wear every day is a good choice. If it means you’ll get less pain in your legs and feet, it’s well worth in the investment.
Sandals are also not the best choice in footwear as hair clippings can fall on your feet, and even around your toes. It can be itchy and annoying at best, and painful at worst. Ever heard of hair splinters? Those annoying hairs penetrate the skin and stay there until they are removed and removing a hair splinter can be tricky, since hair is so thin.
Most hairdressers decide to go for comfort, even if that means large rubber soles. Some hairdressers like to dress stylishly, and will mix up a pair of low heels or flats with their comfortable shoes. Some even say that they’ll change their shoes several times a day! This could be at option – allowing you to relieve the pressure of painful feet during the day.
Socks are also an important part of wearing shoes. Some experts suggest wearing compression socks as this allows for blood flow to be restored while constantly standing up without much of a break. If you don’t want to wear compression socks, find a pair that will not give you blisters and provide ultimate comfort.
Check Your Station Area
Keeping your station area clean and functional will also help your feet. Constantly sweeping your area clean of hair will allow for a reduction in the risk of hair splinters and will provide a smooth texture to walk on that isn’t slippery. Floor mats are also ideal in your station area and shampoo area as they allow support for your feet and reduce the amount of weight you are applying to your back and knees.
Take a Break
Break? What’s a break? We know it’s hard to have a break, but if you can, your feet will thank you for it. It is always important to have a quick rest every couple of hours for your feet to have a break. It’s also a good idea to go for a short and slow-paced walk, as this helps relax the muscles in your feet and legs. Stretching your feet and legs is also a good idea for when you are on your break.
You can do calf raises, in which you stand on your tip-toes, and slowly lower your heel to the ground of the fall. Ensure you are holding on to something in order for you to keep your balance.
During your break, you can also just hold an ice pack to the bottom of your feet if they’re particularly sore.
Check Your Posture
Keeping good posture throughout the day will actually improve the level of pain you feel in your feet and legs at the end of the day. Tuck in your butt and straighten your shoulders to achieve the correct posture. It may take practice to achieve this before it becomes a habit, and hopefully you’ll notice a reduction in lower back, leg and foot pain.
What to Do At Home
After a long day of work, there are some things you can do to help relieve pressure and pain. Icing your feet is a good idea, but this can be uncomfortable, especially during the winter months. You may prefer to ice your feet in a cold bucket of water to reduce swelling, or you might prefer to roll an ice pack on the bottom of your feet with pressure for 20 minutes. Massaging and elevating your feet is also very important, and you can use a tennis ball and roll that on the heel of your foot for a period. Elevating your feet includes placing your feet on pillows to allow for the swelling to reduce.
However, if you are still experiencing pain after ensuring you are taking the best care of your feet, contact a podiatrist. They will ensure nothing is wrong and will be able to best recommend steps to take. There’s nothing worse than being in pain all day while you try to work.
If your feet are fine and you just need a great pair of hairdressing scissors, you’ve come to the right place. We stock only the best quality at amazing prices – check out our current specials!