HJ VOICENOTES

Karis Woodward, stylist at Studio U, Winchester, shares her experience of post-natal depression and how hairdressing helped her reconnect with herself

KARIS WOODWARD

“GOING BACK TO WORK FELT LIKE AN ESCAPE. IT WAS THE ONE DAY I DIDN’T FEEL LIKE A MUM – I FELT LIKE ME AGAIN. RETURNING TO THE SALON GAVE ME A SENSE OF NORMALITY WHEN EVERYTHING ELSE FELT OVERWHELMING, AND SLOWLY HELPED ME RECONNECT WITH WHO I WAS OUTSIDE OF MOTHERHOOD.

I was 28 when I had my son, Noah. I had been self-employed for seven years with a fully booked column in a village salon. When I found out I was pregnant, I was shocked and conflicted, but after the first trimester my partner and I became excited. I had so many mixed emotions about what it would mean for my career and identity, and how everything would change.

I took four months of maternity leave before returning to work one day a week. Gradually, I increased my hours, but balancing work with breastfeeding and sleepless nights was difficult. Returning to the salon gave me a sense of normality. It was the one day I didn’t feel like a mum – I felt like myself again. I really valued that separation and space to breathe and reset.

People talk about “baby brain”, but I never lost confidence behind the chair. Being back at work reminded me who I was outside of motherhood. I also felt driven to work harder, using nap times and night feeds to stay on top of admin. I wanted to keep building something for both of us, something stable and lasting. Looking back, my post-natal depression probably began after Noah was born. Due to complications, I wasn’t able to have skin-to-skin contact and he went to neonatal care. The early months were a blur and I struggled with anxiety and a tight chest that I didn’t fully understand at the time. It felt overwhelming and isolating. At baby groups, other mums seemed completely in love with their babies and I felt different. An NHS assessment later flagged post-natal depression, and speaking to my health visitor helped me understand what I was experiencing. For a long time, I tried to push through on my own, not knowing how to ask for help.

The turning point came when a nurse began visiting me weekly at home. That support, along with medication, made a huge difference. Through Maternal Mental Health Alliance, I realised how common these feelings are and began to feel less alone. It also helped me understand I wasn’t failing as a mother.

After eight months, I started to improve. I rebuilt my confidence, increased my work and began to feel like myself again. It gave me a deeper understanding of maternal mental health and the women who sit in my chair. I want them to feel safe, supported and understood in my space.

Today, I adore being a mum and I’m proud to be a working mum. Balancing hairdressing, family life and my mental health isn’t always easy, but I’ve learned to show myself grace and appreciate the journey, even in difficult moments.