Tipping for hair services

[Britt]

I feel pretty safe asking this here, just curious.. what do you normally tip for your hair services? Particularly services $150+ and up.

I normally do about 18-20% but hair services are so costly now. I wonder what's expected from the stylist? For ex: if you're paying for service that's say $225/$250 do you tip 20% on top of that?

This question excludes braiders, their job is incredibly labor intensive. I will gladly tip them.

I've seen stylists talk about this on IG before. I remember on stylist going on about how if you can afford a Chanel bag you shouldn't have an issue paying her fees . I've also gone to stylists where I can see them sizing you up.

Pardon my ignorance with this question, I just want some thoughts on this. I asked someone else and they said it's ridiculous to expect a 20% tip on top of a service that's so costly. They would prefer if the stylist just upped their fee of the service.

 

[faithVA]

For me as the price goes up, the tip % goes down. If I was getting a service under $100, yes I would tip 20%. But by the time the service costs $300, my tip is between the 10 and 15% mark. Sometimes the price of the service isn't related to time and I can't see giving an extra $60. At that price point you have more than covered your cost and profit. $30 is enough of a thank you. JMO

 

[LivingInPeace]

I haven't gone to a stylist in over a decade but I thought the "rule" was 20% unless she's the owner of the shop.

 

[toaster]

I got my haircut and a detox and the service was around $350.

I planned to tip $60, although the woman that cut my hair is the salon owner.

I was pleasantly surprised that the service cost less if you paid cash, but I still tipped $60.

My thoughts are, if you own the salon, you priced your services to cover your needs.

I would tip 20% if I had an appointment with only her assistant, but her assistant charges $75 for a wash and go and she charges $250+ for a haircut.

 

[keranikki]

I tip 20% for services under $200. On the occasion where I received a service that cost more than $200 (ex. a weave), I don’t tip. My reasoning is I already purchased the hair from the stylist and I’m getting the service, which results in a $800-1000 service. Do you really need a tip on top of that?

 

[Britt]

For me as the price goes up, the tip % goes down. If I was getting a service under $100, yes I would tip 20%. But by the time the service costs $300, my tip is between the 10 and 15% mark. Sometimes the price of the service isn't related to time and I can't see giving an extra $60. At that price point you have more than covered your cost and profit. $30 is enough of a thank you. JMO

This is how I feel too. Exactly how I feel. I just came from the salon for a wash, blow dry and trim. I paid $155. This was my first visit and I liked the stylist, I gave her $30 tip. We discussed getting my hair colored. I know those visits are going to be more costly and Idk if I'll always have 20% to tip. She's also the only stylist and the owner.

I got my haircut and a detox and the service was around $350.

I planned to tip $60, although the woman that cut my hair is the salon owner.

I was pleasantly surprised that the service cost less if you paid cash, but I still tipped $60.

My thoughts are, if you own the salon, you priced your services to cover your needs.

I would tip 20% if I had an appointment with only her assistant, but her assistant charges $75 for a wash and go and she charges $250+ for a haircut.

Agreed to the bolded.
Almost 2 years ago I went for a detox and hair cut and paid $250 and gave her $50 tip and bought a product from the salon. I was low key mad when I left at the cost and the service of what I got done. I'm not a fan of curly cuts, the salon itself was shabby for the price, and I just got a wash and go. The stylist was knowledgeable (she's a CIK stylist) but I couldn't justify the price of a service with no chemicals involved. My hair was just cleansed, used a steamer, wash n go, trim. It wasn't even a lot of time spent on my hair.

My thinking would be the same with the assistant also b/c I know she's making less and the cost of service is way less.

 

[oneastrocurlie]

I tip 20%. Most expensive thing I get is color (includes a trim) and braids. Those are around the $200 mark. When I get color I'm in there a long while (they don't use foil), I've never had any issues with color like so many people have experienced and they use pricey products. And no matter how hard I try their wngs trump anything I can do at home.

My braider provides the hair for my knotless braids.

 

[exoticnative]

I'm glad to see a post about rising costs. I was paying like $100, including the tip, every two weeks earlier this year. Now the price is rising every time I've gone into the salon. Today it was $165 plus a $20 tip. I got a relaxer and an Olaplex treatment. My hair is APL. I was truly wondering if others are seeing the prices rise, which is why I came back to visit LHCF after many years. Thank you for posting on this topic. I appreciate hearing about what everyone else is experiencing.

 

[Theresamonet]

Everybody gets $20 from me and that’s it.