<p>I never know how much to tip my hairdresser. Some things, like foils for color, take a long time and cost a lot. Does one go by percentage of bill, like in a restaurant?</p>
<p>generally it is a percent- although if they did an exceptionally great job you can always reflect that-
owners aren’t generally tipped</p>
<p>Great question. I tip 15-20%, but sometimes feel as though I am not tipping enough. My hairdresser spends so much time working with me. She is always sincerely happy to see me, so I figured that I am tipping the right amount, but I really do feel like I should be tipping more. BTW, I want to buy her a nice gift for the holidays. I am not hijacking, but if anyone has a good gift idea, it would be great.</p>
<p>It’s supposed to be around 15%, like a restaurant. I’ve always tipped 20%, because, well, it’s my hair! 
Anyone who can turn the Bride of Frankenstein into a real woman is worth it!</p>
<p>lol…I’m a 20 percenter too! It seems like they always take good care of the 20 percenters…so it’s worth it. ;)</p>
<p>which reminds me…my hairdresser would break down and cry if she could see me now!</p>
<p>I tip 20%, too. But I also tip the shampoo woman significantly, because her shampoos include a 10-15 minute scalp and neck massage which leaves me floating!</p>
<p>nymomof2-
What do you consider a “significant” tip for the shampoo lady? She gives a neck and scalp massage, but not for 10’! Jealous! I tip her a couple of bucks. Maybe if I tipped more I’d get a longer massage!! </p>
<p>As for the “owner” thing, I know that officially protocol says not to tip the owner, but I always do. Her daughter sometimes does the color on my hair (and if not her dau, than another person) so it does get pricey with 3 tips, but I feel guilty if I don’t tip them. They work hard and my hair looks good when they do it. I am with baseballmom on this one. Ditto for my massage therapist, BTW. I tip her too, even though it’s her shop.</p>
<p>20% here too. But I know for a fact that his A list people (who come at least once a week for a blow out) do tip less percentage wise than mere regular customers like me! </p>
<p>There was a time when owners would not even accept a tip, but that doesn’t seem to be the case in practice as much anymore. You are still not supposed to have to tip owners of a salon, though. I don’t go to the owner, but I’ve heard it’s at about half and half for those who do tip him and those who don’t.</p>
<p>When you go to a new salon, how do you tactfully determine who is the owner???</p>
<p>I always tip everyone, but I’m kind of a cheap tipper.</p>
<p>I’ve read that if the owner of the salon does your hair, tipping isn’t necessary. Do others agree?</p>
<p>rutgersmamma, that is what I was always told by my mother and other people. And it is what I do. However, my d. sometimes uses my hairdresser and she insists on tipping.</p>
<p>Since I just got back from a cut, color and mini highlight, to the tune of $95 I will tell you that I gave the hairdresser $15 and the person who shampoos $6.00 - that was all the cash I had - they won’t let you put the tip in the check and I didn’t have time to stop for cash - poor planning! My hairdresser IS the owner and everyone tips her. I go every 4 to 5 weeks. I think the tip probably depends on the cost of the service. I have paid $120 for a non mini and left more than $20 tip for her. $15 is about 15% I guess of the $95. Frankly, the prices are pretty high so I feel that it is not so low but I could be wrong. I have been going to the same people for several years now - I still feel uncomfortable about the tip stuff.</p>
<p>For the holidays I have given the “shop” a gift certificate for take out Thai food from their favorite take out restaurant (they are always ordering when I am there) on a few occasions. This year I felt, however, that I really needed to separate out the two people I see since I no longer saw “everyone” in the shop, so I gave the shampoo woman a $20 GC to dunkin’ donuts and the hairdresser her own GC to the Thai restaurant and didnt try to make everyone in the shop happy - a change in personnel made that easier to do. It’s always awkward, isn’t it? I saw too many plants, boxes of chocolates and bottles of wine there, as gifts, so I gave up on the issue of not giving GCs. They always tell me how much they loved my GC to the Thai restaurant so I believe them.</p>
<p>BTW, I am completely grey since 20s and have to go. I may have to give it up when son#2 goes to college.</p>
<p>I’ve been going to the same hairdresser for 18 years. My usual tip is $10 for a wash and style, $20 for a cut, and $40 for color and/or highlites. Yes, it’s generous but I know that I’m always going to be happy with the results, I always get an appointment when I want one, I always enjoy being there, and I like tipping well for excellent service. This salon doesn’t have someone who just washes. My own stylist usually washes my hair, and if she’s busy finishing up another client, one of the other stylists will fill in. It’s truly a wonderful place to go and I know the life stories of all who work there, as they do of me, and their other regulars. Even when we lived elsewhere periodically over the years, I always tried to time my visits ‘home’ for when my hair needed work!</p>
<p>cangel, If it’s not common knowledge or the name of the shop isn’t the name of the one cutting your hair (!) , just casually ask the receptionist when you make the appointment or when you go up to pay “Is he/she the owner here?”</p>
<p>I had the owner for years, one woman shop and did not tip her- she sets her own prices, they feel high, or at least higher than I wish I had to pay, and so I don’t feel obligated to tip. But I still feel guilty.</p>
<p>On the other hand when haircuts are $35-$50 (small town) and adding colour makes it $70-$150, aren’t they charging enough to live on? Why do I have to tip them? it’s not like it’s supercuts and they get $12?!?!</p>
<p>Yes, I am cheap on tipping for beauty services, I hate it, though I am good at restaurants, but those people make minimum wage! Cosmotologists seem to make a quite decent amount.</p>
<p>Who is brave enough to get waxed and NOT tip ?!?! And return for another waxing :)</p>
<p>rileydog - the only thing I can ask is, “Six dollars for a shampoo tip?” Wow… I’m in the wrong business. If that was all the money you had, I might have tipped the stylist $2-3 more, and taken from the shampoo person. </p>
<p>I’ve been seeing the same person for over 15 years, and have followed her to several salons. She just opened her own place last spring, so now is an official owner. I still tip her 20%. I’ve been fortunate enough to have been born with strawberry blonde hair, and have not had to get into services other than a cut, yet, so I’m counting my blessings. The few grays I have blend in!</p>
<p>Only once do I remember ever having someone other than her do my shampoo, and I tipped them $2.</p>
<p>I tip my massage therapist just over 15%. </p>
<p>I think I might be overtipping at the nail place, though. For a fill, which runs $18, I usually give $4 (if they have to do a few repairs, I’ll give $5). For a pedicure, which runs $30, I usually tip $6. They do not allow tipping to be included in the check, so I always make sure I come with cash. However, I almost always have to ask for change because often my pedicurist and manicurist are different people. It gets more complicated if D1 comes with me, gets a manicure, pedicure and brow waxing… Then I’m trying to remember who did what, and for what price. I inevitably forget to get my tip money out before they put polish on, and am digging in my purse before I leave, trying not to ruin my nails.</p>
<p>One time, prior to a nail appt., I found my car battery dead (my fault); I got a jump from AAA, but was told to let the car run for 30 minutes, but the nail place is only 10 minutes away. So I parked right in front of the building where I could see my car less than 20 feet away, and let it idle. About 20minutes later, while I was getting my pedicure, I asked one of the guys to go out and turn my car off - he was very kind about it… didn’t laugh too hard in my face.</p>
<p>Sorry, for high end hair services I think the whole tipping thing is garbage.
A co-workers daughter made more than her mother (who is a nurse) and had only been a stylist for 4 years!!! Her mom a nurse for 10.
I agree it is not like wait staff who are relying on their tips pretty much.
How do we decide what services are tippable???
Maybe someone should tip me after I spend alot of time with them during the birth of their child!!!</p>
<p>Heck, I work for commissions, I can spend hours & hours on some ones file and make nothing, at their whim; I struggle to see why I need to tip on an expensive service to some one who may be making more than me that day.</p>