In the past, when I have been unsatisfied with the results of a hair appointment I shared my concerns and a follow up appointment was scheduled ASAP to remedy the hair situation. I do think it is fair to give the stylist a chance to fix the problem.

When I need to move on from a stylist, which I have only done a few times, I am tactful and truthful with my reason. Yes, it has been awkward, but sometimes honesty is.

The amount of the tip depends upon the services I receive. I expect quality every time, but I will leave more if my stylist does more than usual. For example, right now I am growing my hair out for Locks for Love. My appointments consist of coloring and maintaining the health of my hair. No blowdrying or styling is involved. However, when we decide to cut my hair, perhaps change the color and go for a style I will increase my tip if I am happy with the services I receive. I usually leave 15%, but will do 20% at times. Currently my stylist is doing her homework and we consult about potential styles for my upcoming new do. Shall I make a gradual, intermediate change (say same color with a medium length style) or shall I go from long to short with a new color all at once? I haven’t decided yet!

I just had a really bad haircut myself. This one was not done by my usual stylist, but still at the same salon. Nothing to be done about it really as they main mistake was cutting my fringe far too short! I guess it will grow back. I actually used this new stylist as I wasn’t happy with my usual one. My problem is that I want to have my colors done and the haircut in the same salon and I can’t seem to find a stylist that REALLY understands western hair and create good modern cuts in that same salon. Tipping is not done for hair stylists in Singapore.

I have usually only had to move on from stylists when I move, however, when I first started getting my hair cut by the person who cuts it now, she was working in a different salon with her current business partner and one other lady who later left town. I got my hair cut by the current business partner a few times, and then there was some reason that she wasn’t available for a few weeks so I had Lisa cut my hair instead and somehow never switched back. She does a great job with color, and usually a great cut although getting my recent shorter style to behave itself has not been 100% smooth sailing. If something’s bugging me I can go in and she’ll fix it, but if it’s a minor shaping issue I usually just wait for the next regular cut and tell her what I think needs adjusting.

Breaking up with your stylist is hard to do, I agree. Luckily, like you, Angie, I haven’t had to do that much. When I decided to get a pixie cut two years ago, I simply left my salon, which was in another suburb, and started going to a salon in downtown Chicago. I suppose I could have called my stylist and told her why I was disappearing (I needed someone who could really cut short hair well, and that was not my former stylist’s forte), but I didn’t. Maybe a stylist will chime in and tell me if that would have been appreciated or not.

I tip 20% on both the cut and color.

I”m so unconfrontational that if I ever decided to leave my stylist of 6 years I’d go to a different salon all together. Unfortunately I probably wouldn’t say anything. I would want to tell her I was moving on, but honestly don’t know that I have the courage.
When I find a spot that isn’t quite working I just fix it myself. I could easily call and she wouldn’t bat an eye for me to come in, but it’s usually just as easy for me to grab my own shears and snip the spot that needs attention as I’m styling my hair in the morning. I can go in for free bang trims too, but I almost always do those myself as well.
I tip about 15%, which honestly I can’t quite figure out why tipping is an expectation for stylists who rent their spots and set their own rates. Maybe someone can enlighten me.

I agree with Laura, breaking up with a stylist is a hard thing to do. In fact, I think it may be more difficult than ending a relationship with a significant other. Two years ago, a very good friend became a stylist, and I felt compelled to use her. However, I worried how my other stylist would feel. Since I leave in a small town, there would be no hiding the fact that I was using a new stylist. Finally of much wringing of my hands, I leveled with my stylist, explaining my connection to the new stylist. She was very receptive and we parted on good tersm. In fact, when my current stylist can see me, I visit the old stylist. It is not a typical situation but it has worked for me.

I have been very fortunate to only suffer from one bad haircut in my lifetime. It was at the hands of a stylist that I did not have an established relationship with, so I just moved on. With my current stylist, if I have an issue with something, she has to come back in and we work till I am satisfied.

In terms of tipping, I tend to tip 10% as a general rule. However, if I schedule an appointment on short notice, or we do something wild to my hair (like wash, blow dry and straigthen my naturally curly hair – then lop off 10 inches) I will tip closer to 15%. I

I’m lucky in that I love my hair stylist and have moved salons with her for about 10 years. I tend to get stuck in ruts, and she encourages me, gently, to try new color schemes and cuts. She also knows to keep my hair simple to style. I tip 15% on hair and color.

I love my current hair stylist and Ive followed her all over creeation for the past 6-7 years. She’s great with curly hair and she’s always given me a great cut, and she insists I call her if something is not to my satisfaction so she can fix it. Haven’t had to take her up on it yet, but it’s good to know I can. However, if I ever decide to go back to having short hair I’m not sure I’d choose to stay with my current stylist, short hair not being her expertise. I would probably give her the benefit of the doubt the first time though, since she’s earned my loyalty. I typically tip her 20% or even a bit more since I don’t get my haircut as often as I should. Sometimes a few extra months go by when they shouldn’t. A testament to her clients’ loyalty: once a month she packs up and goes to a different city to work for her clients from the times she used to work there because they still want her to cut their hair. So, she does this odd Chicago-NYC-DC triangle because she’s amassed clients in all three places over the years who still want her to cut their hair.

Fortunately I’ve never had the experience of breaking up with a stylist that I had really bonded with. When I was growing up, my whole family (grandma included) got our hair cut by the same stylist. When I went away to college I would still see her sometimes when I was home on break from school, but I noticed that I was starting to just get the same haircut over and over, and I wanted a change. I tried out different stylists in my college town with varying results – no cut that were *bad*, but some simply didn’t work as well with my hair texture and ability to style the cut on my own as I would have liked. Usually the cut looked good for the first couple weeks, though, and I wasn’t dissatisfied to the point of needing to go back in to have the stylist correct something. Instead, I would just move on and try out a different stylist the next time. I eventually found one that I liked and stayed with until I moved.

I went through the same thing when I moved back to Seattle – I tried a couple stylists out, found one I liked – and she left the salon. After some frustrating trial and error, I was shopping at a mall and spotted a sales associate with CUTE hair that looked just like what I was hoping to achieve, and got a recommendation for her stylist, who I have been with ever since.

I trust my current stylist absolutely. She really get my hair type and texture, and so far I have not been unhappy with a cut. I’ve had a couple cuts where a certain lock of hair became unruly after a week or so – usually the locks around my ears, which tend to flip in odd directions when past a certain length – and she told me that if that ever happens, come in (free of charge) and she will clean up the area. But I have not had a cut that I have been dissatisfied with at all.

I usually tip around 15%, sometimes 20%, because I know my stylist always does a fab job, and I want to express my gratitude. I get SO many compliments on my cuts from friends, colleagues, and even random passers-by, which is absolutely worth the amount of the tip!

I have lived in 9 cities as an adult so I leave the salon if I don’t like the cut, I do give them several chances though. But it is hard to land in a new city, unpack, settle the kids, school, find my job,etc and find a stylist.

This time I tried one near my house, the girl never listened, charged huge, huge prices, so i left and tried another close by, which I love.

However, I do a dilemma there. I was having it cut and coloured by a young man, who left. I moved on to another stylist, same place, and he cuts my short coarse hair really well. Then the first guy came back,.so far, I have not run into him, but I think it will be awkward.

I tip about 10%, as my cut and colour could easily feed a family of 4 for a week!!

Post script: the person who is growing for Locks of Love, we have a similar program here and they don’t keep any hair that is colored, so you may want to check that out

I only get my hair washed and cut, because i don’t highlight, die or have special treatments, so I hate it when they charge me a lot more than what should be expected. I consider it a fraud and not fair. That’s why I’ve abandoned my previous two stylist. The third one was because she finished my hair in like fifteen minutes and charged me as if she had spent an hour of her time, which made me feel like I was a nobody, and a stupid one, for that matter. My current stylist is not a stylist, she is a hairdresser and just cuts how I ask her to. She doesn’t impose her opinion, and she doesn’t even show one, but at least she doesn’t pretend she’s something she’s really not, and charges coherently. Since I normally have something in mind, and I am quite a classic costumer anyways, that’s fine with me. I don’t need an imaginative hairdresser, I just want someone to cut my hair properly without forcing me to use this product or buy this other thing – I hate when hairdressers sell you stuff like it’s a drugstore. I never told my previous stylists why I had left, or even that i had left at all, but they live in my neighborhood, so they see me regularly with new haircuts. I don’t care because it’s not my fault. As simple as that. I once had to go back to my hairstylist the day after because I wasn’t totally happy with the cut, and she fixed it immediately. I’ve also been to the hairstylist so she could just trim a fringe, and didn’t get charged for that either. In Spain we don’t tip hairstylists, only waiters in restaurants, and we don’t have to do it per se, only if we think he or she deserves it.

Regarding tipping, what is the general procedure when you work with the owner of a salon. I have heard that you don’t have to tip the owner.

I don´t think that I have to give an explanation when I decide to change to another hair stylist. I also don´t apologize to H&M when I get some goodies at Zara…;)

I agree with Airin on the selling part: I also hate it when they try to talk me into expensive products. I have to say no while they are still using sharp scissors…It scares me to death No, really, I´m uncomfortable with that.

In Germany we tip 10%.

I changed stylists about a year ago, after an 8-year stint. I felt a little bad, but my style was getting stale and I really needed a new perspective. As you wrote, it is my head and my $$$ — but we also tend to become friends with our stylists after a long period. I always tip 15 – 20%.

I’d like to add the following in response to this comment:
>>I’ve had extremely bad haircuts, but they were by hair stylists who had not gained my trust and loyalty.

Both me and my best friend have had the misfortune of once having bad cuts by our go-to stylist. In both cases, the stylist was EXTREMELY distracted, and should not have been cutting hair that day in the first place! In my friend’s case, a relative of her stylist had just been in a car accident. In my case, my stylist (also the salon owner) was having a “beef” with one of her other stylists. Again, neither of them should have been cutting our hair, but we both were honest in going back to our stylists, expressing our displeasure, and the situation was “made right” by them fixing the problem free of charge (or offering the next cut/service for free).

This is what I am dealing with right now. Honestly I’ve had two people in my life I have been loyal to and found each of them on a fluke. I am considering leaving my stylist of almost 5 years right now. I’ve had quite a few amazing haircuts from her that made my hair do things I never knew were possible. However, in the past few years she has been dealing with some difficulties in her personal life and I am beginning to wonder if they are impacting her ability to do good hair. As I have been back and forth between a couple of cities the past couple years I have occasionally strayed and I have been disappointed each time and felt a little guilty when I came back to her.

I never have a problem speaking up about something I want changed or coming in for another appointment. I usually tip ten percent, but my current hairdresser does a student discount, so I usually tip much higher because the cuts are so affordable and she takes her time.

I have left my hair stylist a couple of times to go to others for experimentation. . . she didn’t ask too many questions and I did not feel obligated to tell her anything. Have been going to her for a very long time and we’ve had our ups and downs. Her area of expertise is color and that is more important to me than the cut which is not too complicated for me. Although I feel she needs some help when it comes to texturizing and I often wish I could see somebody else to give me a better cut. . . I usually tip her 15% and she is the owner of the salon. Know I’m not obligated to tip her. It’s rough finding somebody you really, really like–it’s kind of about personality too which doesn’t always go with the talent/skill level of the stylist!

I am lucky in that I have a trusted stylist who knows how to cut curly hair. She always mentions that I can come back after the cut and she will touch up anything for free, but I have never had to take her up on her offer. I like her manner too: She is friendly and warm, but I don’t feel like I have to talk non-stop for 45 minutes, if you know what I mean.

At the salon I go to, they have a no tipping policy. It is the best! Before, I would fret about tipping the person who washed my hair, who cut it, how much to leave, etc. Now it is worry-free and couldn’t be easier.

Oh and she will always fix any problems for no additional charge. That is always very important.

I just got the worst haircut at the mall, well, it was a month ago. The stylist did not listen to me, and I went home and hacked on it myself. Even when I was in the mall, I knew it looked bad.

I have a cut that a college professor did for me in the spring. Now that it’s winter-time, I’m growing my mane out for the colder weather.

I am hoping for luck with a friend whom I haven’t seen in a decade and a half. I think it is necessary to be confident in yourself when you’re dealing with a new stylist, and to not throw away a lot of money on a haircut.

I think my hair grows 3/4″ every month, so no crisis for me, really. I went to the cheapest salon this summer, and they did EXACTLY what I wanted. My tips on finding a stylist include the one that has sexy / cute hair, and knowing who did it for them.

I tip $5.00 cash, or $10.00 cash depending on how I feel.

This is such a great topic for a post, Angie! Thanks for addressing what most of us will experience at some point or another.

I have had to break up with a couple of hair stylists in the past. The first time I sent a note explaining that I just felt I needed a change and thanked him. It felt awkward but I just didn’t feel right not saying anything. The second time I just left without explanation. I have been anxious to make another change once again. I adore my hairdresser, she is like a dear friend. I liked how she did my color but had been unhappy with the cut for quite sometime and attempts to tweak didn’t seem to help. In the mean while, we moved and I had been driving 1 hour each way to appointments. I would have her do my color and go locally for the cut. That seemed ok but silly to make 2 trips and appointments for what should take just 1. She has since decided to move and I have switched to my hair drawer closer to home. I love my new do and I will miss my hairdresser, my friend.

The last time I left my stylist, I didn’t say anything. I feel kind of bad, because I just stopped going and it seems like I abruptly ended our relationship. It never occurred to me to explain that I was leaving. This post is making me think differently.

When I moved cross country from San Francisco to D.C., I had been talking to my stylist about the move. Then when I moved and realized I didn’t say goodbye, I called to say it so he would know that I had left. Awkward.

Somehow I feel so grateful if my hair does not get “butchered” that I tip 20%. Beginning to think I have stylist “issues.” haha

Thanks for tackling this topic, Angie! Luckily I’m in the same boat as you (or rather, in the same fabulous hairdresser’s care ) and haven’t had any hairdresser issues in years. I’m usually thrilled with my cuts and color, and the few times where a cut turned out not be as great as the one before, I always tell Teresa and we work together to figure out what was different and how to address that in the next cut. I tip between 10-15%, and sometimes I give an extra tip at Xmas time – I don’t know how common this is; it is very common in Germany where I grew up and I still have that stuck in my head.

Angie, one issue that complicates the first issue above would be if you wanted to switch to another hair stylist in the same salon. I haven’t had this happen myself at a hair salon, though I’ve done this (switched providers) at a massage clinic. It’s a pretty delicate matter, much harder than just leave a salon/practice altogether. But in the end, as you say, it’s your money and you need to be satisifed, so I’d encourage everyone to not worry too much about awkwardness and speak up and get best haircuts/treatments possible.

Wonderful timing, Angie, as I’m having my hair cut on Friday and point #2 needs to be addressed with my hair stylist this time:

It’s not you, it’s me: I’m in agreement with you here, and have no problem simply trying someone once or twice and moving on. I think I have finally found someone to stick with and show my loyalty. While she lives out of the area, she does come to our city regularly, so I schedule my next cut with each visit. Now, that my hair is shorter, I make very regular appointments, about every four to five weeks. When I had my bob, I was going about every eight weeks.

Unsatisfied customer: I have to put my diplomatic voice on and mention to my hair stylist that she made me too blonde and bleached out last time and there was one really weird gold section on the top of my head last time, which I could tell even she noticed, but didn’t say anything. So, it will be up to me to address this and see what we can do to find common ground on the hair color/highlighting issue.

The tip: I generally tip 20% in restaurants and with hair stylists and facials, I tip somewhere between 15-20%. If I feel they are getting a cut from all services, then it may be in the 10-12% range, but usually it’s at the upper end.

This is a great topic Angie!

I can tell you honestly as a stylist that break ups do occasionally happen and are to be expected. We stylists are less sensitive about this than you think. We break up with you too, I have cut more than a few clients loose myself…Sometimes it is just not the right fit for the stylist, other times it is the client. No hard feelings.

I totally agree with your post Angie, adding that styling, coloring and cutting hair is more art than science and it is never going to be exactly the same each time. I have a very generous and loyal following and they allow me to be creative. I believe “water seeks it’s own level” in these cases and you will eventually will find a stylist who is like you in personality and style.

Also, It is my experience that Locks off Love does not take color treated hair as a member above mentioned.

I tip 20% because I only get my hair cut 3xs per year. My stylist cuts my curls that well … they really do grow out nicely. So I see the value in her work. I want to go in 4xs per year but busyness gets in the way of that. She spends over an hour on just a cut and dry. I think she’s worth every penny!

I’ve been very lucky. I moved 10 years ago and was floundering for a new stylist. Like many, I happened to see someone who’s hair was what I wanted. I asked and she told me where she got hers done. I’ve been with Heather ever since. She helped me make the transition from long to short, I’ve also changed color.

I tip 20%. She works hard, she does what I want unless she thinks it will look badly. And then we’ll discuss it. If I go in for a trim, I’m in and out PDQ. I also tip her generously at the holidays.

This is such a timely post for me. I have always had a somewhat difficult time finding a stylist that can manage my cut and color. My hair is an shade of red that some stylists aren’t comfortable doing and my hair is stacked in the back with long tapered sides in the front. I get lots of compliments on the cut and comments from people saying that cannot communicate that style to their own hair dresser. My stylist does a good job most of the time, but the last cut I had to go back and get a redo. She also does this free of charge and always maintains a very good attitude about it. I’m particular though and can pick up on unevenness that she misses (and that the avg person would probably not notice).

I always tip 20% and for a haircut and tip I am up to $50. Add in the color and it is over $100. I’m starting to feel like this is a bit too expensive.

I would love to hear everyone’s thoughts on the avg price of a cut AND what does everyone do at Christmas?? Do they tip extra, bring a gift, etc?? I see my stylist every 4 wks so I go pretty often.

One more thing I do appreciate about this stylist. She is ALWAYS on time! That has not been the case in the past and it means a lot to get prompt service.

I am lucky that I have a stylist that I like and trust, so I have not had to deal with breaking up. I generally tip between 10-15%, but that is on my cut and color, which is quite pricy to begin with (although pretty standard or even cheap for my location); my stylist is also the owner of the salon, and I usually purchase a shampoo and conditioner as well, so I think that the smaller tip is appropriate. If I just get a cut, then I usually tip more like 20% since the base bill is much lower.

Salon visits are a sore spot for me. My apologies in advance to any stylists reading this, but I find that most of the hairdressers I’ve worked with are terribly unprofessional, even in my upscale neighborhood. First, if you use a stylist regularly for cuts, why is it too much trouble for them to make a note on a card or something describing how they cut your hair this visit? When I’ve had a cut that is perfect, I have seldom been able to get the same cut again, even 6 weeks later. It’s always either shorter, shaggier, spikier, or wispier or something. Second, stylists seem like they need to tell you all their woes. I had one recently describe all of her financial difficulties, tell me she watched her cat die because she didn’t have money for the vet, describe her attempts to file for bankruptcy (for the second time), and generally make my visit unpleasant. She also disparaged other people who worked in the same salon, and even dropped the f-bomb, she got herself so worked up about it. After a couple of bad cuts, I stopped using her.
Another chooses more pleasant topics, but her voice, coming from an area 10 inches from my ear, is about 150 decibels. If she laughs, which she does often, I’m sure I will suffer permanent hearing loss. I’ve sometimes gone there when I had a migraine, and told her so, but it didn’t seem to register and she kept the volume up full blast.
I spend about $75 for a cut and single process color, and always tip around 20%, sometimes more if I round up to the next dollar. Add highlights and the tab with tip is over $130. For that kind of money, I not only expect a good color and cut, but a pleasant and relaxing experience as well. Instead I often leave the salon tense. She does a good job, so I continue to use her.

Thanks for sharing your experiences and perspectives, ladies. I find it fascinating.

Joanne, that’s too bad. I have never experienced a salon remotely like that and am a little stuck for words. It sounds awful . I hope that you find a professional hair salon asap.

Target Addict, that’s a good point. We all have our off days because we are only human. It’s an unfair expectation for sure – yet we have them. The same way we expect doctors and vets to have all the answers. It’s hard to get around that one sometimes.

Taylor, as a hair professional I am extra glad that you chimed in! I’m glad to hear that these issues are generally not as sensitive as I thought. And I NEVER would have thought that hair stylists break up with clients. Of course, that makes sense too.

Antje, great point and I agree that changing to another stylist in the same salon is even trickier. Stylists within the same salon charge differently, and if you want to switch to someone less expensive, I guess things becomes less delicate.

My hair is cut by the owner of the salon, whom I always tip. Why should the owner not be tipped?

I am about to look for a new hairdresser, having moved countries. It only took me 4 years to find a decent one in London at a reasonable price!

I have broken up with many a hairdresser, mostly because they do not listen to me when I talk about how my hair responds to various techniques. I have tricky hair, getting a cut is difficult and thanks to my fantastic old hairdresser in Wellington, prior to moving to the UK, I do know what works and what doesn’t. It will be harder in the small town I am moving to!

This hairdresser in Wellington has a 100% guarantee, and this is openly stated on their website. In the year leading up to my wedding, Karen (my hairdresser) trialed techniques everytime I went in for a cut. I loved the result on the day.

We don’t tip in New Zealand, but I have brought a big box of chocolates at Christmas time!

You know, I’ve only glommed onto two stylists my whole life. The first one… well, the salon she was at became this zoo of foofiness – they installed a coffee bar in the middle of the place. We both just drifted away.

I tip 20%.

I left a stylist once not because of any issues with my hair, but with how she was running her business. I was sad to do so, because she did a great job on my hair and was a really nice person, too.

I was usually her first appointment of the day and she was consistently late. Not five minutes late, but more like a half hour! Twice she called to say she wouldn’t be coming in at all and to reschedule.

When she did finally show up, she would explain how complicated her family life was (sick mother, difficult step children, etc.) I completely understood that her family was her highest priority and that it was her choice to put them before her clients. However, she needed to know that the decision to do so would impact her business. And have no doubts about it, cutting hair is a BUSINESS, a job.

What I did was write her a kind, clear, firm letter that said I could no longer use her as my stylist. That my time was valuable, too, and I needed to know that when I scheduled an hour appointment, it would take only an hour (plus travel time) from my own business/work. I acknowledged her choice to put her family first and wished her the best of luck in the future.

I hope she took it to heart, because she really rocked the scissors and hair dyes.

Good advice. I usually just leave and find someone else because I typically put off haircuts for 6 mos. As for the tip, it depends on the person. I usually leave 10% for a haircut and a little more for cut and color.

Such an interesting post. My hairstylist is also a very close friend so I would have to be very careful about how I navigated a break up, fortunately he is an excellent stylist so I am optimistic for our future

Tipping is a problem of which I face regularly, if I tip Tim he will give me hair products so I have learned to bring biscuits for the staff instead. I may be mistaken but I think a tip is not expected in the UK; yet!

I recently changed hair salons and I am so happy I did. I was looking through old photos the other day and feeling even better about it. I felt guilty at the time because personally I really liked the person who was cutting my hair, and she had done some non-work related things for me that were really generous. My DH still goes to her, so that alleviates my guilt somewhat. Ironically I decided to go back to an older hairdresser who I trusted absolutely but who had changed locations to somewhere I had deemed too far away. The issue is that I wanted to try highlighting my hair, which I had never done before, and I really needed to trust that someone would be precise and cautious.

Fortunately for me, I have always stuck with my hair stylists for many years in a row – until they move. In the case of bad haircuts, I didn’t return after the first or at most second time so breaking up wasn’t an issue. I usually tip somewhere between 10 and 15% – higher especially if they trim my bangs in between for free – then I go up to 20%.

I’m a 20+ %er in terms of tip, because the salon I go to has a whole management structure above the stylists and I know they take a cut. I want my stylist to be really, really happy to see me.

The salon I go to calls itself an “open concept” salon, where you get the next available stylist. Kind of like Supercuts, but very high end. I put up with that garbage for a while, but now when I call to make an appointment, I say I want Bradley. And I always get him. They tried to lecture me about this a few times, but I’ve been going there long enough (and tipping well enough) that they let me have my way. Because 1) I want the salon to know how valuable Bradley is and 2) I wouldn’t go there anymore if I couldn’t be assured I’d get him as my stylist.

The area I’ve found tricky is the pushing of the products. When my appointment is concluded and I go up to pay at the counter, they have all the products used at my appointment all lined up for me to buy. I usually buy one or two things (shampoo, mousse, etc) because I feel a little pressured to do so. Now that I type this, I realize I should be as assertive about this as I am about making my appointments!

Last, the most tricky thing – ditching a stylist. I ditched one in my home neighborhood for an exclusive relationship with Bradley, who works near where I live. I liked my neighborhood stylist a lot as a person, but he kept cutting my hair much more choppy and rock & roll than I like. I told him at the begninning of each appointment that it was too texturized last time and could he make a smoother cut? But I was still dissapointed, and stopped making appointments with him. Now, when I’m out and about in my neighborhood, I sometimes run into him, I say hello, but I don’t linger to chat because I feel awkward about it.

Luckily, I’ve never had to deal with a break up or a really bad cut from my regular stylist. My latest cut was not my favorite, but he did exactly what I asked him so I will just wait until my next cut to make some tweaks. He gives me a discount, so I tip him on the higher side (25% for cuts, plus I tip him the same amount for my dd when he cuts her hair as I do for myself even though he charges me less for her cut. I only tip 20% for a bang trim.)

I have challenging hair, so unfortunately I have had to break up with stylists many times and I’ve never felt the need to explain why. I’m sure this happens all the time – clients come and go. Luckily, I finally found someone who gets my hair, and I love my current stylist.

As far as tipping, I go to a no tipping salon, and it’s fantastic. Tipping is such a source of stress for so many people, I wonder why more salons don’t have a no tipping policy? I would rather pay a little more for my cut or color (although my salon is very reasonable), than worry about what to tip.

When I do not like how my hair is cut or colored I do not go back to the stylist. I give them two chances and if I do not like the hair after the second visit I do not go back. I understand a poor job once, but if I do not like the work twice in a row, I think it’s time to move on. I’ve always been a generous tipper in the salon and tip 20%, plus the hair washer gets 10%. I never know if I tip too much or not enough but figure since I no longer color my hair the tip is much less than what I used to leave since a haircut is lower cost anyway.

Teresa did my hair several times and I loved her and my hair, unfortunately the drive was just too long for me so I had to switch to a place closer. They also do the best job on brows there. Now I go to a very large, very busy salon which I’ve been to off and on over the years. I’ve seen many different stylist there. I usually change when a stylist isn’t available on the day I want to come in and I have to take someone else, then I might just stick with that person.
I tip $10 for the cut and $10 for the color and the bill usually is about $120. It is awkward trying to know how much to tip so I’m glad you brought this up Angie. I was tipping each $5 until about a year ago when I had a spa day at the same salon and was shown that perhaps I was in the last century as far as tipping. I had a pedicure, facial, brows done, hair and maybe something else because the bill came to well over $500. I just about fell on the floor. Then to top it off the counter person handed me a piece of paper on which she had written how much I should tip each person which I think was 15% each! I just about fell on the floor again. I thought that was sort of rude. I later told my hair colorist about it and she said yes if you spend alot of money in there they do tell you how much to tip. It doesn’t make sense to me because I just moved from the pedicure spot over to the facial place and so on without any extra special treatment from them. Maybe it is because they took the time to match the appts up back to back. I decided right then that I am not a spa person.

I have had salon isuues recently and need to find another stylist. My problem is my cut and color this time was need perfect. I have thought about returning even after the spilled color. A dilemma for sure.

I went to a beauty school over the weekend for a simple $5 cut. Someone (a student stylist, not my own) said she hoped I was getting my eyebrows done while I was there.

Sheesh, thanks a lot! I knew I looked a little wild, but didn’t have to be so rude about it!

Does anyone tip extra when a haircut appointment is before Christmas? Or do you give your stylist a gift of some type?

I have to admit that I often try to avoid scheduling hair appointment before Christmas so that I would not have to navigate the “Christmas tips” issue.

@Makrame,
The advice I’ve read is to double your regular tip at holiday time. That’s what I do and my stylist seems really appreciative.

Great topic!

For the last 10 years or so one of my closest friends has been my hairstylist. When I moved 2 hours away last January we agreed that I would travel to continue having my hair done. Unfortunately I felt that each time I visited it was about getting my hair done and I preferred to just spend time with her and take the kids out etc. Given we are good friends I just chatted with her and that was fine. In the past though I have happily moved on from hairdressers feeling little obligation.

Coming up to nearly 2 years ago I was having my hair done at a particular salon (my stylist friend was heavily pregnant) and the first few experiences were very positive. On the last visit they damaged my hair quite seriously through the coloring process but tried to hide what they had done and would not acknowledge it. Long story short, I had to make a formal complaint. Not something I enjoyed doing but I had they been honest at the time of the appointment, apologised, perhaps offered some sort of compensation there is every chance I may have gone back. As it is I have not been back.

I now have a lovely stylist who listens, is patient and seems to understand how my hair need to be cut. We communicate well and I am not afraid to speak up if I am unsure of something she is doing:)

As far as tipping goes, this is not an Australian custom, so it really doesn’t factor at all. I may however take her a small gift when she does my hair before Christmas:)

Oh my goodness, Sandy. I’d have fallen onto the floor too.

I generally tip twice as much for a haircut around Xmas time. I do that with a few of our services that I am extremely happy with like the doggie groomers and the crew that clean our home.

This hits close to home with me. I’ve been going to the same salon for 15 years or more. The woman who does my color and cut, didn’t start out as a stylist, but worked her way into that position over the years. She does excellent color and she is a really sweet person. Until recently, my haircut was simple: just an inch or two off the bottom. Not very challenging.

Now I’m looking for something a little different with some texturizing and some movement. I asked Marta to do that, just in the front. Well, I wasn’t looking, and I ended up with some incredibly short layers. Everywhere. I really hate it, but there’s not a lot I can do about it now.

I don’t want her to cut it again, but it sure needs some help asap. I also don’t want to lose her as a colorist, plus I genuinely like her. On my next visit, I did tell her I was unhappy with the cut and the way it performed, but all she — and I — really know how to do at this point is let it grow out. Meanwhile, there is another stylist there (this is a very small salon) who is quite good, and much more skilled technically than Marta. I’d like to have her cut my hair, but I don’t want to embarrass Marta. I feel stuck between a rock and a hard place.

I’m very fortunate my younger sister became a stylist and my mother and myself are the only two people she cuts for free. Although…..I had to endure a few bad haircuts when she was starting out and the last cut she didn’t do what I wanted. She’s she’s my sis…I give it to her straight up when I don’t like it.

So I guess every stylist has an “OFF” day. Perhaps the cut is good, but too dramatic for what you are use to seeing in the mirror. Oh I know the unhappiness in a bad cut, but if the stylist want’s to earn your business, she will have you back for a bang trim or blowout to make good.

As far as tipping….truthfully, I feel my sister supplements her earnings this way. All salons pay their employees differently. 15% seems fair. I try to give the shampoo girl $3-5.

This is a very timely post. I was just rethinking my tipping procedure. I generally tip 15-20% on cut and colour. It may actually be costing me a fortune. I think that I’m going to dial it back a bit but I do really like to give extra if I get a really crazy great new cut or she really spends time straightening it.

Since I am cheap AND a committment phobe, I either go to the local beauty school or to Great Clips (where the haircuts are $13). You don’t really get a chance to develop an exclusive relationship with a stylist, although you can ask for them if they are in that day. I usually tip the students a few dollars (the cuts at the beauty school are $7.50) and three dollars at Great Clips (20+%), even if I have a coupon which cuts the cost in half. I don’t want the stylist to suffer just because their franchise is running a loss leader.

Either place will try to fix an unsatisfacory haircut for free and I have gotten the chance to take them up on it a time or two. Just this evening I took my 15 year-old daugther to Great Clips to get her long hair layered and “shattered” around her face. Later at dinner, she confessed that her cut wasn’t what she wanted, but didn’t realize it until we had left the salon. I took her back and even though the original stylist had gone home, a different one was very obliging and re-did the face-framing layers at no charge. She was so eager to please that I (having no cash) went home to get a five dollar bill and brought it back to tip her.

I love my stylist and if something sometimes is not quite right, I go back and he fixes it at no charge. We have a long-running joke about the time he trimmed the bangs I was supposed to be growing out. Curt was absolutely mortified, but it was so long ago I could’ve grown out bangs and bangs since then. I have a 4th awkward thing to add to the list: when the assistant does not inspire confidence. I confided to my manicurist in the same shop and she encouraged me to speak up, but I would have felt like a tattle-tale. So I didn’t say anything to my stylist, but fortunately my manicurist did, and that was the end of Melanie. Still, I should have gutted up and done the right thing – I really owe him that honesty.

I’ve always wondered about severing the ties with hairdresser, so I’m glad you raised this issue. I like the “just walk away” solution. I always feel like I have to over-explain everything.

Right now I’m fortunate to get my haircut in the basement of a friend who is a professional hairdresser, but has found that working out of her home part-time is a great way to be at home with her kids and get some hours in, too. She is very inexpensive, so I tip her 20%.

I remember going to a hair dresser and asking for a “short cut” …

My stylist shaved the sides of my head.

I was mortified.

I will never go to a professional hair cutter again.

I am non-confrontational, I would just leave the stylist without explaining.

I get a really simple wash, cut and blow dry. No color. I get a blunt, shoulder-length cut. I need to do it frequently as my hair grows fast. I pay the owner of the salon $25 each time and tip her $10. She is very experienced, this is fair to me.

I feel business owners deserve tips just as much as employees. Often the owner has put everything at stake to own the business — like their home is collateral for their business. When times are tight, the owner doesn’t take a salary, whereas she must pay the employees, utilities, rent, bank loan, supplies, liability insurance, workman’s comp, payroll taxes, unemployment taxes… you get the picture.

Thanks so much for this post, Angie! I’m on the lookout for a new stylist, and I’ve always wondered what the appropriate tip was. I think I’ve been tipping way too much, and I even tipped last time when I had a horrible hair cut! Why? I don’t know! I need to find my backbone when dealing with stylists. Thanks to everyone for their insight!

I once had a hairstylist that I really liked – until the day that I walked into the salon and sat down in the chair and he started reading the bible to me in a really loud voice. It took him twice as long to cut and color my hair, because he just couldn’t put down the bible. He even followed me out to the car when I was leaving – all the while continuing to read the bible to me. I really think that he was in the middle of some type of breakdown – I should have tried to help him – but instead I drove away and never went back. I really hope that he was OK!

I have left other stylists as well – always because I just didn’t feel like they “got” me and what I wanted – I think that they sensed it too – and so it wasn’t hard to just fade away into the sunset.

I think that I now have the best hair stylist in the world. She knows me very well – and she definitely “gets” me. She knows that I get bored with my hair easily – and that I am ALWAYS open to changing it up – and so she will do her homework ahead of time and have pics of different styles, color, etc. to show me when I walk in for my appointment and we talk about it and then decide what to do. She also will come in after hours or on her day off if I can’t get in during her regular days or hours – when she does that I tip her 25% – otherwise I usually tip her 20%. I am a firm believer that finding a hair stylist that works for your style is one of the main accomplishments in consistently looking your best and I feel very fortunate to have found her! I also think that because I end up spending a LOT of time with my hairdresser sitting in that chair (a couple of hours each month) that he/she needs to be someone that you genuinely like and enjoy talking to. My hairdresser is my friend – and I really look forward to going in for my appointments because I just like to vist with her!

This is a subject that’s been on my mind of late. I’ve been going to the same stylist for about 5 yrs. I’ve had some fantastic haircuts from her in the past and my hair is very difficult to cut and style because of the texture. But recently I am finding most of the cuts I get are disappointing. My stylist seems like she just has her mind on other things and is doing a sloppy, careless job. I am a very loyal person and I have a hard time leaving and also- we live in a small town and she owns a home very close to mine, so I will still see her. Awkward.

Secondly, she always sets up the next appointment after the current one, so I can’t just disappear, I will have to tell her to her face right after an appointment that I won’t be making another one. Very uncomfortable. She’s also the kind of person who is a bit sensitive and I suspect would be hurt/take offense. I’m dreading this inevitable breakup and keep hoping the next haircut will be better but so far, no luck. And, I have talked with her about what was wrong with the last cut. She doesn’t seem to get what I’m trying to say. She’s just very inconsistent. One time it’s too short, the next time way too long, mostly the shape is just “off.”

I also dread finding a new stylist.

So… any suggestions, anyone?

I always tip 15%.