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<p>thecheckbook, I think you need to open up your checkbook :-). $5 for an $80 service seems rather insulting. If you can’t afford a proper tip, then you can’t afford the service.</p>
<p>Consolation, you are correct - one does not tip on the cost of hair products, just on the cost of services.</p>
<p>Pizzagirl, I’m with you on the $5 tip. My stylist also pays “rent” to GJ (they all do!), and she gets $10 from me for my $50 cut. If I can’t afford to pay the $60, I skip the trip to JG, trim my bangs myself and let my hair grow a little longer until I can afford the cut. :)</p>
<p>Years ago it was customary not to tip the owner/proprietor of the salon. I remember people actually saying that the owner would be insulted to receive a tip. That’s hardly the case anymore. 20% for all services is the standard. Of course, you should not tip on products purchased - service only. Nor should it matter how lengthy your hair is is or how long the service takes - that should already be reflected in the price. </p>
<p>I agree that people who cannot tip properly shouldn’t ask for the service in the first place. Doesn’t it bother these people that their stylist probably cringes when the come in for an appointment?</p>
<p>My stylist owns her shop and will not accept a tip - if offered she politely refuses. What she does to supplement her income is to offer some cute hats, jewelry, etc. at her shop in addition to the usual hair products. She never pushes her accessories, but I suspect that she makes a lot of extra money that way. It’s funny but I get so many compliments on the items that I pick up from her shop!</p>
<p>I try to take a small gift to her occasionally - some coffee beans or fruit in lieu of the tip.</p>
<p>Oh dear, Gmom, hope she isn’t cringing. I have gone to her every five weeks for fifteen years and she always seems happy to see me! Overall, I am a very generous tipper - waitresses, cleaners, guys who are trimming my bushes right now (we live in a condo), but not my poor stylist - I better get her something this week.</p>
<p>I suggest for those who want to save money- that they consider going to a beauty school for their services.
Several high profile salons have schools ( ex- gene juarez and gary manuel in Seattle), and advanced seniors are just about done with school- additionally, services are overseen by instructors so you may be getting better work than someone with more experience, but who is overbooked at a more established salon.
Schools are often involved in shows and are fairly up on latest products.
However- it is true that the advanced seniors are about done- but if you find someone you like, you can always follow them to their new job- it is also is a good place to go to get your hair done for prom, since many high school girls want to save money so the students have lots of experience.</p>
<p>When I was in beauty school in Bellevue, we had several ladies who would have drivers for their Rolls or Bentley ( seriously), but would tip a dime. Yes we rolled our eyes but we did just as good a job on them than anyone- however, I do admit they were difficult, often so elderly that they couldn’t get their head back in the shampoo bowl and water went everywhere- they also just wanted a " shampoo and set", which took a really long time & it wasn’t the sort of thing that many of us wanted to be doing when we got out of school. You can’t charge very much for it- but the * backcombing!* & the better job you did- just guaranteed that they asked for you next time
;)</p>
<p>wnp - perhaps your non-tipping relationship with your hairstylist is a holdover from the old days when tipping the owner was taboo. I wonder if she accepts tips from new customers? She may just be “old school.” Tipping can really be awkward at times, for sure.</p>
<p>Generally, it seems that service people can barely make ends meet - their base salaries are so low. I like to help them out a bit and show appreciation for a job well done.</p>
<p>I really wish we didn’t have to tip. Why couldn’t they just include tip in the price and pay their staff a fair wage. It would prevent people from not tipping and make some of us not so nervous about not tipping the right amount.</p>
<p>ooh, she wouldn’t like to be described as “old school” but no, I know she doesn’t want tips. I called her today and told her about this discussion and she feels more professional by setting an appropriate fee for her service - she said a lawyer doesn’t expect a tip and she doesn’t either. </p>
<p>She said she appreciates customers who arrive on time, who leave when she is finished (don’t chat with her when next customer is in the chair), doesn’t cancel unnecessarily, makes regular appointments, relies on her for other services such as coloring, and doesn’t call and ask her to squeeze them in for a quick trim.</p>
<p>When I cancel - and in all my years I have only canceled two or three times, I pay for my scheduled appointment. As someone who owns her own business, I understand the expense of being self-employed and time is money, so if she expected me in her chair and I cancel, I have cost her money. She argues with me when I offer, but she knows I won’t back down on this one.</p>
<p>We, my wife and I, have a stylist who does house calls so we have not been to a shop in several years.(best thing since sliced bread–actually better). As we expect this is an off the books sideline we just pay her fee in cash and don’t tip. We do give her a Christmas bonus.</p>
<p>It depends on circumstances. I go to the same person for many years, he has never increased price and chrging only $20, so I always leave him $5. It has been the same for as long as I remember.</p>
<p>I go to the same person for many years, he has never increased price and chrging only $20, so I always leave him $5.</p>
<p>wow so you haven’t had inflation in your area? that is amazing!
I remember when an expensive bag of groceries was $20.
It seems like that was twenty years ago :(</p>
<p>^We have no jobs in our area, I have lost 8 jobs here. I do not know about inflation, I do not shop, unless my kid ask me to do so, i do not remember ever buying anything at the regular price, only items on sale, never bought new car in my life, but we have very nice ones and very happy with them just as I am happy with my hairdresser. he is never late and always listens and never pushes his opinion on me. I cut my H’s hair, he refused to cut mine, so I am happy to have nice hairdresser in my price range.</p>
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<p>And this is where I disagree. Between myself and my two daughters, there are maybe a handful of times that I had to ‘cancel’ and I put it in quotes because it’s never canceling… it’s rescheduling, and yes, sometimes the day before if someone gets sick, there’s an unexpected crisis (what other kind is there?). However, there have been a handful of times that she has had to ‘reschedule’ as well, for the same reasons… illness, family crisis, etc., and I’ve been just as accommodating. I’d say the same with my massage therapist, who I see every two weeks; there have been times I’ve had to ‘cancel’ within two hours (work emergency) but am really just rescheduling. Sometimes she’s had someone cancel almost last minute, texted me and let me know the slot is now available. So she does try to fill in her slots as people reschedule. There have been a couple of times that work issues came up and I’d text her and let her know I should cancel because I didn’t know one way or another if I’d be able to get there on time and I didn’t want to hold her up; she usually says to text her when I’m available, and if she can see me, she will. It’s a mutual respect we have for each other’s time and need for some flexibility in scheduling, when the situation is unavoidable. </p>
<p>However, I think the key here is that I’ve used this so infrequently over the years, that both my hair stylist and massage therapist (who now has a place inside my hair stylists salon because I hooked the two of them up three years ago when my hair stylist was opening her own place and looking for a massage therapist to rent space, and my massage therapist was looking for a salon to be affiliated with at the same time!) know I only do this if absolutely unavoidable.</p>
<p>I have a double-standard on cancellations… As with missed doctors’ appointments (which I’m required to pay for if I miss them-- pretty standard doctors’ policy), I insist on paying if I miss an appointment.</p>
<p>On the other hand, when I was tutoring, I’d occasionally show up at a kid’s house and knock on the door, get no answer, and would give them a call… only to find out from a mortified parent about a last-minute rehearsal or practice that the kid had to go to. So long as it didn’t become a habit, I sincerely enjoyed having an unexpected free hour out of my busy college-student schedule, even if it meant having a little less budget-leeway. Now that a lower income means more problems than just less money for shoes and chai, though, I might feel differently.</p>
<p>I can see it working both ways.</p>
<p>Teri -</p>
<p>Not suggesting anyone else should do this. Because of what I do, I am particularly sensitive about re-scheduling. It really goofs me up when someone doesn’t show - and like aibarr, I don’t charge my clients. So - my income changes for that day. Even if they come on another day, there is still a shortfall for the original day. Anyway - we all do what we think we should do be considerate - some might think I am cheap because I don’t tip, others will think I am nuts because I pay for a missed appointment. We each have our own way. I think it balances out.</p>
<p>If I have to cancel at the last minute or within 24 hours, I always pay for the service. I know that my stylist/manicurist/trainer will mostly not be able to schedule someone else in, so it’s only fair. That said, I do expect them to make an effort to be flexible with me - I like to get priority scheduling/service because I am a favored client.</p>
<p>wnp - “old school” around here is meant as a complement! It means doing something in a traditional, dignified, proper manner - the “right way.”</p>
<p>My stylist charges so little–$28 for a shampoo, cut and blow-dry–and I like her so much, that I give a $12 tip. I know she is not making all of that $28, so I want her to get a decent amount for her time. I have never had to cancel an appointment, but I think I would want to pay something if I did. When I worked as a psychotherapist, clients thought nothing of cancelling at the last minute or just not showing up.</p>
<p>Boy I wish I could find an affordable stylist here. I am going in Friday for cut and color and it will be $250 plus tip. I have asked around among people I know as well as checked out a few places online and I haven’t had a lot of luck finding a less expensive place.</p>
<p>Whoa!</p>
<p>I will have to keep this in mind if I ever want to move!</p>
<p>I have my hair done when I visit family in the midwest each summer. Costs half as much and looks just as good. And I tip well.</p>