Behind the Chair: Confronting Anxiety in Barbering

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In this video, we delve into the unspoken struggles of a barber who experiences anxiety while working behind the chair. From the high-pressure environment to the constant interaction with clients, the daily challenges can take a toll on mental health. Join us as we provide insight into the inner workings of a barber's mind and explore the coping mechanisms used to navigate through each hair styling session. If you're a barber dealing with anxiety or have a loved one in the profession, this video offers valuable perspectives and support. Let's shed light on this important topic and start a conversation around mental health in the barbering industry. Subscribe for more videos on barbering, mental health, and personal growth.
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The goal of this channel is to help as many people as I can reach learn and consider barbering as a profession. I believe Barbering saved my life and I know it can save many people. These links provide me a small commission at no cost to you and allow me to provide good content like this.

[@SalTheBarber209]

As a beginner Barber I can definitely relate to this. I appreciate the advice. Making mistakes is part of the process

[@tinaaahh]

Thank you for sharing your experience. This helps knowing that other barbers have gone through this.

[@YouTubeBarberAcademy]

My pleasure!

[@Meanredmachine8]

Man I can definitely relate. I did walk-ins only for the first 10-12 years of my career. Been doing appointments only now for 6-7 years. Fixed a lot of my anxiety problems. I will say I made way more money doing only walk-ins. I charge double now what I did back then. But, never got a lunch, never knew what time I was leaving, if I missed a day I had double the people showing up the next day. Saturday morning open the shop I had 5-8 people waiting on me already. Taking that pay cut was my biggest fear of making that transition. But peace of mind is priceless.

[@YouTubeBarberAcademy]

Haha so true man thanks for sharing

[@marclopez9856]

Great idea for a video. That actually happened to me 2 weeks ago. I’ve only been cutting like for 3 years and still am learning as I only have like 20 people I consistently cut. One of my friends came over that Saturday to my house for a cut. and as I began his skin fade I stared looking in my barber backpack for my head lamps I use for cutting and they were nowhere to be found. I left them at work with my big ring lamp. So I had no proper lighting to finish this skin fade and my anxiety started my hands shaking violently. I was so in my own head about making a mistake I could barely finish his cut., I used my phone flashlight but to line him up and around his head I had to really anchor down to keep that line straight and not cut him. That’s the only time anxiety really got me messed up. I was too worried about messing him up my body was giving up on me. Thanks for the encouragement Eddie, always appreciate your insight and videos. Like I’ve told you before. “I’d slap my own momma before I ever unsubscribe to your channel” 😂😂 much love from California

[@YouTubeBarberAcademy]

Oh man we have all been there thanks for the comment and I’m glad moms is safe for now lol

[@KentuckyMan]

Better watch slapping your mama, she might slap back. 😃😃😃😃😃😃

[@gobucky3610]

Thanks. I needed this. I just started barber school and started on the floor 2 weeks ago. Ive been struggling with the pressure of not making mistakes. I'm slowly building my confidence and am coming around to the fact that making a mistake isn't the end of the world.

[@patrickperkins4689]

Thank you for sharing this important information. I know a barber who actually did have a heart attack from the stress you mention, especially the "walk in" model and watching the number of people waiting...and he was in the business for more than 20 years. He changed to "appointment only" model and it was a life-changing difference!

[@redman1829]

This is a much needed video. Well done. I had issues like this to even start barbering.

[@RafaelDiaz-xw9cz]

Thank you for your video. I am a Barber student about to graduate next month and I’m going through that same thing you was talking about in the video. I really appreciate this video is like this will help a lot of people.

[@YouTubeBarberAcademy]

Glad I could help!

[@czrthegreat]

I had this exact kinda moment in the middle of a cut. It started b4 cuz I was new to taking cuts period, but this particular day was bcuz my stomach hurt since that morning, and I was taking walk-ins at a barber college. My panic started when I would get a person in the chair cuz I was in my head too much about "how much time will this full service take" "if my stomach dropped would I be able to just leave this person in my chair while I went to take care of bizness" lol then "can they tell I'm shaking" "uh-oh I'm light headed, heart racing, what if I faint right here in front of everyone" All the while this client is just talking about his 2 yr old son being into the Spiderman movies. 1st step I took to get out of this, Just BREATHE. (Thru my mouth slowly (4 secs in & 5 secs out)). That'd slow the heart rate. Body calms & the mind will follow. (Same vice versa). That solved that days panic. But I noticed the next day (stomach normal) it was always on the verge of recurring, cuz i was thinking the panic might show up at any cut. So I sought out a long-term solution. In a nutshell I spoke w/an instructor while he was drinking coffee. I jokingly asked "hey doesn't coffee make u wanna go boo-boo? How u gonna get thru a cut w/all that coffee" He says "I became a barber to be on MY OWN time and no one else's. If I got an ass in my chair, and I gotta take care of business (like boo-boo), ima tell the client - give me a minute- excuse myself, and come back to finish the cut" And that panic has been history since. Sounds cliche but Get out of ur head and try to get in the moment instead. Know that, It'll pass. Love this fucking channel Ed. Wish I'd been aware of it alot sooner. Stay up big brother.

[@YouTubeBarberAcademy]

Haha great story man thanks for sharing and welcome to the channel appreciate you!

[@timthomson9096]

Thank you for this video and for sharing some advice. I’ve been cutting hair full time since 2021 and being a rookie barber is rough! The anxiety over going back every day has been huge. I did talk to my family and my doctor about it. Education, exercise, and medication have helped me. Grinding out the days behind the chair and getting that experience is key.

[@jimmylopez7531]

Helped me out a lot bro i needed this

[@calvincrouse885]

This video I felt was best one ever ! , thks I got let go from a shop cause I didnt have enough experience , I was and still am a apprentice, the owner left me to cut all day in shop for days at a time. One day after 3 months being there he fires me over text saying he had to redo 5 cuts last week. I haven't been back behind the chair since....

[@desmondmitchell5602]

Is this why I be sweating sometimes behind the chair doing a cut

[@m.ariste5824]

Just happened for me yesterday, this video just came at the right time. Thanks Eddie

[@jennifermonzon3250]

Great word blessings to you!!

[@Hammie-the-barber]

Another great video,bro….i have never got it from thinking about messing someone up,but I’ve got anxiety plenty of times after I started a cut…I would start thinking,what if something happens to me right now,I can’t leave his head like this,and then I would start into a panic attack until I would calm myself down…

[@natalyazav1842]

100% thank you!! Actually needed therapy this year for this very thing. Great advice! Thank you

[@Now3bwx]

My fav channel

[@sugarmilk2566]

I’m really close to graduating from barber school and I can feel myself starting to panic. This video really put me at ease, thanks man

[@YouTubeBarberAcademy]

You got this!

[@KentuckyMan]

You just gave great advice to barbers. You know ,that's the reason I quit barbering years ago. I only barbered for 5 or 6 years. I wasn't really afraid of making mistakes. It was other things that bothered me. I worked in shops that were walk in shops and they were real busy. A lot of days we were so busy that people literally sat on the floor because we didn't have enough enough chairs for them to sit in. It literally drove me up the wall that people would sit there and stare watching me cut hair. You just knew that they were sitting there thinking they wish the heck you would hurry up and get to them. Sometimes when we were just covered up I could actually feel the skin on the top of my head crawl. You couldn't take a break or go to lunch without feeling terribly guilty about leaving them sitting there when you knew they were waiting on you instead of the other barbers. Also, it was hard on planning to do anything with my wife because I never knew what time every day that I would get done with everyone. And if you have ever worked in a walk in barber shop then you know that almost every day like clock work you always had the ones that come in 5 minutes before you closed and kept you in there half the night. The thing is I really liked barbering but the above things actually drove me away from it. I also tried shops that were appointment only but I didn't like doing it that way because if someone was late then it threw me behind for the rest of the day and you figured the person that showed up on time was aggravated because they had to wait. I am in my 70's now but I have always kept my barber license renewed because you never know that someday I just might get back into it again. Lol, you know at my age they would probably expect to wait for awhile for me to finish each client or even if I made a mistake on their haircut they would probably expect that would be normal too. 😊😊😊😊😊😊

[@Baker8933]

For me, alcohol the night before and caffeine while tired are the cause of anxiety behind the chair. I haven't had anxiety since I reduced them from the work week.

[@RustyBlades]

Awesome video my man! I’m like it all the time and always striving for perfection I need to chill the F out 🙌🏻 #eddiesarmy

[@RyanAlca]

Once again thanks for all you do for the barber community, this is the most valuable channel in existence for this trade and I hope you know how appreciated you are.. I Graduated about 6 months ago and only cut two days a week and work another job full time. I don’t get the reps so every week it’s like I’m starting over. I’m one of the only barbers in my small town that can do a good fade so I have a nice list of regulars but I have anxiety the first two cuts a day. I have no idea how to cut hair on the sides and back with scissors though, or longer cuts in general.. I need to remember this video next time my hands start to shake. Any suggestions on continuing education that can help with basic scissor cuts? Was looking into the Josh OP courses..

[@YouTubeBarberAcademy]

Sure there’s a lot of resources out there you can check on the membership side of my channel there is a few of the basics to get you started and I am about to release a 1.5 hour master class today it will be public for a short time

[@RyanAlca]

@@KZbinBarberAcademy how does one become a member? I looked around and I’m not sure how to do it 😂

[@YouTubeBarberAcademy]

@@RyanAlca check the link in the description it is the first link right under the Video title or you can go to my actual channel and you will see it there

[@cmv29]

This is a great conversation to start.i definitely have had my fair share of occasions of deer in the headlights moments.After getting covid I felt like I was on the struggle bus for some time.

[@YouTubeBarberAcademy]

Thanks for sharing!

[@renedejesus2978]

Hi I'm a beginner Barber who still goes through beginners anxiety, chewing gum helps out a lot

[@G-PhillydaDon]

I got 25 hours then I’m graduated!!!

[@user-qe6rf2lq4y]

I'm new to barbering and older, so because I'm older, people assume I'm experienced and know what I'm doing. I don't, which causes me extreme anxiety. I dread every customer. I get through the cut, but I'm terrified.

[@gavinmacgregor7227]

I'm a newly qualified older barber as well and can fully understand what you are saying. The vast majority of the men and women who trained with me at college, are not now actually doing the job!! The anxiety and lack of initial mentorship when newly qualified barbers get behind the chair initially is hugely disappointing. The sad reality out there in barber shops, is as a newly formed barber, you sink or swim. Sadly it seems most are allowed to sink and that sucks 😡

[@TheMetaBarber]

What’s up Eddie! I love the videos and have been watching for a little while now. How do I join the membership group?

[@YouTubeBarberAcademy]

The link is in the description you can join easy

[@BrianSimon94]

Would a good argument for walk in shops be when you’re new and trying to build a clientele, the walk in shop is a good way to build?

[@YouTubeBarberAcademy]

Absolutely it’s always good to start trying to move clients to appointments as soon as you can but taking walkins in between after you finish one tell them the books are filling up and I wanna make sure I’m able to get you in next time you won’t have to wait there’s a lot of great reasons why They will book

[@japastyle2475]

Of course I have experienced this and times to time it still tears it’s ugly little head. Mine comes from self imposed expectations on striving for perfect blends and cuts the over thinking my system of cutting and comparing my work to someone who is putting out better fades and cuts than I am. So I think education would help me and does help me, I am a product of all the Best KZbin tutorial channels, and continuing education like tomb45 Foundations and academy so I strive to educate my self and I still experience the anxiety.

[@LEOMRAS]

I feel my my cuts aren’t getting better😢