Tipping at the hairdresser - YouLookFab Forum

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Tipping at the hairdresser

BlondeAmbition

This is more of a vent than a question but does it seem unfair to tip 15-20% at the hairdresser? Plus tipping the assistant? Haircuts are so expensive in NYC, if you don't want to go to Supercuts you have to spend quite a big of money on a haircut. On average I spend about $300 on a haircut+highlights and 20% of that is $60 plus $5 for the assistant.

Anyone else feeling poor after a trip to the salon? There has to be a better way. I'm all for tipping but if you look up guides to salon tipping online the hairdressers all post that it should be 20%. I feel terrible that I sound so cheap but I save up my money to go to the salon, $60 is a lot to add on to that!

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33 replies

Latest reply was from Style Fan

Vildy

Veteran

I guess I end up tipping 20% and it's to the owner and once upon a time it used to be you didn't tip the owner but I just do. And $5 to the shampoo person. This is not an expensive salon, though. And I also don't go as often as I should and by the time I am long past having to go, it takes about 10 days to get an apptmt.

kerry

Veteran

My trips to the salon are not quite as expensive as yours (Toronto). Out the door I'm at about $285 including 20% tip - some to colourist, some to hair stylist, a bit to shampoo person. It's steep and it hurts so I only go 4 times a year. I'd like to go only 3 times per year to save money but we wear our hair everyday.

Diana

Veteran

I tip 20-25% but it's a) to the owner of a small business (sometimes she rents a chair out to another stylist and sometimes she has a helper/shampoo girl but mostly it's just her doing everything), b)she's been doing my hair for over 10 years, and c)the base price is very reasonable. I usually buy a bottle of conditioner or something too. I just factor the tip into the total price.

I am however guilty of not going nearly as often as I should, not because I can't afford it but because I have trouble finding the time. I go every 4-6 months, when really it should be 3-4.

Anonymous

I was a waitress when my girls were little.

It's pretty unusual for me to be somewhere or doing something that it's appropriate for me to tip for, only a few times a month. But whenever there's an opportunity I do, and I always tip heavy.

I don't calculate a percentage, I think more about what they might be able to do with it, like this could buy lunch, the train for a week, etc.

shedev

Veteran

I tip about 30 percent, and get really good service after my first visit

carter

Veteran

I tip 20% + $5 for the shampoo girl, but my base number is much lower than yours. Cut and color is $100 fee, but that will go up in September to $120. This will be the first increase in the 6 years I've been going to her. I go every 5 weeks for color ($50) and every 10 weeks for cut ($50).

My daughter lives in NY. Now I understand why she only has her hair done when she comes home;-).

Elly

Veteran

My hairdresser runs a small business and used to support her two boys with it, alone (I've been going to her for 14 years). She gave me the student discount all through college and would often sell me hair products at cost. She is very affordable. Today her kids are all grown and she has a wonderful husband with a great job and has been able to restrict her hours somewhat. Now that I'm better employed I tip 20% depending on the situation on that visit. She told me I was one of her better tippers, which sort of shocked me.

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

Ugh, yes, it really adds up, doesn't it! I stopped getting highlights and started coloring my hair again myself last year, because I was spending $150-200 every time I went to the salon. It's really hard in this area to find a decent mid-range cut - it's either Supercuts (which isn't that cheap anymore anyway) or $100+ for a haircut.

To answer your question, I give a 10-15% tip, but when I was going to a higher-end salon the percentage creeped down. I didn't give more than a $20 tip at any one visit.

Anonymous

I tip 20%. I go to a very popular and upscale salon. My hairdresser's price just went up to $80 for a cut, but he does miraculous work. So I figure I save a ton of money on not having to use a lot of product in my hair. Just some root lifter or a tiny amount of texturizer. No hair spray ever. I color my own hair with a demi permanent color every 3 weeks so I don't mind spending the extra cash.

Anonymous

I tip 20% too, and long ago made peace with it being part of the cost of the haircut. Yes, your base is higher because of where you live, but.....I think it's just the way it is. You'd tip that same amount on a dinner out, so there's really no difference, right?

Eliza

Veteran

Yes- 20% (occasionally a bit higher) tip and a generous holiday bonus. It does add up, yet the service offered is superlative, making it workable. I appreciate my stylist, who is wise, patient, kind and generous.

Gaylene

Veteran

I'm a generous tipper because I spend time in a service job waaay back when I was an undergrad. That left me with the conviction that, if I could afford the service, I could afford giving the person providing it a decent tip IF the person was doing her best to provide me with good service.

My current stylist is young, but very talented. She charges less than the other stylist because she is trying to build her clientale base. My cuts only cost me $40 so I never leave less than a $20 tip. I figure I get my money's worth because she'll fit me in on a moment's notice, she gives me lots of advice and tips on how to work with different products, and, most of all, she goes out of her way to make my visits pleasant and fun.

I'd be leery of gaining a reputation as a lousy tipper in a situation where someone was using chemicals and sharp scissors near me.

Robin

Hmm, I think I'm not tipping my stylist enough. Granted, there's no shampoo person so he's not sharing the tip and I'm not tipping someone separately for that. The cost of my cut - no shampoo but plenty of attention and styling suggestions, is unbelievably low, though. I pay $29 to $34 for a cut and have been giving a $5 tip. I'm still stunned that I found a terrific stylist for so little; the salon is really friendly and nonfussy, which I also like. Yup, definitely tipping more...and taking him a holiday present.

Your reply

Anonymous

My hairdresser gives me a lot of humor, advice and therapy during my appointments, so I always tip big for these extra services! And an extra-large tip for the holidays. He has two kids, so I know it's welcome.

kkards

Veteran

tipping is voluntary, so if you don't want to tip 20% don't. on the other hand, if it feels like you're paying to much, maybe its time to find a less expensive hair dresser? in NYC there's plenty of choices.

Gail

Veteran

I tip 20% wherever I go, unless the service is simply awful. My Daughter lives in NYC and NEVER has her hair cut there either, she has it cut when she comes home

viva

Veteran

I always tip 20%. Occasionally I wistfully think of the days when you didn't tip the owner, but those days are long gone, and I am a business owner myself now, so I do it gladly. I always tip 20%. And maybe I should be tipping more, since we have no shampoo person -- whoever is providing the service (cut or color) also does the shampoo.

What's so interesting to me here is hearing about cost. I've been dragging my heels scheduling a color for September because of cost, but the fact is I am getting a DEAL in little Portsmouth NH -- even with the top colorist at the newest salon in town -- compared to the city rates I am seeing in this thread, so I need to get over myself. Thanks for the reality check.

Robin

Question: Have the "rules" about tipping owners changed?

I've generally understood the "rules" said it was not necessary unless they've done you a favour, you've inconvenienced them in some way, or you're just saying thank you.

I do think it makes a diference if the owner is a one-person operation (or small business) versus someone who runs a space with lots of operators. IN the latter situation, they already have extra revenue outside of the work they do themselves.

Am I off the mark?Your reply

rachylou

Veteran

I personally just tip 20% on everything... it's easier on my brain.

milehighstyle (Linda)

Veteran

I'm getting a bargain here. I met my stylist over 20 years ago when I first moved to Denver. I've followed her to various salons over the years - they are always close to my home as we both live in the same area. I do my own color and she says I do a good job and should just keep doing it. I go for a cut every 5 weeks and she charges only $35 - my hair is usually in some sort of pixie so it's not just trimming the ends. It takes a lot of time. She does the shampoo herself. I end up tipping around 30% and still feel that I'm getting a bargain. She cuts my son's hair as well and charges by age - so he's 13 and it costs $13. I pay her $20 for that. And I give her a nice holiday gift. She's a treasure to me.

retailgirl

Veteran

I tip my hairdresser twent percent...she works out of her home. I've been going to her for over thirty years, and have followed her from salon, to her own salons, to times when she rented a chair, to now. She only charges $25 for a cut. She is extremely talented, has trained with some international hairdressers, and knows my thick, curly hair. A few times I've gone to someone else, but I always go back to her. The only thing I miss is the "salon experience", but for $25 plus tip, it's OK!

anne

Veteran

I am no help becaue of course I don't tip at all - living in Australia! I pay from $10 for a bargain basement trim at a place that only does cuts, and doesn't even have a basin, to I think around $30-40 for a take a ticket place. My budget records paying $68 dollars, for a cut and blowdry.

I colour my hair myself in the most low effort way - every so often I just spray a bit of lightening spray on.

Tipping freaks out many Aussie travellers to the US! I hope I would be generous if I ever go there again.

viva

Veteran

Is there no tipping for anything in Australia? I did not know that!

BlondeAmbition

I always hear that people who used wait tables tip better but that's not true for me. I was a waitress and I still don't overtip. I think the problem is that service professions are made out to sound like victims and I don't think they are. A lot of people are single mothers and raising kids, that only gets mentioned if you're in the service industry though. I'm a musician and believe me, nobody's paying me any big bucks and nobody even cares that I'm raising a kid.

At salons the hairdresser is earning 45% of the cost of the service. So if I'm getting a cut and color and paying $300 for it the stylist is getting $135. That's $67 per hour for the 2 hrs she worked on me. I don't make that much money per hour, don't know many who do, why should I give an additional $60? Sure, I give 20% at a restaurant but the waitress is only getting paid a couple of dollars salary, he/she actually lives off only tips.

And I have tried to go to less expensive salons. Not only is it exhausting to research and visit other salons but do you know how awful it feels to get a bad haircut and have to live with it for 4 months? I haven't been happy with my hair when trying to go down a few notches in price. I even stopped coloring my hair for a year and having bad hair was probably a major contributor to my post partum depression now that I look back on it (I was trying to save money when the baby came along).

I lived in Europe for many years and tipping was never something I had to deal with. There you just go to a restaurant, get a haircut, and you don't have to leave with an overwhelming guilt that you have to put your hairdresser's kids through college. I'm certain that guilt is the number one factor that's raising the tip amounts. That and the fact that salons are publishing their own expectations of tip amounts on the internet. I'm feeling utterly suckered. Sorry to be a downer, I just feel very uncomfortable being responsible to pay someone's salary when employers really need to take care of the people that work for them. There was a story on NPR about this the other day and it's gotten me thinking. There are even tip jars set on self service counters nowadays. Everyone wants in on getting tipped.

Anonymous

Well, I'm blessed because my favorite hairstylist now works for Supercuts. I tip 20%, which I think is appropriate. If she ever leaves the salon, I'm going to have to start forking out a lot more for haircuts and color. I'm crossing my fingers that won't happen.

catseye

Veteran

Tipping is a unique American phenomenon. I think the public's generosity is contributing to the problem. It is creeping higher and higher. Tipping was supposed to be rewarding excellent services. Now it is expected for anything that is not extraordinarily bad. It has completely lost its utility. I would like to see a movement to stop the tipping madness and give service work a realistic wage and just publish the real price of services. But it will never happen because too many people enjoying tipping and rightfully feeling very generous doing so.

You can tell that I did not grow up in this country.

Mona

Veteran

I was feeling guilty reading this thread until I read what BlondeAmbition and catseye posted. I did not grow up in North America and always thought that tips are used for rewarding excellent services. I pay 10-15% to my hairdresser as she does a really good job and I am satisfied with her. But it is not a given. I go to another salon for some other personal services and tip her the same way. I have always had excellent service at both places so I am guessing this must be normal tipping practice in my small town.
I may be missing something on why people working in service industry are victims. I just don't get it.

Gaylene

Veteran

I think tipping is entirely a social custom that is practiced in some countries and not in others. My mantra has always been "when in Rome do as the Romans do". I'll tip in Canada and the US but not in countries where service is included in the final bill or where it is discouraged or impolite. My own feelings regarding tipping--or covering my hair or women's rights or whatever--don't affect my actions at this level.

When I tip, I take into account my satisfaction with the service, the nature of the service, and the size and components of the bill instead of just sticking to a percentage. If my husband and I share a burger and choose a non-alcoholic beverage, I'll increase the size of the tip since our bill will be much less than a couple who choose separate mains and an alcoholic beverage; my rationale is my choices can sometimes mean more work for the server even though my bill is less. By the same logic, a $60 tip for a 2-hour, $300 cut and colour is very generous, while a $6 tip on a 1-hour, $30 cut is just average.

BlondeAmbition

Gaylene said "

When I tip, I take into account my satisfaction with the service, the nature of the service, and the size and components of the bill instead of just sticking to a percentage." I agree with this wholeheartedly.

I actually feel really good tipping 10-15% on a haircut and I'm comfortable with that. 20% is too much for a service that someone is already being paid for. I also agree that the tip percentage has inched upwards along with the guilt factor imposed on customers. It's very confusing.

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