Scary Scalp Stories: Lessons from the Chair That Made You a Better Therapist
It’s Halloween week—and while most people are swapping ghost stories, we’re out here collecting scalp stories.
Not the glamorous ones.
The messy, awkward, humbling ones.
The ones that leave you sweating under your apron wondering:
“Did I just ruin everything?”
“Is this client ever coming back?”
If you’ve ever panicked mid-session, applied the wrong mask, forgotten an intake step, or had a client cry, flake, or freak out—you’re not alone.
That’s how you learn. That’s how you grow.
Every Holistic Therapist Has a Story
Here are a few common “scary” moments—and what they actually teach:
👻 The Sudden Shedding Scare
You performed a detox treatment, and now the client is shedding more. Lesson? Learn how to educate around detox reactions and reassure with confidence (see Blog 15!).
🕷️ The Overstimulated Client
You added too many actives at once—essential oils, enzymes, and exfoliation. Now the scalp is red and reactive. Lesson? Less is more. Build tolerance one layer at a time.
🧟♀️ The Emotional Release You Didn’t Expect
You barely began your massage, and your client broke into tears. Lesson? You’re holding more than just skin—you’re holding emotional weight. (Also see Blog 5.)
🎃 The “This Is Too Woo” Walkout
You brought in energy work or herbal infusions, and the client wasn’t ready. Lesson? Not everyone is your person. Stay aligned with your truth anyway.
Why These Moments Matter
Mistakes and missteps don’t disqualify you. They shape your professional intuition. They make you more intentional, more skilled, and more real.
They also help you:
Refine your boundaries
Improve your consultation process
Prepare better follow-up education
Let go of perfectionism
Homework for This Week
Write down one of your own “scary” or awkward client moments (even if you're still in training). Then reflect:
“What did I learn from that experience that actually made me a better practitioner?”
Every expert you admire has a messy beginning. Your journey is supposed to stretch you.
Here’s to growing through the grit,
Rebecca Oazem
Certified Holistic Trichologist, Naturopathic Practitioner, Creator of the PRANA Ritual Method™ & Founder of Aware by PRANA™
