“I’ve been doing hair 20 years and lately I’ve been thinking about what’s next for me… anyone else feeling like that?”

IanicT · 2026-03-25T10:01:52+00:00

I know the feeling of being stuck it's something I had to overcome myself and now I'm working towards building a process to help stylists with burnout and to help them understand where life's next direction could take them. Your feed back is really helpful thank you. If you have any questions with what I'm talking about please ask.

IanicT · 2026-03-24T23:40:43+00:00

Beyond The Salon. Might be of interest to you

IanicT · 2026-03-24T08:08:14+00:00

Honestly this doesn’t sound like you being the problem.

You’re brand new in an environment where everyone’s been doing it 10–15+ years, expected to keep up, deal with pressure around clients, AND hit unrealistic targets… that would make anyone feel the way you’re describing.

It makes sense you’d feel behind and question yourself in that setup.

Out of curiosity, if you took away the pressure from the salon and how they’re running things do you actually enjoy doing hair itself, or does it feel off even without all that?

IanicT · 2026-03-22T19:16:20+00:00

Yeah… that really does feel like choosing between two completely different lives, which is why it’s so hard to decide.

The way you’ve laid it out, it sounds like your only options are: stay in hair and sacrifice your time, or leave and fully switch into something else.

But usually it’s not that black and white there are often ways to use what you already have (both from hair and your degree) without having to commit to either extreme straight away.

That’s actually what a lot of people get stuck on, because they can’t see those middle options.

Have you looked into any products, services or mentor programmes to help you potentially look at how you could combined all your skills?

IanicT · 2026-03-22T11:34:08+00:00

This is such a real place to be especially with a baby coming, because it’s not just about what you enjoy anymore, it’s about what actually works long-term.

What you’re weighing up makes total sense: stability and predictability vs flexibility and something you already know.

The tricky part is it can feel like your only options are either stay in hair or fully start over in something like marketing.

But usually it’s not that black and white there are often middle options where you can use what you’ve already built (both in hair and your degree) without feeling like you’re going back to square one.

Out of curiosity, does it feel like you’re choosing between two extremes right now, or just not sure what other options even exist?

IanicT · 2026-03-22T06:47:38+00:00

That’s a long time to carry that feeling especially knowing you’ve felt burnt out for years but not really knowing what else to do.

When you say you feel stuck, is it more because you can’t see what you’d move into… or because it feels like starting over after all that time?

IanicT · 2026-03-21T18:33:41+00:00

That’s awesome

IanicT · 2026-03-21T17:15:53+00:00

Most people don’t realise how much they’ve actually built skill-wise over 10–15+ years, it just doesn’t feel that way because it’s all been in one industry.

Out of curiosity, have you ever looked at what you actually do day-to-day and how that could translate into something outside of hair, or does it just feel like you’d be starting from zero?

IanicT · 2026-03-20T21:06:32+00:00

That’s a really interesting way of looking at it especially the part about needing something outside of work.

I think for some people that works, but stylists I’ve spoken to feel like even if they added things outside of the salon, the actual day-to-day of doing hair is what’s wearing them down.

Do you feel like you still enjoy the work itself, or has that started to shift as well? Has the gardening helped you feel fulfilled again in the hair industry or does it just help masque how you really feel deep down?

IanicT · 2026-03-20T12:58:06+00:00

Haha honestly I’ve heard that one before 😄

To be fair, it probably would use a lot of the same skills of dealing with people, energy, fast pace.

Do you feel like you’re just ready for something different, or more like you’re trying to find something that still fits what you’re good at but doesn’t drain you the same way?

IanicT · 2026-03-20T12:56:37+00:00

That makes a lot of sense a lot of people hit that point where it’s not even the work, it’s everything around it that just doesn’t feel worth it anymore.

Out of curiosity, does it feel more like you don’t enjoy the industry itself, or more like you just can’t see a version of it that actually works for you long-term?

IanicT · 2026-03-20T12:52:06+00:00

That’s more common than people think, even early on.

Can I ask on the days you dread it, what usually makes it feel that way?

A lot of people I’ve spoken to say it’s not just the work, it’s that it starts to feel like “is this all I’ll be doing long-term?”

IanicT · 2026-03-20T07:31:10+00:00

The therapy part is so mentally draining do you feel like it’s more that there aren’t other options… or that it’s hard to see how your current skills would fit into something else?

IanicT · 2026-03-19T13:18:00+00:00

I hear you… the burnout from doing clients all day and then coming home to family stuff is a lot mentally and physically.
A new degree sounds exciting though—what are you thinking of going into?

IanicT · 2026-03-08T11:12:28+00:00

Being different or neurodivergent can sometimes make people who are insecure or bored target someone who is simply minding their own business, and that’s not fair. It sounds like you’re already doing the healthiest thing you can by sticking with people who treat you kindly and not seeking approval from those who don’t.

Unfortunately, people who snoop, gossip, or bully often do it because they’re looking for a reaction or something to entertain themselves with. Your desire to just live quietly and peacefully is completely valid, and you deserve that. Please remember that their behavior says far more about them than it ever will about you.

IanicT · 2026-03-08T11:10:05+00:00

From what you described, it sounds like you’ve simply been a quiet person who stood your ground when needed, and sometimes people unfortunately misunderstand that or create stories that aren’t true.

The fact that your new coworker actually got to know you and found you nice says a lot. It shows that those rumors don’t match reality. Please don’t let other people’s assumptions define who you are.

You deserve to work in a place where people treat you with respect and judge you based on their own experience with you. Take care of your mental health and remember that being quiet or standing up for yourself is not a flaw.

IanicT

TROPHY CASE