A study published in 2025 in the journal Building and Environment looked specifically at what happens to people when they are exposed to dynamic dappled light; the kind created when sunlight moves through a tree canopy. What the researchers found was striking: dynamic dappled light attracted more attention, was perceived as more natural, and produced higher scores for positive affect and engagement compared to both static light patterns and standard indoor lighting.

Here's what that means in plain terms: the way light moves through leaves is not just pretty to look at. Your nervous system is actually responding to it. That feeling of settling, of something loosening in your chest, that is your body doing exactly what it is supposed to do when it finally gets what it needs. It can ease and calm your nervous system.

WHY THIS MATTERS FOR HAIRSTYLISTS

We spend most of our working hours indoors, under fluorescent or artificial light, with few sensory cues that connect us to the natural world. Our nervous systems, which are already navigating the emotional labor of client care, the physical demands of the work, and the understated hum of chronic stress, are operating in environments that offer very little restoration.

SMALL WAYS TO INCORPORATE THIS IN YOUR LIFE

You do not need to live near a forest to access some of this. Even brief moments of exposure to dappled or moving natural light can offer your nervous system a small reprieve. A few minutes outside during natural light. A walk beneath trees between clients. Positioning yourself near a window when you eat. These are not dramatic interventions — they are micro-doses of restoration, and they matter.

It’s the little moments to ease your nervous system and coming back to yourself that can help with the end of the day overwhelm and exhaustion.

I hope you find a moment this week to stand under some trees. The light moving through leaves is not just beautiful, it is in some quiet way, medicine.

This year, I celebrate 25 years of doing hair. And as it turns out, so does Roxie Jane Hunt! Which means that when we sat down together for this episode of the Balanced Hairstylist Podcast, we were two women with a combined 50 years of wisdom, heart, and hard-earned lessons, getting to reflect on what this work has truly meant to us.

Roxie is a Seattle-based hairstylist, facilitator, mentor, and the creator of Alchemy of Change, a course that genuinely transformed how I see myself and how I work behind the chair. She brings a slower, more intentional approach to this industry, one rooted in self-worth, integrity, and sustainability. I consider her a true mentor, and this conversation was everything I’d hoped and more, so much amazing goodness and wisdom.

We covered so much in this episode, including:

• Why our work is sacred — and what it means to honor that in practical, everyday ways

• The power of silence — how offering silent appointments has transformed both the client experience and the quality of the haircut itself

• Working rushed vs. working sustainably — what constant urgency actually does to our bodies and our nervous systems

• Holding space without losing yourself — how to be present for clients without carrying what isn’t yours to carry

• Boundaries around trauma-sharing — why Roxie asks clients to request permission before sharing something heavy, and how that one shift changes everything

• The difference between authentic sharing and emotional dumping — and how to know which one you’re doing

• Scheduling for your nervous system — building your day around how you want to feel, not just how much you can produce

• Self-care in hard times — what taking care of yourself actually looks like when the world feels heavy

• Creativity and sustainability — why one day a month of non-hair creativity is a game changer

• The ancient roots of what we do — grooming as a deeply human, deeply healing practice that will never be replaced

And Roxie closes with something I keep coming back to: you have full permission to value your presence and attention above all else — and to build a career that looks like nothing you’ve ever seen before, because it’s yours.

This one is for every hairstylist who loves what they do and is trying to keep loving it. I hope it nourishes you.

🎙️ Listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube

Find Roxie at roxiejanehunt.com — including her self-paced Alchemy of Change course and one-on-one mentoring.

Join our free community at thebalancedhairstylist.com

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PS. I’m not a licensed therapist — just a fellow hairstylist sharing tools and encouragement for a more balanced life behind the chair. If you’re struggling, please reach out to a mental health professional.

This week on The Balanced Hairstylist Podcast, I’m sharing a short guided end-of-day release designed especially for hairstylists that are asked to be pseudo therapists. A moment to pause, breathe, and let go of anything you may have picked up throughout your day.

Because you can care deeply for your clients without carrying their energy home.

Let it be.
Let it go.

You are doing amazing. Our work asks so much of us. We hold space, energy, and stories all day long. And we deserve the chance to release what isn’t ours areturn to ourselves.

✨ Take eight minutes for yourself and listen here: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube

“Don’t worry, it’s not like I’m judging you or anything.”

I laughed and told her not to worry. I’m very comfortable in front of a therapist. Not only am I obsessed with psychology, but I’ve been in therapy for many years, and many of my clients and friends are therapists. We both settled in right away.

(Side note, I love the fact that therapists somehow keep finding me. Maybe it’s that manifesting thing.)

Over the next several appointments, we found ourselves in organic, meaningful conversations about the overlap between being a hairstylist and being a therapist.

At one point she shared how hard it is for her to go into her office break room and actually take a real break. That stopped me. It made me think about our salon break rooms and how they are not always the quiet reprieve we are craving either.

In this episode, Megan Dippold, MS, LCMFT, LMFT, and I have a real and honest conversation about what it means to hold space for others all day and how we can take care of ourselves in the process.

We talk about:

• The overlap between being a therapist and being a hairstylist

• The importance of creating space for self care and giving our nervous systems a true reset

• The impact of constant multitasking on the nervous system

• Practical techniques to support nervous system awareness

• How we attune to other people’s nervous systems and how to come back to ourselves when we get lost in that

• Self compassion in emotionally demanding work

• And using third person conversations as a way to reconnect, release, and practice compassion toward ourselves

I hope this conversation reminds you that you’re not alone and gives you some real, practical tools to help you stay balanced behind the chair.

Listen here: The Balanced Hairstylist Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube

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I’ve been thinking a lot lately about what it means to stay above water in times like these.

Being behind the chair feels heavy. The world feels heavy. And when things feel uncertain, it’s easy to slip into survival mode — to tighten, to brace, to just try to get through the week.

I keep coming back to this:
If we want to stay above water, we have to take care of ourselves first.

Our energy.
Our nervous system awareness.
Our boundaries.
Our rest.

We can’t pour from empty.

And also — we hold a unique position. Our energy influences people. Clients sit in our chair carrying stress, grief, and overwhelm. We might not be therapists, but we are steady. We are safe. We are a light.

A dear friend said to me recently, “Go infect the world with goodness today.”
I can’t stop replaying that voice message. I have been replaying that voice message every day because it reminds me that the energy we bring to the world matters.

So.

Take care of yourself — and then go infect the world with goodness.

With you,
Sarah

If you feel this and want to share, please join the free community here:

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Holding space feels especially heavy right now — and if you’re feeling it, you’re not alone.

As hairstylists, we often become emotional containers for our clients. People feel safe with us. They open up. And while we love creating that sense of safety, it also means we’re holding more than just hair.

When the same heavy or traumatic topics come up repeatedly throughout the day, our nervous systems can quietly escalate.

Over time, that constant activation can lead to emotional exhaustion, compassion fatigue, numbness, and burnout — even when we care deeply. Especially when we care deeply.

Choosing not to engage in heavy conversations at work doesn’t mean we aren’t paying attention. It doesn’t mean we aren’t upset, processing, or taking action outside of work. It simply means we’re being mindful of our emotional capacity while we’re doing a job that already asks a lot of us.

This week on The Balanced Hairstylist Podcast, I’m talking about why this happens, how it affects our nervous systems, and how to care without carrying everything. We also talk about gentle ways to redirect conversations, protect your energy, and give yourself permission to keep things lighter when you need to.

If you’ve ever left an appointment feeling emotionally depleted after a heavy conversation, this episode is for you.

And if you know another stylist who might need permission to soften their load right now, feel free to share this with them.

Caring does not mean unlimited capacity.

Listen here on Spotify, Apple, and YouTube.

With care,
Sarah

In the newest episode of The Balanced Hairstylist Podcast, I’m guiding you through a shielding meditation created specifically for those of us who spend our days deeply attuned to the emotions, stories, and nervous systems of others.

This meditation is about grounding into your own energy, not shutting anything down.
It’s about staying rooted, present, and compassionate without carrying what isn’t yours.

This practice supports energetic boundaries, and emotional sustainability in the salon — because listening does not mean absorbing.

🎧 You can listen to the episode now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.

If this meditation supports you, consider saving it, returning to it before or after work, or sharing it with another stylist who needs it. And if you’re not a hairstylist and reading this, I bet you know one that might need it.

With care,
Sarah

We give our hands, our attention, and our energy. We listen. We support. We problem-solve. Many of us step into the role of a pseudo-therapist, holding space for our clients’ emotions while staying present and engaged for eight to ten hours a day.

That takes a lot out of us.

Our days are full of stimulation—conversations, music, movement—while our minds are multitasking nonstop. We’re thinking about formulas and tools, schedules and timing, pricing, rescheduling, and what’s coming next, all while staying focused on the person in our chair.

There’s also the physical side of this work. We’re on our feet all day. Repeating the same movements. Feeling it in our shoulders, backs, and bodies by the time the day ends. This work is demanding in ways that aren’t always visible.

When we’re so focused on caring for others, it’s easy to lose touch with ourselves. We move from client to client, then from work straight into the rest of our lives, without ever really checking in. Over time, that disconnection adds up.

This is often how burnout begins. Our nervous systems feel overstimulated and exhausted, and we forget to ask ourselves what we actually need.

Coming home to yourself doesn’t have to be complicated. Sometimes it’s just pausing. Sitting in silence. Noticing your body. Taking a few breaths and letting yourself land after a long day.

I created this meditation specifically for us—for hairstylists and beauty professionals who give so much of themselves. It’s a chance to come back into your body, to check in, and to gently ask: What do I need right now? And how can I meet that need?

As the holiday season comes to a close, I invite you to take a few minutes just for yourself. Not as something to add to your to-do list, but as a way to create a little more balance and care for yourself.

Below you’ll find the Coming Home to Yourself meditation links. I hope it helps you slow down, reconnect, and feel a bit more supported.

Listen on Apple Podcast

Watch on YouTube

Listen on Spotify

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Grief shows up in our beauty spaces more than we talk about.
A client sits down and mentions that they lost their mom, their pet, or someone close to them. Or that they just received news they weren’t prepared for.

Sometimes it’s quiet tears.
Sometimes it’s a sudden heaviness in the room.
And sometimes, it’s us—showing up to work while carrying our own grief silently.

This episode of The Balanced Hairstylist Podcast is all about navigating grief in our beauty spaces—whether it’s supporting a client through loss or figuring out how to keep showing up when you’re grieving too.

I sat down with Jefri Franks—grief counselor, coach, and author—to talk about what it really looks like to walk alongside grief without trying to fix it, rush it, or make it more comfortable than it actually is.

One of the biggest reminders from our conversation was this:
Grief is a journey, not a question to be answered.

As hairstylists, we often feel pressure to say the right thing—to make people feel better. But listening—really listening—is one of the most powerful gifts we can offer.

You don’t have to be perfect.
You don’t have to know the perfect words.
Sometimes, being present is enough.

We also talked about boundaries—because showing up for others doesn’t mean losing yourself. It’s okay to let a client lead, to allow silence, or to reschedule when someone—including you—doesn’t have the capacity that day.

For those of us who feel deeply, self-care isn’t optional. A few deep breaths between clients. Writing things down. Asking for a quieter break room space. Giving yourself permission to not be upbeat when your heart is heavy.

We also explored when and how to gently refer a client to professional support—an invitation, not a diagnosis.

If you work in the beauty industry, this conversation is for you.

You don’t have to carry it all.
You don’t have to do this perfectly.
And you don’t have to walk through it alone.

🎧 Click here to listen to the full episode on Spotify, Apple, or watch on YouTube.

Links to Jefri’s work and her book Heather’s Journey are in the show notes.

Please join the free Community for mental health support for beauty professionals here:

There is something that happens when we stand behind the chair. Yes, there is magic there that we create with our hands. But there is also something that happens, an invisible exchange of energy, and often we carry this. We carry the stories, emotions, and energy our clients share.

We hold space through heartbreaks and celebrations, through growth and grief. We walk beside our clients through so many seasons of their lives.

And then move on to our next client, and move through the rest of the day like it was no big deal.

But what we do IS a big deal. Our jobs blur the line between stylist and therapist.

Cosmetology school and classes don’t teach us how to deal with the emotional weight of our work. We are not taught how to process the emotional toll of being a “hairapist.”

I used to come home from work completely drained, every single day. Not because the day was necessarily long, but because I was taking on other people’s stuff, energy and emotions. I was carrying a load that was not mine.

I loved being there for my clients—I still do—but I didn’t know how to protect my own energy while holding space for theirs.

If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. And more importantly: you’re not doing it wrong. You’re just doing something that no one taught us how to do.

That is why I’ve built this community and founded The Balanced Hairstylist - a space that supports our mental health.

I’ve witnessed healing in community - not just once, but over and over again. Through retreats, small groups, and open-hearted conversations, I’ve seen what happens when hairstylists come together in safety and honesty.

It’s powerful. It’s sacred.

Being a hairapist, it often feels like we carry the invisible weight alone. But, I am here to tell you: you are not alone.

You deserve to be seen.

You deserve to be validated in the overwhelm.

You deserve support.

Come join the community.
It’s free, private, and all about our mental health.

No comment, no situation, no question is silly.
I want to hear from you.
I want to support you on your journey—wherever you are, whatever you’re feeling.

We’re in this together.

And if you’re not a hairstylist, I bet you know one who needs this. Please share it with them.

Think of it like a cozy group chat where we can all hang out, support each other, and talk about the real stuff that comes with being a hairstylist and beauty pro—where mental health and the beauty industry meet. This space is exclusively for subscribers(don’t worry totally free), and my hope is that it feels open, safe, and judgment-free.

Most importantly: this space is for you.
Share whatever’s on your mind—nothing is too silly, too small, or too messy to bring up here. Whether it’s a scheduling headache, a challenging client moment, a tiny win in your week, or a big emotional weight you’re carrying… you’re welcome to talk about it. We’re all “hairapists” for others, but here, we get to support each other.

I’ll be popping in with questions, reflections, little reminders, and behind-the-scenes updates… and you’re invited to jump in anytime.

I also want to mention, with full transparency, that sometimes I may want to bring pieces of our conversations onto the podcast—always anonymously, and always with your permission first. When we talk about our real-life challenges, those conversations can help so many others feel less alone. But I will never share anything without checking in with you first and making sure you’re comfortable.

I can’t wait to connect with you! Make sure you subscribe and join the chat/free community.

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In life, margins are just as essential.

They are the moments between doing and giving. The breath between clients. The pause before we pour ourselves out again. Without them, everything runs together—too fast, too tight, too loud.

And we begin to lose ourselves in the noise.

As beauty professionals, we are often the first and last touchpoint in someone’s day. We listen. We absorb. We hold space. Again and again. Story after story. Emotion after emotion.

But who holds space for us? How can we create space between things to give us the deep breath we need?

I once had a student tell me, “I can take on the energy of one person for an hour, but I can’t do it eight times in a row.” That’s when she started giving herself just five minutes between clients. A few intentional breaths. A sip of water. A reset. It changed everything.

Margins don’t have to be long to be powerful.

They just have to be yours.

And they have to be intentional. Because the world won’t hand them to you. Social media scrolling isn’t a margin. It fills the space but doesn’t clear the clutter. It’s static noise—not stillness. Margins are clean air for the soul.

When we create space between moments, we create space for ourselves. To release what isn’t ours. To soften the edges of the day. To remember that we’re more than what we give.

So let this be your gentle reminder: you are allowed to take up space. You are allowed to pause. To breathe. To not answer right away. To stand still between one client’s story and the next.

Margins aren’t selfish. They’re sacred. And they might just be the thing that saves you from burning out in the name of care.

Protect your margins like your peace depends on it—because it does.

A client once shared that she was worried about her son. She said he seemed to be in a depressive state. As she spoke she started to cry and she went on to say that her husband had also struggled with depression — and had attempted to take his own life a few years earlier.

All the while, I’m foiling her hair. We still have over an hour and a half left in the appointment. The heaviness of this conversation — of being trusted with something so raw — is hard to put into words.

Being a pseudo therapist while doing someone’s hair is one of the most emotionally taxing aspects of this career.

We show up to create beauty on the outside, while often carrying the weight of what’s being shared on the inside.

Not only was I unsure of what to say in that moment, but it also became one of the most pivotal moments for me. Over 20 years behind the chair, I had taken on countless stories, each one leaving an imprint. But this one — this one felt like something I couldn’t help with or carry. And in that instant, I realized that none of my clients’ stories were mine to carry. I knew something had to change. If it didn’t, burnout was inevitable.

When we aren’t trained, it’s easy to absorb the weight of everything our clients share.

As hairstylists, many of us are empathetic, creative, and often people-pleasers. We want to make everyone feel seen and happy, so we naturally slip into the role of fixer, problem-solver — or therapist — without even realizing it. But over time, that constant giving without replenishing ourselves can leave us drained, empty, and overwhelmed. While we love being there for our clients, we don’t have the training or tools to carry the emotional load that comes our way.

We’re taught in school and through further education how to cut, color, balayage, razor, and foil — but our mental health is never part of the curriculum.

I’ve been hit on by clients, made to feel less-than (anyone in the service industry may relate to this), been a dumping ground for people’s issues, and had clients complain that I’m not available 24/7 to them — all while making people look good, and all while standing on my feet.

I’ve experienced several stages of burnout in my 24-year career, but this specific event, made me realize that I couldn’t continue doing what I love without making some necessary changes — changes that would protect my well-being and help me show up in a healthier way.

I had to step away from the industry for a while, and during that time, I realized how much I missed doing what I love — creating art on people’s heads, not just beautifying, but truly empowering them. We all know how a good haircut can make us feel: strong, embodied, and powerful. As Coco Chanel once said, “A woman who cuts her hair is about to change her life.”

We sit with our clients through job loss, cancer diagnoses, divorce, the loss of loved ones, and hearing about their crazy mother-in-law. Don’t get me wrong, there’s positivity too, but somehow, it’s the heavy moments that linger with us, sitting heavy on our hearts long after clients have left our chair.

At my lowest point of burnout, I found my way into in a therapist’s office. When she said, “It sounds like you have unmet needs. What are your needs?” I honestly sat back, stunned, and thought to myself, Do I even have needs? Not only had I been giving from an empty cup, but I realized I didn’t even know I had a cup to fill.

I had been giving and giving so much I was completely depleted. When we give so much of ourselves to other people, constantly trying to meet the needs of others, we lose sight of ourselves. And that is certainly what happened to me.

Looking back, that moment in the therapist’s office was the beginning of a beautiful journey. I am reluctant to say “healing journey” because it doesn’t really hold the weight that this journey has had. But a journey non the less. I began to unlearn what wasn’t serving me and started building a healthier way forward. Setting boundaries, knowing my limits, having awareness, and fulfilling my needs. And once I learned myself how to be more balanced, I knew I wanted to share what I had learned with my fellow hairstylists — because I truly believe what we do is magical, and I believe that we need support for our mental health to continue this magic.

We need support, tools, and a reminder that we have cups to fill, too.

That’s why I created The Balanced Hairstylist — to give us the tools, the language, and the support we were never taught, so we can keep doing the work we love without losing ourselves in the process.

We weren’t trained to hold all that falls on our plate — but we can learn how to cope with it. We can set boundaries, protect our energy, and reconnect with our joy.

So join me here, a safe place and community for hairstylists and beauty professionals.

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Hello out there!

I’m so happy to have found this space!! I’ve been craving something real—something that speaks to our souls, not just another performative video or endless scroll. Substack feels like the right place to have deep, meaningful conversations and community.

I’m a hairstylist who’s deeply passionate about the mental wellbeing of other hairstylists. Because let’s be honest—we’re often therapists without any training.

Now, I’m on a mission to shine a light on this often-overlooked topic.

To share my story. To weave together psychology and soul. To create a soft place for hairstylists to land—a free, supportive community filled with real tools, honest conversations, and reminders that you’re not alone.

If you're not a hairstylist, I bet you know one who needs this.
Please pass it along.

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