Wrist and hand pain is common in any profession that is dependent on repetitive movement. It is little wonder why lash artists who can spend an entire day applying extensions can suffer from this as well. Sitting still in the same position applying one individual lash at a time can place a lot of strain on the body after all. Certain techniques can also place undue stress on the muscles of your neck and back which can also be a contributing factor.
If you suffer from hand and wrist pain after a long day working as a lash artist or cannot hold a lash without grimacing in discomfort, these tips may help:
- Invest in a good pair of tweezers that have a loose grip. That way you won’t have to grip them too hard to close them which can reduce strain on our fingers and wrist.
- You may grip the tweezers too hard if you are a new lash artist especially if you look away to pick a lash. This can cause your hands to cramp and place stress on your shoulders as well. To prevent that from happening focus on keeping your shoulders down and keep a light grip on the tweezers.Â
- Try not to make your hands hover over the client while you are working to prevent muscle fatigue. You can use her forehead to rest your hands and wrists as well but ask before you do that. Place a tissue on their forehead before doing this so that it soaks up any sweat or oils from your hands as you work.Â
- Don’t jump to the next client immediately. Give yourself 30 seconds to a minute to rest your hands and back and do some stretching exercises as well. Look to the ceiling, floor, right, and left and stretch your arms in front of you. Point your fingers to the ceiling and then the floor and then rotate your wrists for a few minutes.
- You will lean back at some point to rest while applying extensions. A stool does not give you the back support you need. Get an ergonomic chair to reduce discomfort which may otherwise move to your hands and wrists.
- Either use a suspended magnifying glass or wear magnifying glasses while you work. This way you won’t have to lean forward to focus and place stress on your hands and shoulders while you work.Â
- Make sure that your posture is correct. Your back should be straight so that you don’t have to stretch your arms and don’t have to sit up high to lean over. The client’s head should be at your chest level.
- Your movement should be in your fingertips and arms, not your wrists. A wide bed or massage table can allow you to rest your weight on your elbows and forearms as you are applying lash extensions on a client lying on it. This will stabilize you and ensure that your arms remain straight and in the correct position.
For more tips and practical experience, sign up for eyelash courses and get eyelash products from GloLashPro.Â
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