Behind the Chair: Confronting Anxiety in Barbering

[@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!

[@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.

[@redman1829]

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

[@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!

[@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. 😊😊😊😊😊😊

[@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!

[@Floridabarber386]

Thanks for the video. I've been a barber for 20 years. Owned a walk-in shop for 16 of those years. About 10 years ago the stress, panic, and anxiety hit me so bad I thought I was going crazy! I had 9 waiting area chairs that all faced ME! I was slinging out cuts every 15-20 mins ALL DAY LONG, sometimes 25-50 cuts a day! I handled it for a couple years, but then the exhaustion, and panic attacks started. But.. I just continued.. I had too... I had built up my business so much that I created my own monster and didn't know how to continue. I could feel the eyes of the people waiting on me. Then they would start with the ball busting comments like, "if you were open more you wouldn't be behind"! Or things like, "seems like you're always taking a vacation"! "Ain't never here".. "Came by and you were closed"............. All that BS started to make my blood boil, but I just tried to ignore it, but I just internalized all of it. I started to hate everyone. If I did ever get to sit down for 2 minutes, and then heard a car door close in the parking lot, the dread and panic would hit me like a bolt of lightening! I continued this way for about 5 years to eventual complete burnout! I have since sold my business, moved from Missouri to Florida and now am working in a "salon" environment as the only barber. I take appointments now, and have freedom of making my own hours etc. but I'm still not 100% recovered from the anxiety of cutting hair. I honestly think the stress gave me some sort of PTSD and it still haunts me everyday when I have to go to work. I've been on anxiety meds, antidepressants, you name it! Dr's have thrown every pill in the book at me. LOL.. I just wish I could get my passion and enjoyment back for cutting hair. I'd love to hear any comments or feedback from anyone with advice. Thanks for letting me "vent".. lol

[@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.

[@jennifermonzon3250]

Great word blessings to you!!

[@SebastianDobroff]

I thought I was the only one. I really needed to hear this

[@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!

[@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....

[@m.ariste5824]

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

[@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

[@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

[@jimmylopez7531]

Helped me out a lot bro i needed this

[@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!

[@prestigiousdetailingLLC]

the intro lol I felt that.

[@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

[@Now3bwx]

My fav channel

[@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.

[@desmondmitchell5602]

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

[@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

[@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

[@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

[@RichardPurk-wm6kh]

I learned from off the street and have been cutting a while. I still don’t have a license but people trust me to do good haircuts. The last 2 weeks I feel I’ve done some of the worst work of my life. Completely embaraasing a I don’t know why now I feel like what now when I go back to the chair sat/sun

[@renedejesus2978]

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

[@LindaHardwick-g7o]

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 😡

[@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.

[@G-PhillydaDon]

I got 25 hours then I’m graduated!!!

[@LEOMRAS]

I feel my my cuts aren’t getting better😢