Four Common Lash Artists Injuries & How to Treat Them
As a hard-working lash artist, you pride yourself in working as quickly and as accurately as you can. Unfortunately, the more you hustle as a lash artist, the more at risk you can be for common injuries. In one of our previous blogs, we discussed several potentially career-shortening injuries that lash artists can face--for example, issues that can arise from improper seating and not adjusting for the height of your clients. In this post, we’d like to expand on this topic even more, digging into some additional risk factors and self-care techniques you can employ that will let you continue to hustle without getting hurt.
Without further ado, let’s dive into the topic of lash artist injuries.
Back and Neck Pain
If you are experiencing a lot of discomfort in your back and/or neck, there are a number of changes you can make to ease the pain. Healthline.com has information and videos on stretches that may be helpful, once the pain has abated a bit and you have been able to rest your injury.
For example, the I-Pose and the W-Pose can easily be done in the comfort of your living room and can be repeated throughout the day. may also want to visit a chiropractor; preferably one who practices the Activator Method, which is one of the most widely-researched chiropractic techniques and the only instrument adjusting technique that has clinical trials that back up its use.
If you are dealing with a great deal of neck pain, Spine-Health.com offers a number of tips that may help, including the importance of staying hydrated. The discs between the vertebrae in your spine need water to maintain their height and alignment and to take pressure off of your spine. On those busy days when you are forgetting to drink water, your neck may be reminding you how important it is to get in your daily H2O. Also, avoid cradling your phone in your neck while you are talking and/or working — this will put strain on your cervical spine. In addition to being painful, chronic neck and back pain can lead to some pretty serious complications; as Johns Hopkins Medicine notes, these complications include loss of productivity and nerve damage as well as depression and weight gain, so it is important that you address these issues early.
Finger and Hand Soreness
To avoid finger and hand soreness, it is a good idea to invest in a great pair of tweezers that feature a loose grip, so you do not have to squeeze them hard to close them. When you overuse your fingers or hands, you may develop issues like carpal tunnel syndrome, tendon pain, de Quervain’s disease, trigger finger/trigger thumb, and repetitive motion syndrome.
In addition to making sure that the tools that you use on the job are as hand- and finger-friendly as possible, make sure that you have a strong grip. While grip strength will naturally decline with age, you can do hand exercises like squeezing a stress ball to help make sure your hands stay as strong as possible. In case you are in the market for new tweezers, remember that at Lash Affair, we sell light tension tweezers that are hand-tested and designed to be easy-to-use and prevent hand fatigue.
Respiratory Irritation
Respiratory infection is one of the many health concerns that lash and brow technicians face every day. A recent report by Women’s Voices for the Earth found that breathing problems like asthma, coughing, and nasal symptoms are the second most common type of health concern among salon workers. Lash artists are often exposed to large amounts of cyanoacrylate in adhesives, which can negatively impact the mucous membranes and the respiratory system.
In addition, professionals who work in salons, especially those who work with chemicals like nail polish, remover, and adhesives, can suffer from lung irritation. Lash Affair’s suite of adhesives and primers are as lung-friendly as possible so that is a great place to start. In addition, be sure to air out your workspace as much as you can after appointments. Also, to be proactive about your health, see your primary care physician at least twice a year to check for respiratory irritation and, when working, be sure to use Lash Affair’s Lace Face Mask with Carbon Filters, which will help protect against harmful VOCs in the air.
Eye Strain
Eye strain can be annoying and is a common problem for lash artists. Symptoms of eye strain include sore, tired, burning and/or itching eyes, blurred or double vision, headache, and increased sensitivity to light. There are a number of common causes of eyestrain, including doing activities that require extended focus, being exposed to bright light or glare and straining to see in dim light. As for treating eyestrain, if you are doing close work like applying eyelashes, try to position your light source behind you and direct the light onto where you are working. Take breaks throughout the day and use artificial tears to prevent and relieve dry eyes. Using magnifying glasses, like the ones we sell at Lash Affair, can also help. To learn more about this topic and how to keep your eyes as healthy as possible, read Eye Health for the Lash Artist.
Lash Artist Injuries Are Not Inevitable
Being in good health is fundamental to running a successful business. If neck or back pain, finger discomfort, or headaches from eyestrain cause you to cancel too many appointments, your clientele may end up going elsewhere for their lashes. Fortunately, while injuries are relatively common, they do not have to be inevitable. By being aware of the four common injuries, as well as the ways to treat these issues, you should enjoy a long career as a successful lash artist.
Jenelle Paris
Founder | Boston Girl | Pig + Dog Obsessed | Lover of House Music
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