How to Work as a Loctician in Australia Without Wrecking Your Body

I have been making dreadlocks for 26 years. My hands still work. My back still works. That is not luck. It is the result of learning, sometimes painfully, how to take care of the body that does this work.

Being a loctician is one of the most physically demanding jobs in the hair industry. Long days, small repeated movements, raised arms, a bent neck. If you want to do this for decades, your body has to be part of the plan from the very beginning.

Why locticians get hurt

• Repetition. The same small hand movements, thousands of times a day.
• Raised arms. Working above shoulder height for hours strains your shoulders and neck.
• Bad working height. A chair that is too high or too low makes you bend or reach all day.
• No breaks. Twelve hours straight because the client wants to finish.
• Tension. Gripping harder than you need to, in your hands and in your whole body.

1. Get the working height right

This is the single most important thing. Your client's head should be at a height where you can work with your shoulders relaxed and your elbows close to your body. That means a chair you can adjust, or one chosen for your height. Sometimes it also means you sit, sometimes you stand. Change position during the day.

2. Use tools that are kind to your hands

A good grip on a good tool makes an enormous difference over thousands of hours. The crochet technique I teach in the Seienstyle process is gentle on the hands, but only if you hold the tool well and don't grip harder than you need.

3. Light

When you can't see well, you lean in. When you lean in for hours, your neck pays the price. Good, even light over your work area is not a luxury.

4. Breaks are part of the job

Plan breaks into every long day, and tell your client at the start. They need them too. Stand up, walk, stretch your hands, your forearms, your neck. Eat properly. Drink water, especially on hot summer days.

5. Breathe

I am a breathwork and meditation teacher as well as a loctician, and I bring it into the salon. When you notice tension building, stop and take a few slow breaths into your belly. Let your shoulders drop. It takes thirty seconds, and it changes the rest of your day.

6. Don't overbook

This was my hardest lesson. I said yes to everyone, worked longer and longer days, and ended in a burnout that nearly cost me everything I had built. It took me years to come back. Charge enough that you don't need to work every day. Read How Much Does a Loctician Earn in Australia?

7. Take care of yourself outside work

Strength, movement and sleep are what let you show up for the next long day. Find movement you enjoy and make it part of your week.

A note for sole traders

When you work for yourself, there is no sick leave and no employer paying into your super while you recover. A long break from work can be costly. That makes prevention even more important. Protecting your body is protecting your business.

Learning it from the start

In my training, posture, furniture, tools and rhythm are part of the method from day one. When I come to you in the capital of your state or territory for The Professional Loctician In-Person Training, I watch how you stand, how you hold your tools, and how you move through a long day, and I correct it before it becomes a habit. The training costs $4,599 USD.

Read more about The Professional Loctician In-Person Training

You can read the bigger picture in How to Become a Loctician and Dreadlock Artist in Australia.

Are you already working and feeling it in your body? Send me an email at [email protected]. I will answer honestly, even if I think the time is not right for you yet.

With love,
Ann-Marie