Alyssa Cink

Through articles, newsletters, and social media posts, Marketing Content Editor Alyssa Cink provides risk management education to wellness professionals nationwide. A Gonzaga University alumna with a Bachelor of Arts in English and minors in Spanish and journalism, Alyssa's passion for communication enables her to write engaging and clear content across mediums. A former "Harry Potter" fan club president, she is a fervent reader and podcast listener who also enjoys exploring Utah with her corgi.

A hair salon stylist grimaces in pain from possible shoulder overuse injuries. Hairdresser shoulder pain and back pain can be prevented with stretches for hairdressers.

How to Prevent Overuse Injuries in Your Salon: Master Your Craft, Protect Your Body

By Alyssa Cink / October 28, 2024

Think of a job site that’s prone to overuse injuries.  What comes to mind first? Did you picture a construction site, where workers repeatedly lift heavy things and handle heavy machinery? Maybe you thought of crime scenes and fires, where first responders encounter varying degrees of danger and exertion every day. Now, let’s get real:…

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Massage therapist wearing scrubs performs a lymphatic system drainage massage on a client who’s covered with towels.

Lymphatic Drainage Massage Dangers and Side Effects

By Alyssa Cink / October 14, 2024

As a massage therapist or esthetician, have you studied the potential lymphatic drainage massage dangers?  Lymphatic system drainage massage (a.k.a. manual lymphatic drainage or MLD) is a gentle and relaxing technique. By lightly stretching the skin, it’s used to stimulate the lymphatic system, a group of organs, tissues, and vessels that balance bodily fluids and…

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Person with short, pink hair stands strong and confident while observing themself in the mirror, presumably after finishing chemotherapy. Hair plays a key role in body positivity and self-image, leading many to seek hair coloring after chemotherapy or even dying hair while on chemo.

Chemo and Hair Dye: How to Support and Protect Your Salon Clients

By Alyssa Cink / October 7, 2024

Is your hair salon prepared to tackle questions about chemo and hair dye? Hair dye and chemotherapy are difficult to address, because each person’s chemotherapy journey is so unique. You’re unlikely to hear the same story twice. There are different kinds of chemo for different conditions (like autoimmune diseases and blood disorders), and different reactions…

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Barber wearing a baseball hat and glasses carefully avoids nicks and cuts on a client’s face while shaving his beard. By gently pulling the reclined man’s skin on sensitive areas like the neck, he’s less likely to cause a barber shop razor cut.

Barber Shop Razor Cuts and Hair-Cutting Nicks

By Alyssa Cink / September 16, 2024

Nicks and cuts aren’t fun for you or your clients. For clients, a barber shop razor cut triggers anything from mild pain to genuine fear. Forums across the internet share scenarios like: My barber cut my ear. I didn’t see him disinfect his tools. Can I get HIV from barber scissors or HIV from a…

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Client sits at a workstation while her nail technician uses an electric filer on her nails. The tech puts the client’s arm and wrist on an elevated surface, an ergonomics best practice for preventing nail technician pain, a repetitive strain injury for nail technicians, like carpal tunnel syndrome, and other nail tech problems.

Nail Technician Pains and Aches: Why These Nail Tech Problems Happen and How to Prevent Them

By Alyssa Cink / September 2, 2024

“I am a nail technician and when I work my neck hurts when doing pedicures,” one Reddit user posted in a thread about painful nail tech problems. “Any help or tips for that?” “Wait until you have sciatic nerve damage and carpal tunnel,” another Redditer replied. “Repetitive injury is a definite cost of doing nails.…

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Two massage therapy clients lying on massage tables while their masseuse pours oil. Clients and masseuse appear relaxed, unlike those who are stressing over the question, “Do massage therapists need insurance”?

Do massage therapists need insurance?

By Alyssa Cink / August 26, 2024

Starting a massage therapy career comes with lots of big milestones and decisions. You’ll need to choose a class or training program to hone in your craft. Plus, you’ll decide what kind of setting you want to work in, like a spa, franchise, or hotel. Will you start your own business, or work for someone…

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A hairstylist smiles at a woman holding hair products in a salon, likely one the client purchased after receiving hair stylist product recommendations.

Hair Stylist Product Recommendations: Avoiding Hair Care Trial and Error

By Alyssa Cink / August 12, 2024

As a hairstylist or barber, you know that healthy, confidence-boosting hair doesn’t just come from the hair salon. To keep cuts and colors in top condition, your clients have to put in some work at home, too. Without the right hair products, tools, and maintenance routines, those bouncy curls and glossy locks can revert right…

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Essential oil diffuser displayed in a wellness spa next to bottles of essential oils, a bowl of dried plants, and a washcloth. Massage aromatherapy services like this one should address health claims regarding essential oils to prevent accidents.

Aromatherapy Safety and Massages: How do you set expectations with a client (and keep them safe) with aromatherapy services?

By Alyssa Cink / August 5, 2024

If alternative medicine is your jam, then you’ve probably offered aromatherapy services or used them, yourself. With a global market of $8.6 billion in 2023 and an estimated 8.7 percent growth by 2030, the massage and wellness industries see profound demand for essential oils. But with this spiking demand comes an equal need for aromatherapy…

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Image of a home nail salon setup, featuring a nail tech brushing their client’s nails with nail polish bottles, candles, and a couch off to the side. Nail tech displays professionalism needed for a nail studio at home.

At-home Nail Salon Requirements and Risks

By Alyssa Cink / July 22, 2024

Since 2020, the work-from-home life has become more feasible and desirable than ever before. According to data from the Pew Research Center, more than one in five Americans will work remotely by the year 2025. It’s no surprise, then, that nail technicians desire the same opportunities with nail studios at home. Self-employment, control over your…

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