Do you tip your stylist

[ajacks]

If I can afford it I tip, usually $5-10, but going to the salon is so darn expensive that sometimes I just don't have the extra to give.

 

[naijamade79]

Here are my tipping rules.. I go weekly..
I only tip the assistant.. Me coming up in here every week paying $55 is tip enough. I mean if I went less frequently maybe... but I feel that their tip is already baked into the prices.. it's an economic downturn out here.

Wow!!! what salon charges you that much?? I go to a Haitian salon in Long Island New York weekly for a wash and set, sometimes i wash my own hair and go there with my deep con already on my hair. Wash/set with deep con is 25.00. If i come with my deep con on my hair i pay 17.00. I tip her 5.00 for wash/set and 10.00 for a touch up. What are you getting done?

 

[Highly Favored8]

Since I only go 4x a year for my relaxers only

$5.00-10.00 b/c she goes over and beyond for me and she also if I need to change an appointment and she is heavily BOOKED she will fit me right on in =)

 

[Fine 4s]

Wow!!! what salon charges you that much?? I go to a Haitian salon in Long Island New York weekly for a wash and set, sometimes i wash my own hair and go there with my deep con already on my hair. Wash/set with deep con is 25.00. If i come with my deep con on my hair i pay 17.00. I tip her 5.00 for wash/set and 10.00 for a touch up. What are you getting done?

I pay 75 with a deep condish and trim...

 

[Fine 4s]

As an owner/stylist I don't expect tips. If you want to that's extra. I consider tips to be a "thank you and you did a great job on my hair, I like it and I will be back" sort of thing. That's the message I get when I am tipped especially when I get 30% tips or more.

I don't think that just because someone is the owner of a salon that they should be left out of the tipping pool. Owner work just as hard or sometimes even harder as the regular stylist and have more expenses on top of that.

It's not something you are supposed to do but it is a personal courtesy. I don't treat anyone any different just because they don't tip. The price of the services is what pays the bills not the tips. The tips are really just at little extra you can use to pay for lunch or things like that.

The clients of mine who do tip will also get those little perks that others won't. It's like a you scratch my back and i'll scratch yours kind of thing. I have been know to give away free product, free trims, free spot relaxers, free spot color, free shampoos etc to my clients.

I still treat everyone fair and friendly regardless of whether they tip or not.

Can you explain how giving little perks to some and not others is treating all clients the same regardless of whether they tip or not? If I don't tip and ask for that lil' 'extra' you will refuse?

 

[angelp]

You wouldn't feel akward and would you feel you can go back?

No....i would be more angry than anything else. If it was my regular stylist who did that I would probably give her another chance since I like her so much. But if it was someone else on her staff, I would let the owner know.

 

[*fabulosity*]

Wow!!! what salon charges you that much?? I go to a Haitian salon in Long Island New York weekly for a wash and set, sometimes i wash my own hair and go there with my deep con already on my hair. Wash/set with deep con is 25.00. If i come with my deep con on my hair i pay 17.00. I tip her 5.00 for wash/set and 10.00 for a touch up. What are you getting done?

I am near Detroit (hair mecca) we have 1 dominican salon (that is in the hood). Unless someone is doing your hair in their basement or you have been going to them since you were 2..you are going to be hardpressed to find anyone under $45 (that is good..let me put that in). I go to a salon/day spa and the owner does my hair. She has breakfast, drinks, etc there for the customers. And the salon is fabulous. That is the going rate for African American's round here. I get wash/dc/blowdry and flat iron. Even about 5 years ago when she was in another salon as a stylist it was $45. Some of you all are just lucky.. but I wasn't too pleased with my dominican experience (here since that's all I can comment on) and I felt the extra $30 was worth it to (1) not be scared (2) not feel like my neck was going to fall off bc the wash bowl didn't have the proper neck brace (3) have people who speak my native tongue and readily understand me and what I want. So I'm sticking with my peeps. Sure they piss me off sometimes with the high prices..but when I leave I can go wherever with my hair (and not have to go home and restyle it).

ETA: She also uses Kerastase and Loreal Professional (higher end products)..now if she was doing my hair with some CON and Suave ..then we'd have to have a price check..

 

[Much2much41]

Unless the service is just atrocious, if someone provides a service for me (waitress, bartender, valet, hairdresser, etc), they get a tip. If I can't afford a tip, I don't have the service done.

 

[*fabulosity*]

I'm sorry..hair dressers don't fall into that category for me. Waitresses, bartenders, and valets are paid with part of their base compensation coming from tipping. For the most part stylists set their own prices and I'm sure they give themselves a nice (comfortable) margin. To me a tip to a stylist that is driving a Range Rover and has 50 million LV bags is crazy..same as over-tithing in a church where the pastor drives a Bentley (or is driven in one).. unless you just have it like that. Now if you don't.. you should adjust your tipping philosophy. I don't get embarassed when I don't tip. I know she would rather me come pay the fee than give her an extra $10 here and again and not see me but once a month.

I work in finance and maybe it's just the way I look at it, but a tip is just that.. extra.

 

[BostonMaria]

I always give a tip at the salon. Unless the owner does my hair.

 

[TaraDyan]

When I used to frequent salons, I always tipped my stylist for a job well done. But then again, I'm a big believer in tipping all across service areas. Everyone has their way of saying thank you ... and mine is tipping well.

 

[curlmama]

I have to say sometimes...I only tip if I go a salon that has set/posted prices. I feel like the stylist has no chance to make any extra money unless I tip them.

But if the person determines for themselves their prices, I think they should price it so that they get paid whatever the need to get paid so I'm not giving them any extra (unless I have it or they do some amazing hair style for me).

 

[br0wney3z]

I usually tip $10 regardless of what I get done. Most times though I only see her for a relaxer dc and flat iron. That usually comes to $70 and I add $10. I guess that's a bit over 10% more like 12%

 

[CheLala13]

My mother taught me to tip when getting my hair or nails done. I give 5$, but I don't really go to the hair salon anymore, but when I do, I usually give bwteen $5-10. I have always liked my stylist and she knows what she's doing.

 

[NYAmicas]

I tip but it's not usually as much as planned because I end up getting charged extra because of the length and thickness of my hair.

 

[Much2much41]

I'm sorry..hair dressers don't fall into that category for me. Waitresses, bartenders, and valets are paid with part of their base compensation coming from tipping. For the most part stylists set their own prices and I'm sure they give themselves a nice (comfortable) margin. To me a tip to a stylist that is driving a Range Rover and has 50 million LV bags is crazy..same as over-tithing in a church where the pastor drives a Bentley (or is driven in one).. unless you just have it like that. Now if you don't.. you should adjust your tipping philosophy. I don't get embarassed when I don't tip. I know she would rather me come pay the fee than give her an extra $10 here and again and not see me but once a month.

I work in finance and maybe it's just the way I look at it, but a tip is just that.. extra.

I have family in the hair industry, and trust me, not all stylists and owners are rolling like that. They are amongst the first to feel it when the economy gets bad, because customers will start to stretch the time between visits. Besides that, they don't have the luxury of paying into 401k's or have an employer assist with medical, dental, and the like. It's all on them. As far as a margin goes, if they are the only stylists in the area, then they can pretty much charge what they want, but since most are competing with other stylists that pretty much provide the same services, there is only so much padding they can do before the clients realize they can go elsewhere and get the same thing done cheaper. There are a lot of variables involved, and that's why I personally chose to tip.

 

[amber815]

I usually do because I call her at the last minute, and she fits me in somehow. I only go to my stylist for touch ups now, and she does a good job and I have been going to her since I was about 5 getting my hair pressed.

 

[amara11]

If the stylist did a good job do you tip? If so how much? What if the hair only looks ok? Do you feel bad or akward if you don't tip? What if the prices are really high? When I get my hair done I always feel bad if I don't tip, but if I do tip I feel obligated to do it everytime since I did the first time. What do you ladies think?

I always tip- but I have one stylist that really does an impeccable job at straightening my hair. My hair is really thick and it can be a lot to take on. In the time it takes to do my hair, she could easily squeeze in 2 or 3 others, but instead of being greedy and having us all waiting around the salon she clears up her schedule a bit whenever I make an appointment so she can fully concentrate on my hair . Love her.

She get's my hair as straight as when I had a relaxer- yet without any heat damage. The salon is incredible professional- they don't have you waiting, they work on time and on schedule, great treatment (robes, drinks-including wine or champaigne- a lounge area in the back if you're getting a treatment and need to leave it in for a few minutes,etc) and yet the prices are not exorbitant in comparison to other shops around Boston. Seriously- I love it!

I normally tip around $10-$20 for the stylist and $5 for shampoo girl. If I treat my stylist well, she treats me well-including discounts here and there and sliding me for emergency appointments and the like if I ever need it (and her schedule is ridiculously packed).

If they don't do a good job I may give $5 (but I won't go back!)

 

[Menina Preta]

I only go to my stylist for touch-ups. I tip 5 bucks and I give the shampoo girl who rollersets 3 bucks. I may up my tips since I stopped going as often. (The touch-up is only 35).

 

[KizzieNapps]

I tip at least 20% everytime I go to a stylist....unless I'm getting braids or weave because that mess costs way too much anyway. I feel like they've gotton enough of my money, so I say if the style cost $100 and under I tip. Anything over that they're on their own

 

[vestaluv1]

WELL, OK, OK, OK!
I'M GOING TO SPEAK FOR (WHAT SEEMS LIKE THE MINORITY) WHO DO NOT GIVE TIPS.
I've only given a stylist a tip once and I really don't think its necessary.
At the end of the day, I expect the stylist to do a good job. Thats what shes getting paid for.
Maybe its a London thing, but tips are not a common thing here... besides we get ripped off anyhow.
It costs me 65 pounds for a touch up and quick treatment... thats like close to $100... 'HELLO'!
Restaurants, yes... we tip waitresses/waiters if they give exceptional service (more than expected)! Salons... :no no:... best believe you worked a miracle if you want a tip.

 

[moonglowdiva]

We do not have salon per se where I live. We have beauty shops. So no I do not tip. I always pay the stylist direct because she is an independent entity renting a booth.

 

[glam-]

Unless the service is just atrocious, if someone provides a service for me (waitress, bartender, valet, hairdresser, etc), they get a tip. If I can't afford a tip, I don't have the service done.

This is pretty much my philosophy, too.

 

[MizAvalon]

I tip anyone that does a service for me.

That said, I am a DIY'er now.

 

[sqzbly1908]

My answer was "it depends"..if the stylist owns the salon or is the "top stylist" and if the whole experience was great from beginning to end - I will leave a nominal tip, if not "nada". Especially if I am asking questions about the products being used on MY head and they want to act all secretive and ish.

If the stylist is just working in the shop, she does a great job and is not known as the top/master stylist, I provide a pretty decent tip. Another way to "not" get a tip is if one inflates the prices (i.e. saw a stylist charge a patron 25.00 for a Jazzing rinse) -

So many factors - I guess it would be case by case basis ....

 

[Br*nzeb*mbsh~ll]

I do tip, however, right before i divorced my stylist, I stopped tipping when her services went up $10 bucks last year in September (before the big recession), I was like, oh well, that's your tip and then some! I'd tip anywhere from $7-$10 bucks on the regular. Even when the service was lousy. I felt I was the better for it, and my generosity would pay off for me in the end. All of that was reason enough for me to transition, I was through with paying for inconsistent service and my hair was none the better for it. I was an every other week kinda client. Relaxer every 8 weeks (can we say over-processing?) Consistent, on time, underappreciated.

 

[HoneyA]

Yes all the time. Well I only go like three times a year anyway but she's really good and does only what I want so yeah about 15% of the total I would say especially since she's got a lot more hair to deal with now so it takes longer.

 

[angelp]

I'm really confused about the people not tipping because the person is the owner or is driving a nice car, etc.. It's almost as if you're punishing the person because you think they're doing well. If they're providing the same service as the other stylists in the shop AND assuming all the financial risks of having the shop, why shouldn't they be tipped as well? If it's not your policy to tip anyone (or a cultural issue), that's fine. But if you will tip everyone BUT the owner...?

On another note, I would really hate for the CEO of my company to not give me my yearly bonus next year because she found out I bought a new car or bought a new house. How well I'm doing financially has nothing to do with the type of service that I'm providing her. What matters is if I'm going above and beyond and demonstrate that I care about my job and not doing the bare minimum.

 

[angelp]

I do tip, however, right before i divorced my stylist, I stopped tipping when her services went up $10 bucks last year in September (before the big recession), I was like, oh well, that's your tip and then some! I'd tip anywhere from $7-$10 bucks on the regular. Even when the service was lousy. I felt I was the better for it, and my generosity would pay off for me in the end. All of that was reason enough for me to transition, I was through with paying for inconsistent service and my hair was none the better for it. I was an every other week kinda client. Relaxer every 8 weeks (can we say over-processing?) Consistent, on time, underappreciated.

I think that if my stylist had to increase her prices in the next year or two given the economy, it would be totally understandable. I would imagine that the costs of products go up, possibly her rent and utilities, etc., so it would make sense for the price to increase. Plus I expect an increase every couple of years or so. It only makes sense considering that a lot of us get an increase on an annual basis.

But lousy service does not deserve a tip.

 

[tenjoy]

I'm really confused about the people not tipping because the person is the owner or is driving a nice car, etc.. It's almost as if you're punishing the person because you think they're doing well. If they're providing the same service as the other stylists in the shop AND assuming all the financial risks of having the shop, why shouldn't they be tipped as well? If it's not your policy to tip anyone (or a cultural issue), that's fine. But if you will tip everyone BUT the owner...?

On another note, I would really hate for the CEO of my company to not give me my yearly bonus next year because she found out I bought a new car or bought a new house. How well I'm doing financially has nothing to do with the type of service that I'm providing her. What matters is if I'm going above and beyond and demonstrate that I care about my job and not doing the bare minimum.

IT ain't my job to access her financial risks or to keep her in her shop/salon. Many salons don't care to use good products or care to respect your time. Have you waiting 40 minutes just to get in the chair.

I do tip stylists if there prices are good or if the job is really good. And if everyone would not visit a salon because they couldn't afford to tip.....It would hurt the salon.