Last Updated on March 4, 2024 by David Thomas
After completing beauty school in 2010, I decided to pursue my dream of becoming a successful barber stylist. I moved to Hollywood, hoping to make it big in the industry. Along the way, I had the opportunity to work with some of the best barbers in the world, which helped me improve my skills. Although there were many good moments, I faced many challenges that forced me to reevaluate my approach. Eventually, I realized that the only person holding me back was myself. Since then, I have been on a mission to reach my full potential as a human.
Now, coming to the reason why we are here. I neglected my body for years, taking it for granted while working nonstop and making poor food choices and drinking habits. Eventually, my body couldn’t handle it anymore, and I reached my heaviest weight of around 290 lbs with the knees of an 80-year-old.
Over the last six years, I tried numerous techniques, tips, challenges, and routines to improve my health. You can find some of the most recent ones on (Daily Deposits Post). However, today I want to share some BARBER STYLIST-specific insights that I’ve discovered to help those who may not be as physically active as I am.
Table of Contents
Why should you care?
If you are a full-time barber, stylist, artist, image consultant, or groomer working more than 5 hours a day, I’m sure we could all agree that you are the backbone of the business. Even though it may not always seem like it, you are putting your body through a rigorous workout. Standing, bending, and holding tools for long hours can take a toll on your health over time. Therefore, taking care of your physical health and well-being before any damage is done is important.
LeBron James is a legendary basketball player who is known for many things, but what stands out to me the most is his remarkable longevity. The fact that he has been able to sustain such a high level of performance for 21 years is truly amazing! He invests an estimated $1,000,000 annually in order to protect, grow, and improve his health, body, and mind. This shows his dedication to maintaining his physical and mental well-being so that he can continue to excel on the court.
In this article, I will share my current routine to help me battle my back, foot, shoulder, hands, and neck pain. Going forward, I’ll share my current goals, things I’m working on, and lessons I’ve learned along the way in a journal-style format. Welcome to the ongoing journal of Barber Wellness.
My current routines
We’ll start with my current routine and then eventually get into past routines and fixes, books, resources, current problems, and what action plans I’m working on to tackle them. If you want to stay updated, sign up for the NEWSLETTER to get it delivered right to your inbox as it comes out.
Before work
My mornings usually start with some sort of movement or exercise. Jiujitsu is my favorite way to start the day. There’s something about fighting for your life that makes the rest of the day seem easy. But before any of that, we do a nice yoga flow warm-up led by my coach, Patrick. You can watch it here.
The major takeaway I get from this routine is getting the body moving. As barbers and stylists, we stay stagnant and don’t really move our bodies. I recommend starting the day with “your” favorite forms of movement. Challenging/ moving your body in ways you can’t reach at the shop. Spend some time on the ground. I know none of you are touching the hair-filled ground at work.
Developing a routine before work has saved me from the nagging back pain I used to get from stiff joints at the end of the day. If you want to see my current warm-up routine, leave a comment, and I’ll send it directly to your email.
During work
Developing a routine during work is a game changer. I no longer spend 10 hours straight working, wishing I had food, or saving my food until I get off. Hell no! I dedicate space mid-day to regroup and finish the day strong, not dead at the end of the day. As stylists, we are demanded not only physically but also mentally. I’ve had clients pour out their long day, angry boss, cheating spouse (or them), business problems, etc., all on a regular Wednesday. Now, for me, I have some empathy traits, and some of this stuff stays with me, so learning how to detach and let go was essential to not feel so drained at the end of the day. Check out “Dave’s Daily Detach” to learn how I do that.
After work
I used to finish the last client of the day and wish I could teleport home. With my morning and mid-day routine in check, I go home with plenty of energy to still be a dad. I cook, play games, wrestle, and take on whatever the family throws at me that day.
To end the day, I love to spend more time on the ground. As we stand all day and then go to a chair for rest, we forget about the floor and all over the cool movements and positions we can get in. I don’t know about you, but I want to be able to wrestle/play, squat on the floor, and dance with my kids/ grandkids till I’m 100. So, I spend time working on whatever areas I need to work on. Or I’ll do something as simple as playing chess/ uno on the floor with the kids.
Side note: The floor may not be comfortable to most, which is totally fine. That’s the point. Because the floor is uncomfortable, you are forced to move to a different position every few minutes or so.
Going forward…
You can develop all the hair skills in the world and be known as the best barber in the world, but if you don’t take care of your body, your career could be in jeopardy. If you truly care about what you do, then it’s worth spending some time taking care of your business assets. I hope this post encourages you to spend a few minutes to take care of yourself. It’s worth it. As mentioned above, sign up for the NEWSLETTER to receive updates on this topic. We’ll dive deep into things like foot health ( which is our foundation ), hand health ( I have carpal tunnel), joint health ( I have arthritis), and lots more!
As always
Thanks for reading, and I’ll see you on the next one.
Extra Resources
- DYSLR WARM UP https://youtu.be/tmP4EHrTNA4?si=B-pbkdxNOvv-3isW
- HOW I DETACH TO TAKE ON A BUSY DAY https://www.barberstylist.com/how-i-detach-to-take-on-a-busy-day/
- THE FOOT COLLECTIVE https://thefootcollective.us?sca_ref=5657623.R9YcYM6nmi
Jozlyn B
Great read! As an esthetician and lash artist this is a phenomenal topic as we all want our bodies to continue on to old ages! I would love more insight on your “during” and the steps you took for yourself. Keep it up Dave!
David Thomas
Thank you! I will keep you updated! I promise your body will thank you after.