Shoulder pain in hairdressers and barbers usually comes from working with the arms raised and held away from the body for most of the day. Cutting, blow-drying and coloring keep the shoulders lifted, often above 60 degrees, while the head tilts down and to one side to see the work. This loads the rotator cuff, the upper trapezius across the top of the shoulder, and the neck. The common results are rotator cuff tendinopathy, neck and upper trapezius strain and shoulder blade ache. Most cases ease over 6 to 12 weeks with changes to chair height and working position.
Key takeaways
- Main cause: long spells with the arms raised and held out from the body, with the neck bent and turned to see the work.
- Common problems: rotator cuff tendinopathy, neck and upper trapezius strain, and upper back and shoulder blade ache.
- Chair height is the main lever: a chair set so the client’s head sits at about your chest height lowers the arms and the load on the shoulder.
- Blow-drying is a heavy task: holding a dryer out and up for 10 to 20 minutes at a time loads the cuff more than cutting.
- Typical recovery: often 6 to 12 weeks with changes; tendon problems can take 3 to 6 months.
- Nerve signs matter: tingling or weakness spreading down the arm needs assessment.
The common problems, by body part
Shoulder
- Rotator cuff tendinopathy: an ache on the outer upper arm, usually on the scissor or dryer side. Worse with the arm held out and up, and lying on that side at night.
- Shoulder impingement and bursitis: a pinch in the middle part of raising the arm, often felt when reaching to the crown of a client’s head.
- Front of shoulder pain: an ache at the front of the shoulder from holding the comb arm forward and up for long periods, sometimes from the biceps tendon.
Neck
- Neck and upper trapezius strain: a tight ache from the neck to the point of the shoulder, often on the side you tilt toward. Builds through the day and through a busy week.
- Neck joint irritation (facet joint): a sharper one-sided pain when turning or tilting the head after a long day of looking down and sideways.
- Pinched nerve (cervical radiculopathy): pain, tingling or numbness that travels down one arm, usually with neck pain or stiffness.
Upper back
- Shoulder blade muscle ache: a burning band along the inner edge of the shoulder blade on the working side, from holding the arm out for hours.
The elbow, wrist or hand also take strain in this work; those areas sit outside this guide.
Early warning signs
- End-of-day ache: the working shoulder aches by the last few clients and settles overnight.
- Shorter tolerance: the ache now starts earlier in the day or the week.
- Night pain: lying on the working side wakes you.
- Neck stiffness: turning to one side feels tight at the start of the day.
If your elbows are at the height of your ears, the chair is too high or you are too low.
Load and technique changes
- Set the chair for every client: pump or lower the chair so the part of the head you are working on sits between your waist and chest height. Re-adjust when you move from the nape to the crown.
- Move your feet, not your arm: step around the chair to reach the far side rather than reaching across the client.
- Turn the client: rotate the chair or ask the client to tilt their head, instead of tilting your neck.
- Elbows down when you can: work with the elbows below shoulder height wherever the cut allows. Lower your arms between sections, even for a few seconds.
- Blow-drying: hold the dryer close to your body and the head, and swap hands for parts of the dry if you can. Break long dries into sections with the arms down between them.
- Sit for close work: a stool or saddle seat for detailed work at the nape brings your eyes level with the work and takes strain off the neck.
- Space heavy services and use breaks: avoid booking long blow-dries or color applications back to back, and take 2 to 3 minutes with the arms down and the neck upright between clients.
- Build strength: rotator cuff and shoulder blade strengthening two to three times a week makes the raised-arm hours easier to tolerate.
A return or keep-going plan by stage
- Weeks 1 to 2: cut the heaviest services where you can, adjust the chair for every client, and add arm-down breaks. Gentle shoulder and neck movement through the day.
- Weeks 2 to 6: start strengthening. Bring long blow-dries back in gradually, one or two a day at first.
- Weeks 6 to 12: most muscle strain has eased. Build toward a full column of clients, keeping your chair and break habits.
- Three to six months: tendon problems may still be improving. Keep up the strength work, especially before busy seasons.
Where else this could be coming from
Pain across the top of the shoulder or along the shoulder blade can come from the neck, especially if turning or tilting the head changes it. Tingling that travels down the arm points toward a nerve in the neck. Thoracic outlet syndrome can cause heaviness, fatigue and tingling in the arm when it is held up, which fits this work closely. Frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis) can begin like overuse but steadily limits movement in every direction. Left shoulder, jaw or upper back pain with breathlessness or sweating may be from the heart.
Call your local emergency number or go to the emergency department if
- Chest symptoms: shoulder, jaw, arm or upper back pain comes with chest pressure, breathlessness, sweating or nausea.
- Sudden weakness: an arm or leg suddenly goes weak or numb, or your face droops or speech slurs.
- Bladder or bowel changes: neck pain comes with loss of bladder or bowel control.
See a doctor today if
- Progressive arm weakness: grip on the scissors or dryer, or lifting strength, is getting weaker over days.
- Clumsy hands and unsteady walking: fine work feels clumsy and you are unsteady on your feet.
- Fever: neck pain comes with fever or a stiff neck that stops you bending your chin forward.
Get it checked soon if
- Not easing: pain has not clearly improved after 2 to 3 weeks of chair and break changes.
- Night pain: you are woken most nights.
- Tingling: pins and needles spread down the arm.
- Arm fatigue: the arm tires and feels heavy within minutes of being raised.
More on this area: neck and shoulder pain by job and sport.
Lower the work to the shoulder before asking the shoulder to rise to the work.
Written by Louise Yow, Neck & Shoulder Physio.