A couple of days ago I had a big revelation and now I have to ask you all what you think. I may quite possibly be feeling very sheepish here.
I have been going to the same great hairstylist regularly for a little over two years now for my cuts and highlights. (I’d like to point out here that this may very well be my first hair stylist commitment since high school – until recently I would just jump around and try all the pretty salons in town to see what they were all like!) I digress.
So, getting your hair cut and colored is ex.pen.sive. At least around here it is. It’s pretty standard anywhere in Franklin that you’ll pay at least $40 for a cut, $90+ for a partial highlight, $130+ for a full highlight, and (this saddens me), there is no discount to combine a cut with a color. Even if the hair is only blown out once, you still pay for both times. $170! Again, digressing.
Anyway, like I said: expensive! I was made painfully aware of this recently because we were in Michigan for Christmas and my sister-in-law returned from the salon with a full highlight and cut for $60. Angst. (I should point out here that my stylist and salon do excellent work and they even serve you happy fruit-infused water and give head massages and such. It’s nice and you pay for nice. So, there’s that.)
Seriously, I need to stay on topic here.
Tips, Raechel. Tips.
So, after my fruity water and amazing head massage and pretty hair pick-me-up, it’s time to pay. The receptionist always asks me if I’d like to add a gratuity to my bill. Of course I’d like to! (I couldn’t bear the judgment of saying no!) But, I have NO idea what the standard tip amount is. So, I usually give (and I know all the stylists out there are going to cringe when I say this) $5-$10. Honestly, usually closer to $5. Please don’t hate me.
May I just point out that this is ON TOP OF the $130 that I am already paying?
Okay, seriously, the point of this is not to flap my jaw and talk about how much money I spend at the salon. This is NOT to brag and yes, I know, it’s a lot. (Please don’t give me a hard time about this or judge me. Trust that we are stewarding our money responsibly.)
The point is: my revelation.
I was with my Mom the other day and the subject of haircuts came up. We were talking about the differences between her salon and mine and I learned that the receptionist at her salon doesn’t ask for you to say your tip amount out loud – there’s just a place on the receipt (like at a restaurant) where you can discretely put the amount you’d like to add. Anyway… turns out my Mom is a much better tipper than I am!
Somewhere along the line I just assumed $5-$10 was a great and generous amount to tip a hair stylist who always does a fantastic job. It never occurred to me to think in terms of percentages. Shame.
BUT do you know what the standard tip percentage is for a good haircut? 15-20%! I looked it up. So that would be $26 on top of the $130+tax I pay for a highlight.
And suddenly, I feel both sheepish AND like my hair no longer fits as tidily into our budget as I’d thought. Also, like I owe my hair stylist a giant tip increase.
SO, the point of all of this… I have to know from you all – whether you work (or have worked) in a service industry (food, hair, lawn, whatever) or appreciate the hard work of those in the service industries – what are your thoughts on tipping? Are you a good tipper? Do you tip your hairstylist 15-20%? Do you hate it when your clients tip you $5? Were you as ignorant as I was about that standard? I have to know if everybody else in the world is tipping THAT MUCH on top of a super expensive hair cut and I am the black sheep of the salon that everyone talks about when I leave.
Permission to comment anonymously :)
Go!
I usually tip 20% sometimes I round up from 20 to make it a nice round number
Claire, do you find that the prices in Nashville are more or less than Franklin?
We lived in a small town in E. TX. before we moved here. I had the same hair designer for 10 yrs. She cut/styled, colored and highlighted my hair (long) for no more than $65. The first person I went to here in the Nashville area was in Franklin. I had all of the above done. You can imagine my surprise when I was told the charge was $195. I was shocked! Fortunately the stylist was the owner so I didn’t have to tip him. I have an appointment Friday at what appears to be a very nice salon. The charge to color and highlight my roots will be $120. I came to this sight to find out the going price here for tips. Thank you for that information. Still shocked at the prices but at least this time there will be no surprises.
I do tip the 15-20%, and our price up here is similar to yours. Yes, it hurts! I don’t go often.
The girl who cuts my hair has cut it forever. She always just says “pay me whatever.” But, partial highlights and a cut is $140. My sis who lives a a slightly different area than we do, pays a bit less, but she does work in an industry that tips, and she always generously tips. I say you just have to do it.
I didn’t go to a real hair stylist until I was 17 – my mom (or a friend!) always cut my hair. When I did finally go, I didn’t tip. I didn’t know you were supposed to until a friend enlightened me. I was horrified. So I started tipping $5 for a $25 cut.
Fast-forward to today. My sister is a hair stylist in a pretty nice salon in town where the prices are similar (a little lower) than the ones at yours. I asked her about this awhile back and she said tips are all over the board, but for a cut and color, the tip is usually in the range of $25-40. What?! I think it’s outrageous. Especially since this is NOT like the food service industry where they are paid $2-$3 and hour and count on tips as a part of their pay. So…no judgement here. Also, I think it’s weird they make you say it out loud. It’s definitely not like that at my sister’s salon. But as far as what’s average and/or expected, it’s definitely more like 10-20%.
I guess now would not be a good time to mention that all I have to do is tip my sister (and sometimes she won’t even take that!). Also, $60 for a cut and color is unbelievably low! I can’t even believe that!!
Yes, $60 is SUPER low. But that’s in my hometown in Michigan where you can buy a 3-bedroom house right now for $19,000. The economy is terrible there and I’m thinking the aesthetics industry has had to adjust, too.
My cut and highlights cost $160 and I tip 25%
oh, wow! can I ask what part of the country you are in?
I am in Florida. I used to go to less expensive salons and wasn’t really happy so I now pay more but I go less often. So I definetly feel the pain of the tip :(
My friend does my hair from her house and I don’t tip her ( since she gets the full amount I pay for my hair to get done) But when she was in a salon I tipped $15-$20
This shows how much I know – several years ago I had my hair cut/colored by a girlfriend at her house and I tipped her the same then as I do in a salon now! Oops!
Hmm, lol maybe I am wrong for not tipping her?
Actually you are not wrong. You never tip the owner whether at home or in the salon.
I usually tip around 20% for hair cuts. BUT I also don’t do anything fancy (highlight and coloring). Whoa, that would get expensive. I used to live in FL and my hair cuts were $50 (yes, just for a wash, cut and style). It pained me to have to add another $10 on top of that (cause I thought THAT was expensive). But we also knew the girl personally and I didn’t want to be a bad tipper. Now that we have moved back to middle TN, my haircuts are $20. No, I don’t get as good of a haircut, but it is much more in my budget now. Because, again, we know the hair stylist here, I tip at least $5 for a $20 hair cut.
I tip 20%, and i only knew to do that bc i read it in a magazine article. My wash, cut, and style is $25. I live in Southern Ohio. I color my hair at home with semi-permanent hair color (Clairol natural instincts) to save money.
I always tip my stylist 20%. In fact they’ll usually ask me what percent when I’m getting rung up. I live in CT and go to a walk in place (Haircuttery) so far from a high end salon but even 60 bucks seems like a dream price to me for full highlights and cut, that’s impressive especially for Boston. We’ve lived up and down the east coast and I’ve been to some pretty pricey salons and with tip I’ve paid well over 150 dollars to maintain a cute cut and highlights….then I stopped during my pregnancies and realized I really do enjoy my natural color…..so it kind of fell off my priority list. ;) but I do still get some all over color once in awhile to cover the greys from having 2 and 4 year old girls ;)
I live in Portland, OR and it is way expensive here too! I had a friend who worked at a really nice salon and would give me 40% off and it was still almost $100 for a cut and color. Sadly, she moved away. I didn’t know how much to tip either and I am embarrassed at how little I gave her now that I know….especially since she’s a friend and was giving me such a great discount! However, we have an Aveda school in downtown Portland and it was only $17 for a cut and it was seriously one of the best I’ve had! If you have a beauty school nearby, it might be worth checking out!
I used to get my hair highlighted and cut…about the same cost and tipped 15-20%. I live in Asheville, NC, but the cost was about the same in Athens, GA, Savannah, GA, etc. It depends on the type of salon you go to…chain salons charge less, but I am afraid I will not be happy there. That being said, if the tip pushes you over budget, the stylist would probably rather have your business and a lower tip than not at all. What about doing a better tip every few times since you always go to the same place? I quit highlighting my hair because it was getting unhealthy, but it feels good to not spend so much too!
So I’m in KY – and I don’t go to your typical salon – I go to the local Paul Mitchell the School in my city – my cut and color is usually around $60, but a cut alone is only $12. The students are permitted to take tips, but I don’t generally tip honestly – and I probably should. Even if I were to tip, on a $60 trip, I’d probably tip around $10, which is 10%. I like the school b/c they use AWESOME products, and they cost me much less – even if it takes me a little longer than it would in a regular salon. It’s also nice to know that I’m helping someone with their education :)
Just my experience here! :)
I don’t get my hair colored, just a cut and blow out, and with my student discount it’s $45. (Upper-mid range for my town.) I tip my stylist $5.00 b/c she’s the owner of the business. So, technically (ahem, Miss Manners) I don’t have to tip her at all since she’s the business owner, but I figure that washing, cutting, and styling my hair is a personal service that deserves some extra acknowledgement. So, that’s like 11%, and that seems fair to me.
I tip 20% on a $45 haircut in Nashville. I stopped getting highlights because the upkeep is SO expensive. Growing up, I used to get my hair cut and highlighted by a woman who owned her own salon (in a wing of her house), and it was around $70 for a cut and full highlight. Those were the days. I didn’t tip her because she got the whole amount anyway, but I did give her a big Merry Christmas tip/gift.
We live in the Twin Cities, and the prices are pretty comparable here. I usually pay $60 for a haircut and tip 20%.
I’m in VA. for just a cut for myself and my 2 girls I was charged 60. She asked me how much i wanted to tip. I said 3 a head. I got a dirty look. I thought it was a fair tip. Keep in mind this was only a salon at the malls JCPenney.
Now I’m gun shy so I only get my hair cut at locks for love events where I can get my hair cut for free. :)
I have been getting cuts and partial highlights for a similar price as your salon for several years while living in Virginia, Texas, and Kentucky. I have always tipped $5-10 as well. I just can’t imagine tipping $26 on top of those high prices! Yikes! I am very interested to know if tipping 15-20% is really the “standard” that all others are paying and I have just been totally out of the loop, blithely under-tipping all these years. Oh dear, I am blushing just thinking about it!
I know now that 15 to 20% is the standard for a tip. It’s the same for a waitress. During the holidays it is not unusual to give your hair dresser or you favorite waitress a 25% tip PLUS a gift if you choose to. When you consider the salary of most waitresses, I don’t mind giving them a good tip. I also don’t mind leaving a penny for poor service. I leave a penny so the waitress will know it wasn’t because I’m cheep but because she was not a good server. I also threw a fit at a salon once because the style the stylist gave me was atrocious and it was for a special occasion. It was at that time I found, who was to be my stylist for the next 10 years. I was charged nothing because of my inconvenience and the tip was refused.
Yes, I do tip 20% on top of the cut and full highlight here in Franklin. And yes, it is PAINFUL! I so feel you on this. I just looked in my checkbook register, and my last hair bill was $178. Major ouch. That said, I don’t do it often at all. I try to get by on two or three visits a year, or four max (and I time them strategically so that they’re immediately prior to family pics/holidays/weddings/graduations/etc). I do look a little “rooty” at times, but I’m okay with that trade off because I love my salon and my stylist does an amazing job. I tried a couple of cheaper places here, and both messed me up pretty badly, so I think I’m at my current spot to stay. One way I hide roots: headbands! If your hair is all brushed back so that you don’t have a part, roots are a lot less noticeable. Plus, I feel like they’re a cute, fun accessory! I do sometimes feel tempted to cut back on the tip (because the bill really is a zinger!), but when I consider it, I remember the mom who used to routinely stiff me on babysitting her kids when I was a teenager and would wad the money up when she handed it to me so that I didn’t see what she’d paid me till I got home, and I’m reminded that I never want to be that person to someone else (not saying that you are that person…not at all! It sounds like you just genuinely didn’t know, which I totally get because I’ve been the same way…I had no idea that it was customary to tip a pizza delivery guy until a few years ago, oops!). Hope this is somewhat helpful!
I live in the suburbs of Chicago and for a cut, color and wax I pay $120. I’ve been going to the same stylist for 15 years so she may give me a better deal than most in the area, but I’m not positive. I always tip at least 20% because she does such a great job.
i live outside atlanta. my cut and color is usually 110. i do all over color, not highlights. when i got highlights it was in the 130-140 range. i tip 20% and have adjusted how often i go to get my hair done. for a while it was every 12 weeks, then it was every 6 weeks – but color every 12, now i’m settled on every 8 weeks. it’s expensive, but i have a lot of hair and my hairstylist is excellent. all in all, worth it.
That is generally what a cut and highlights run around here. And unless I received very poor service, I try to tip 15-20%. I wouldn’t stress about your previous tipping habits. Your motives were pure!
I get my hair cut, colored and highlighted every 10 weeks and it’s $110. I tip the shampoo girl $5 and my stylist $20. I know for a fact my services would be closer to $150, but I get a “friend” discount
At the “fanciest” salon in our area, I pay $40 before tip. And I always tip about 20%- I’m not loyal to a certain stylist (everyone in the place is great) and there is a scale of fees based on experience, and I always tip to make my total a nice, easy number, so some of the newer stylists probably wind up with a 25% tip.
I don’t know if this is the case everywhere, but our stylists essentially pay rent on their stations, no matter what salon they are at- so the cheaper salons have lower rental rates and the higher ones are more expensive to rent out. Because I never know what the rental for a chair is, I always assume that my tip is the only percentage of my total that is entirely my stylist’s to take home, and that the price of the cut helps pay the rent.
I live in the Pittsburgh area and those prices are pretty standard for the salons up here as well. It is outrageous how much it costs to look and feel good! I love getting my hair cut in a nice salon with the fancy beverages and head massages, but when I started coloring my hair in addition to highlighting and cutting I just couldn’t swallow the bill! I do tip 20%, so $150-160 and then an extra $30-40 for tip?! I just can’t do it! I go to a friend now who only charges me $50 for cut, color and highlights. It’s in her house with her sweet, but rambunctious boys flying around… anything but relaxing! Every once in a while I will swing for a nice salon cut, but otherwise I have just learned to make the sacrifice.
You’re all going to cringe when you read this, but I pay $125 for my haircut plus $140 for my color. (And as a one-time waitress, always tip minimum 20 percent unless something’s wrong.)
I’m really budget-conscious and never pay full-price for clothes, shoes, housewares, etc. But this is my one big splurge and for me it’s totally worth it – no shame.
Here’s why:
*I live in Washington, DC and you’d be hard pressed to find any haircut for less than $60/75. $120+ is standard for color.
*The guy who cuts my hair is so amazing that my thick frizzy hair requires nothing more than a blowdry because of how he cuts it. No more frizz or weird kinks, even in DC humidity. He saves me a ton of time on styling and money on products. I have my mornings back.
*I only cut it twice a year. I have him cut it above the shoulder and then just let it grow out for six months. The cut is good enough that it doesn’t require touch-ups and looks good at every stage. In the end, it evens out with a cheaper cut that requires more maintenance and trims.
I’m in LA and it’s the same here. I cannot get out of getting my hair cut and partial HL (my hair is long) with multiple colors for less than $300 (including tip). And the only reason I even opt for the partial is because I don’t have the patience to sit through a full head HL. Also for this reason I will travel to visit my family in Chicago because my mom owns a salon and spa so the cost of a flight ends up being the same as getting my hair done and I have the opportunity to hang out with my family but also for all these reasons I push how often I need to get my hair done.
I live in Rockville, close to DC, still looking, can you give me your stylist name?
I’m in CT. I pay about 225/250 for a cut and a color and tip 20%
i have only had a few hair cuts in a nice salon and i too only tip about $5. that said, my husband works at a fine dining restaurant and makes very little hourly. we live off of his tips. i do know that in the restaurant industry, 20% is what’s expected. i wouldn’t have every know that if it weren’t for dan.
it’s hard for me to think about tipping a hair dresser 20% because i know that they make a nice hourly wage. waiters however, make around $3 an hour so giving a good top is vital!
sorry to anyone who is a hair dresser. i’m going to look through these comments now and see what y’all are saying :)
As a hairstylist myself for 40+ years in small town U.S.A., stylists rarely get paid an hourly wage. I have only worked in 1 salon, where I was paid minimum wage, everywhere else was commission.
I will never, EVER show this post to my husband! I live in Raleigh NC, and go to a really amazing salon to a stylist that I actually found while she was still training. Once she graduated and I was forced to choose between another student or following her to a real salon, my hair bill went up significantly. I pay $40 for a cut, and $90- $130 for highlights. I round up to an even $200 or $250 depending. Plus I gave her a $40 Christmas tip. I told my husband that that’s just how much ALL women pay/ tip.
BUT, in my defense, she’s amazing, my hair has never, ever looked better, it grows out just as nicely, and I get complimented all the time- which NEVER happened before her. And she still lives at home and wants to move out. And she’s the sweetest thing ever.
I may be alone here…but I get my hair cut twice a year, at Snip-n-Clip (walk-in shop) and pay $14 for a cut and leave a $6 tip (43%)!;) I go to the same lady every time and she does a great job, although I don’t require much. I’m a SAHM and just don’t make my hair much of a priority. It’s really not that important and I would rather spend that kind of money on other things. I mean, that’s my weekly grocery budget!!;) (Not shaming anyone here…just putting in my 2 cents and sharing my story!) I do wash/condition my hair daily and use a $3 box of Revlon haircolor every 6 wks or so to liven things up a bit…so I guess I do care…a little!;) I guess what I’m trying to say is, if you’re willing to spend a chunk of change on your hair, and it’s only 2-3 times a year, why not thank your hairdresser and tip accordingly? Love, hugs and blessings!!
P.S. I must say…forcing you to speak your tip out loud is a bit on the tacky side for such a swanky place!:(
I got to the same woman who has cut my DH’s hair since he was 14. I get a full color and style, as I’m 70% white at age 41. When we go it’s me, my DH and our 11 year old DD. She charges me about $105 and I pay $125, so I guess about 20%.
I will also note that we drive 2 hours each way for this, as we have moved away from Chicagoland. We use these trips as family-reconnect time, so we make the most of each trip. So instead of losing 3 customers, she retains 3 customers and may get a slightly lower tip. In this economy, we are all happy.
And before you ask, we moved 5 years ago and we’ve been doing this the whole time. Talk about stylist relationships!
Also check to see if your stylist is an employee or self-employed and paying a chair rental fee. Mine is self-employed and thus I know every penny I give her goes to her. If someone is an employee, they will get a wage plus tips.
I pay about $150 for a haircut and full head of highlights in Nashville. I always tip 20%. I tried a bunch of different places and finally found one I LOVE (Fruition). I have very thick hair and don’t mind paying more for someone who knows how to handle my hair.
Callie, I lived in New York for years and spent well upwards of $300 per visit. I feel your pain. But it is totally worth it to walk out with a great style!
Tip your stylist directly with cash. When you put it on your card, they usually don’t get it until payday, and have to pay taxes on it.
HOLY GUACAMOLE! I am so glad I live in a small town- my cut, color and highlights is $50, and I thought that was expensive and stretch it too long between colorings (grays blinding people along the way).
Truthfully, I tip badly… I also only tip toward to $5 amount, sometimes more, especially when she cuts my kids’ hair, because they tend to not sit very still and talk loudly. My stylist has her own shop, and has no staff, so I just add the tip onto my check, but I agree with others and say that I’d tip in cash and not add it to your bill.
And I digress… I didn’t even know until recently that you’re supposed to tip more in Dec. as a Christmas bonus. I usually just bring in a box of homemade goodies and she goes crazy for them, but a little extra is always nice, too.
I always wondered about tipping if they own their own shop? Is it necessary to tip?
Absolutely! Someone who has their own shop has to worry about all the bills themselves. The tip is usually the only thing the person can keep. An owner has to pay for product rent electric plus her bills at home. It can be difficult to actually get ahead in this business.
You’re tipping for the service not the persons status there.
In Bellevue, I go to a nice salon and have been using the same girl for 5 years. She recently went up to $40 for haircut and I contemplated trying something new-but I’m the loyal type:) Anyway, I get a partial and cut 3-4 times a year and swipe my card for $150 (that’s a $20 tip). They do ask me if I would like to leave a tip out loud but there is also a place to write it on the receipt. I think they just try to make it easier and only have one charge on the credit card? My opinion: if you are happy with your service, leave a good tip. I do, however, wonder if I should find a cheaper way to get my hair done.
Wow I feel cheap! I only get my haircut….never do highlights because I dont like the chemicals! I live in Alabama right now and pay between $40-$45 for a haircut. I usually tip $5…which is tough to do with the budget I cant imagine doing more. Although I have short hair, so I get my hair cut every 4 weeks. In my mind that is a very regular appointment for a stylist and maybe doesnt need as big of a tip as someone with long hair that might only go a few times a year? That might just be me making me feel better since I have to pay $45-$50 (including a tip) every month!?!
I live in Winston Salem, NC and I at one time(before kids) would pay $140 for cut and highlights and low lights in a spa/salon. Now after kids I’ve found going to just a good salon that doesn’t have a spa in it saves me some money and now for the same services I pay around $90 and I give a $10 tip usually. Wow I didn’t realize other places were so expensive! I don’t know what I would do if everywhere around here was $140 plus cause I’ve been getting my hair colored for so long I think I’m a tad but addicted to it! Ha
Hi,
I live in the Huntsville, Alabama area, and I found your site from trying to figure out the same information. Mine’s a toughie: she cuts and styles and stuff out of her own home, so she’s not paying for overhead.
My hair is long and thick, and I also have it highlighted. I try to tip $10 over the amount of the work. I guess it’s not a very good tip. I’m reading everywhere that 15-20% is the standard. So I’m going to try to go 15% since I’m not going to a salon.
Great post! Would love for you to stop by mine at http://www.thewritesteph.com. I may have to do more research and also post on this topic!
I live in Houston TX. I currently pay about $130 for cut and color and I tip 15%. I think it’s a lot but it is a service industry. So I just do it! And I’ve been tipping that much for about 5 years since I discovered that was the norm. Before that I was definitely under tipping! It’s definitely a splurge, getting the color.
I worked in various aspects of the service industry for years here in Florida; primarily as a bartender or waitress while putting myself through school. At least in this neck of the woods your server barely makes anything hourly, current rate for tipped restaurant employees in Fl is 4.13/hr. It was about half that when I was busting my rear at TGIFridays until 2a.m. and waking up at 7a.m. for classes.Most tipped employees count on their tips as their primary income-that is the bottom line. If they did their job and tipping is standard, customers should tip accordingly. Personally,when eating out or getting my hair done (which isn’t often!) I begin with a 20% tip and if service was excellent I add to it and if it was poor I subtract from it. I will never forget my throbbing feet, aching back, or all the unhappy people who decided that I deserved a tongue lashing because they didn’t have enough ranch dressing or their coffee was too hot.The service industries are incredibly challenging-they get tips for a reason :)
Ok, so I don’t know if I really have a right to comment, but I will anyway :) I live in New Zealand (born in the States, moved here when I was 16) and I pay $35 to get my hair cut. I usually dye my own hair as I am a poor student and that is about $13 a box. We don’t tip over here, so that can’t be added into the equation. I get my hair cut at a VERY reasonably priced salon by a friend I went to school with (no discount tho!), but normal cut/blow wave will cost anywhere from $40-$60 (and I refuse to pay that much for a hair cut!). But honestly after reading this, I’ll treasure my $35 hair cut from now on!
I live in Canada and pay about $50 for a haircut. I don’t need to colour my hair yet. I’m sorry but I only pay about $5 for a tip and I don’t plan on changing that. The haircut never takes more than 35 – 40 minutes. Believe me I don’t make $50 an hour let alone half an hour and I work with customers in a way more stressful industry (claims adjuster). I just don’t understand why I would pay 20% on top of a $50 haircut for 35 minutes of work.
I’m a $5 tipper too. I can’t stand the thought of paying more… sorry to my fantabulous stylist. I don’t color/highlight… I like my brown hair… and I only cut every 3-5 months too. Haircuts are $40 and I think that’s highway robbery! I’m a cheapy, clearance shopping girl… markups kill me. Sorry to all of you uber-talented hair stylists, I have the utmost respect for you. :)
You did ask at the end of your post ” if everybody else in the world is tipping that much”. Well in my part of the world we don’t tip. You should all move to Australia! All workers get a minimum wage which is meant to be lived off. Sometimes we tip a little in a restaurant but never would I think I have to in a salon. Once thing that struck me in the comments is the peer pressure … “I just found out I am supposed to tip at …” If the person is on a fair wage, then why should you feel embarrassed to not tip huge amounts if you can’t afford it? You can see I don’t understand. Is someone tipping the person working in some office away from the public? I guess not. Be strong and don’t tip much over and above your $130 then go home, go online and give that money to a worthwhile mission organisation. See? I told you I don’t get it. It is such a cultural thing! I am really a generous person, I promise!
Loved reading this, Diana! It’s always helpful to hear perspectives from other parts of the world so I’m glad you chimed in! In the food industry here, you really have to tip because the waitstaff earns such a low minimum wage to begin with. They rely on tips to earn a living. I think it varies a bit more in the salon industry though. You’re right though – I would so much rather send my tip to build a well! :)
I go to my local great clips and get a cut for $13. I tip $5. I do not color or highlight my blond hair (unless you count the gray’s that are peeking through).
Here’s what I have noticed while reading the comments…you ladies need a lesson in what 20% is! Just for reference,
$120 for a cut plus a 20% tip = $144
$130 for a cut plus a 20% tip = $156
$140 for a cut plus a 20% tip = $168
$150 for a cut plus a 20% tip = $180
$160 for a cut plus a 20% tip = $192
$170 for a cut plus a 20% tip = $204
$180 for a cut plus a 20% tip = $216
$190 for a cut plus a 20% tip = $228
$200 for a cut plus a 20% tip = $240
I also tip 20% – and also think it’s crazy expensive, but ultimately worth it!! I live in Pittsburgh, and our prices are pretty similar to yours in Franklin. You’re looking at at least $150-$160 (including about 15% tip) for a cut, color, and highlights :-(. I found a woman in my church who used to work as a stylist before she had kids and get it cut, colored, and highlighted for $50 – hooray. HOWEVER: there are, of course, drawbacks, and ultimately I’ve learned you get what you pay for. I have four little ones and my once/6 week hair appointment used to be my lone “spa” experience. I SO looked forward to those Saturday mornings! I LOVED that delightful water and coffee, sitting under the quiet dryer, reading great magazines. I never wanted it to end!! Now I race to my friend’s house after dinner (because she also has little ones, so that’s really the only time she can cut hair), listen to her cute but crazy boys argue, wrestle, and ask me to read them books (how can you explain to some else’s four year old that you’ve been doing that all day and would he PLEASE just leave you alone??!!!) while her sweet but clueless husband watches Jeopardy. Plus, I recently asked her to cut bangs (yikes!!) and let’s just say she got distracted and I don’t exactly look like Mena Suvari in the picture I brought!! I’ve decided that every few months I’m going back to treating myself to a “real” haircut, no matter the cost :-).
Yes, 20% if I love them. With a hairstylist usually you love them and stick with them. I have been a waitress/restaurant manager for over 15yrs. I always tip my server 20%. Believe me…if they stink I do not.
Although I always wonder if they own the salon do you still tip the same? Because all the money is already theirs. There is some food for thought.
I tip 20% as well. However, I don’t get a color, and I normally just go to the Paul Mitchell school around the corner. 1. because its cheap 2. because I actually get a good cut, due to several sets of eyes looking over my hair and 3. because they use amazing products on it. tipping %20 on a $10 hair cut isn’t so bad.
I too have always tipped $15 – never really basing it on a % – but I have figured $5 extra for the haircut (which I just get my ends trimmed) and $10 extra for the color. This poses another question that I have. Both my last and current stylist are owners of the salon. My previous one said its a “rule” that the owner should not except tips. This was because the fact they are the owner and often you pay a higher price for their services — she absolutely would not accept a tip. My current stylist fully welcomes tips. Has anyone encountered this before?
Raechel – it might be because of their credit card machine as to why they ask for the tip amount prior to running the purchase. I have also encounted this at different salons, and once the receptionist explained with their type of machine, they cannot go back and submit the difference – the full amount to be charged needs to be entered up front. I am fully on board with you, I dont like being asked how much I like to tip – especially while my stylist is still standing there.
I tip 20%, but I didn’t even know you were supposed to tip at the salon until I was 24 (10 years ago), and I was so embarrassed when I found out because I had stiffed them for so long!
The area that I struggle with in tipping is for takeout. When I am dining in, I tip 20%. With takeout, if everybody tips them 20% they would make an absolute killing, because they have such higher volume. Anyway, I’ve stuck to the 20% for takeout just out of guilt, but I really wish there was a known standard there that I could follow!
i do not tip for takeout…i don’t tip @ the Chinese takeout.
There is no wait staff involved in the places I get takeout.
They have a special takeout counter staffed with 1 or 2 people.
You don’t pay less b/c you don’t use their plates/cups/silverware.
Wow, I am feeling really good about my salon’s prices after reading through these comments! I pay $60 for color, cut and style or $75 for 2 colors (base and highlights), cut and style. I tip 20%. I live in small-town Alabama, and there is a salon on every corner, so I think that helps keep the prices down.
It usually costs me about $95 for a cut, color, and eyebrow was. I usually tip 10% :s
I live in Boston and it is SUPER pricey (maybe another reason to be glad you didn’t relocate here?). Granted, I do go to a very nice salon on Newbury Street. A cut/partial highlight can run around $200 – before tip! I have been with my same sylist close to 5 years so I do tip her around 20%. My rationalization to myself is that I wear my hair every day – and I try to stretch out my visit to once every 4 months which in really only 3 times a year.
I go to our local beauty school…$7 for haircut/style and $25 for long hair highlights. I tip 20-25% because it is cheaper and they are getting paid nothing. The only hiccup I had was a few years back, my highlights were just a wee bit too light, I went back the next day and they added low lights at no charge. Super way to go if there is one in your area!!!
Ok, so maybe I am going to say the wrong thing here, but why does anyone get color if it is so expensive? I get my hair cut twice a year and pay $45 for a shampoo and cut and skip the blow dry. I’ve never done any color, so I had no idea it was so pricey. I tip $5 because that is what I can afford. I am honestly shocked that so much $$ is spent on hair! I had no idea!
AGREED!;)
I look at the amount of time the person spends on my head, not the cost of the cut. A color could take an hour and cost 100$ but that same hour would cost $50 for just a cut. Why tip higher just because what the person using costs more?
That said, I typically tip the salon people I go to 5$ for every hour I am there regardless of what they are doing/total cost for the services.
I do the same when I go to a restaurant (10$ per hour) and I was a waitress…nothing worse than someone coming in and ordering a drink/dessert and sitting taking up a table for 2 hours and only giving you a 2 dollar tip!
I am a hairstylist chiming in here! I hope this is okay! ;) I do not believe you should tip a percentage. I love in a small town, Iowa but work at a very high end salon with Aveda products and color. My cuts are $40 and hilites are $90+. I have some clients that come every 4 weeks for both of those services and some that come quarterly. 95% of my clients book their appointments a full year in advance because they don’t want to lose their spots. I would say that you should tip based on the work that you get or even how often you go (a little more if you don’t have to go often). We give complimentary drinks, massages and parrain dips with services so those feel good things do help with the ticket price. Remember that most hairstylists are like waitresses in the sense that they are being paid commission, they are on their feet all day, they have no paid vacation and no health insurance. We are expected to make you feel absolutely awesome by the time you walk out the door. My goal is to make my clients look and feel so beautiful that they don’t even think about how much their check is. I know that is how I expect to feel after spending close to $200 on myself. As women we so often put ourselves last, so it is okay to look and feel good even if it means spending a little cash!
Love hearing the perspective of a hairstylist! Thanks for your input, Amanda!
I’m pretty sure I know which salon you’re talking about and one of my best friends is a stylist there (D). She cuts my hair and sometimes I tip, sometimes I don’t. I figure she understands that her prices are more than what I would ordinarily pay but I go to her because she’s my friend and I want to give her my business. If I can afford to, I tip $5-$15 on a $60 bill. If I can’t afford to at the time, I don’t. But I’ve never had the cashier ask me. Weird and rude that they ask you.
I’ve been to that one too, but I was talking about the neighborhood Redken one (A).
I live in coastal South Carolina and the prices here are about the same as yours. I used to go to a swanky little salon downtown but got tired of their uppity attitudes. :) I had to say the tip amount out loud there too – tacky! Once when I stated the tip amount, the receptionist gave me a dirty look, so I sheepishly bumped it up. Later I did the math and realized she guilted me into increasing my respectable 18% tip into a 26% tip. That’s what I get for being so bad at doing math percentages quickly in my head I guess.
I lived in Japan for 3 years and tipping is unheard of there. I wish it would go out of vogue in the US. It is always so awkward I think. I struggle with how much to tip my grocery store baggers – they work only for tips at the base commissary and I never know what is an appropriate amount.
I tip $5 too Jessica. If it’s for one of my son’s $10 haircuts, or my own cut/highlight/blowdry I always give a $5 tip for each cut. I guess I’m overtipping for them and undertipping for me….who knew? lol
Ok, my appologies I totally just called you Jessica instead of Raechel. Oops! sorry…
Hilarious! I honestly just assumed you were responding to one of the other commenters :)
I used to go to a salon to get my hair done and paid what you did, and usually tipped between 10-15%. But, after finding out about a stylist from our church that does it from home for half the price, I tried her out. I’m even happier with her than my old stylist, and I tip her 20%.
holy cow! i never thought i’d be saying this, but apparently living in CA is actually cheaper than the rest of the country! i pay $70 for a cut and full highlight. and at every salon i’ve ever been to, you pay the hairdresser directly and she keeps all the $…there’s no clerk at the front. and here’s the thing, my husband is a horseshoer who sets his own rates and his clients pay him directly {just like my hairdresser}…and he never ever gets tips. and i don’t think it’s ever crossed our minds that he should. it kinda annoys me that tipping has turned into this obligatory thing with set rates….AND i think that the clerk asking you to say how much your tip is is super tacky! if you do tip, i’d say leave that part {in cash} at her station. and there is no way you should feel bad about a $5-10 tip!!
I have a sister-in-law that does hair and she used to brag about money, alot. She got paid well per hour, regardless of if she had clients or not ( I know this isn’t always the case but…) She made more per hour than I do at my government job (thats not saying much). The thing is, she used to get pissy and complain a lot about people who didn’t tip well. Here’s the thing, I feel like we are paying for a service, and tha,butaying $130 for an hour is a lot of money to me! Ever since then I have felt really iritated when forced to tip in these situations. Its not the same as say a waitress that only gets paid $2 an hour and her paycheck depends on tips, I don’t think its the same at all. I feel like being asked to tip on a service you just paid full price for is a little rediculous. I don’t get tips at my job and I serve the public all day long. Ever since my sister-in-law complained that she didn’t get her typical 100-150 dollars in tips one day on top of her normal salary, I tip $5 and call it good.
oi. everyone who reads your blog is better than me. that’s all i feel comfortable divulging in this forum.
I tip my stylist $30 and the shampoo girl $5. When my daughters get their haircut, I tip $15 (same stylist does both). I always tip at least 20% at restaurants, unless there was really something wrong with the service (not if the food is bad because that is not the server’s fault). I live outside of Washington DC.
Does it make a difference how much you should tip if the hairdresser is an employee of the salon or does booth rental?
I haven’t had my hair cut or colored in almost a year. I’m really dreading going back and hearing how much needs to be cut due to the neglect AND dreading hearing how much it will cost. The good news is now that I’m turning gray I don’t really want to color anymore. With the gray I have a multitude of colors all over my head. I’d hate to see myself from the back…
I am probably going to get a lot of flack for this, but I tip what I feel comfortable with, whether it’s the stylist or a restaurant. The whole idea of a tip is to give extra based on how you feel your service was. I’ve always thought that being told you HAVE to tip 15-20% seems more like a pre-set charge than a tip. And yes, I HAVE worked in a service industry so I do have experience in a field where tips count. Just my thoughts.
I live in NYC and the cut costs about $75. I don’t get my hair dyed or highlighted, so I feel better about splurging on a more expensive cut (though it’s pretty moderately priced for the area, really). I generally tip about $15-$20. I never really know how much is appropriate, though. What really kills me with the self-doubt is other beauty services – I get my brows threaded once a month and I wax some delicate areas, because I have crazy unmanageable stubborn dark hair that will take over the world if allowed, and I just cannot deal with it on my own. Anyway, I NEVER know what to tip there. I always feel like I’m either leaving too little or too much – sometimes I feel both at the same time.
I have complicated feelings on tipping. Honestly I wish we could just do away with it, culturally. Pay people a wage to do a job and then that’s the end. It would be so much simpler. Everyone knows that waitresses etc make crummy actual wages, for ethically dubious but apparently legally crystal-clear reasons, but there are all kinds of strange extenuating circumstances in other tip-expectation jobs. Like, hairstylists and masseuses get varying percentages of what you actually pay on the service, depending on where you are. (I’m in the process of booking my very first Real Massage, yay, and researching tips has been almost as much of an ordeal as researching practitioners!) Or if you order take-out from a restaurant and go pick it up yourself, sometimes it’s packed up by a waiter who is stuck on “take-out duty” for that period of time, and then they’re just making their normal crummy hourly rate with no tips unless you throw some money in that tip jar. And that sucks. But, like, you know what? If I could afford the tip, I’d have gone to the actual restaurant instead, or at least ordered delivery and tipped the delivery guy. Charge the cost of the service and I’ll pay that. I’ll pay for delivery, but I don’t really see why I should do the walking-there work myself and still pay the same because I’ve still got to tip someone at the restaurant. It’s only a few dollars each time so of course I can AFFORD it, but it all adds up and the principle just seems to get out of control.
I hate that tip jar, by the way. It stares at me expectantly and I can feel the weight of its judgment. I hate that there are tip jars at places like Starbucks and Chipotle and now I feel like a jerk for not tipping at those places whereas before I always felt pretty normal. You know what? My latte costs nearly $5; I only get it once a week. Now I’m supposed to tip the barista for making it? Isn’t that why they have a paycheck – to compensate them for doing their job? Isn’t saying “thank you” enough of a…well, thank-you?
I’m serious – I get anxiety when confronted by tip jars. I used to go to a little cafe next to my work place every day and buy a coffee for $1.50. My co-worker always just tossed his change in the tip jar but my change was always exactly 2 quarters and I use quarters for laundry so I didn’t want to just start throwing them in tip jars – it worked out perfectly; the quarters I got back as change from the cafe cover one week’s laundry. It was a beautiful system. But then over time I became a ‘regular’ and they came to know my name and my order and everything, and I got so paranoid that they all judged me for not tipping, that I was one of the “bad regulars,” or whatever. So now I go to a coffee place across the street instead, which has no tip jar. The coffee is $.11 more but that’s not the point – I mean, I could have tipped $.11 every day at the first place but then I’d feel like a cheap jerk because who tips a dime and a penny? “That weird regular customer who likes a ton of cream and no sugar in her coffee, she comes in once a day around 6:45 and she’s really short. She always fishes a dime out of her pocket and throws it in the tip jar. Yeah, thanks, we’ll be sure to split that dime four ways, have a nice day, Weird Short Regular.” That’s who tips a dime – Weird Short Regular. I can’t deal with the anxiety.
And then all the even more random things, those anxiety-inducing holiday tip cheat sheets. Doorman tips (I thank my stars, every year, that I can’t afford a doorman building, because I almost certainly couldn’t afford to tip all the various doormen every year on top of also paying their salaries). Garbage collector tips (how do you even accomplish that? Leave money in the trash!? Seriously, I want to know!). Honestly if I ever buy a farm and just go completely self-sufficient and off-the-grid, it won’t be for financial or environmental or anti-social reasons. It will be so that I never have to think about tipping again.
Well, and maybe for some anti-social reasons. I AM Weird Short Regular, after all.
Well that was longer than I intended it to be. Sorry!
Haha! That was wonderful, Alexandra, well said. :-)
This has been a very helpful discussion.
Um, I kind of love you. :)
Oh my gosh, this made me laugh. And I have to say, on one hand you are correct–chances are, your baristas have a nickname for you. (Among my favorites we currently have going are: Dragon Lady, Too Much Mocha) But, you should definitely go back to your old shop. When we have regulars and know their names and drinks, that’s the best part of the job! I have lots of regulars who don’t leave tips that I like a lot better than some people who tip $2 but aren’t that pleasant. The ratio of tippers/non tippers is about 50/50 so we aren’t judgey of non tippers. Chances are, if you’re nice enough, they don’t even notice. They probably miss you!
Holy smokes!! You all should move to Kansas! A good cut costs about $25-$30. I highlight my own hair (and ALWAYS get compliments on it) from a box kit. It’s revlon and it’s $6 and when I go get my hair cut, the stylist always asks who did my highlights and is very impressed when I say I did them. It’s super cheap and easy (just pull your hair through a cap and put on the dye). Seriously, try it. My theory is if you mess it up, you were going to pay a lot to have it dyed anyhow, so just pay to have them fix what you messed up. But the kits these days are pretty fool-proof. I tip about $5. I think it’s crazy to tip 15-20% for people who are already getting paid hourly or on comission!! I say you should just go to Michigan to visit more often and just happen to get your hair done while you’re there :)
I have really enjoyed reading all these comments. I am a hairstylist so it’s interesting hearing everyone’s thoughts. I personally don’t get upset if I don’t get a great tip, however I always think it’s nice to get one. I definitely don’t think tips are required but I guess I just always think that I am being tipped for my knowledge and skills. The salon I work at charges a booth rental fee but I am paying commission because I have recently gone part time since having kids. I am still self employed so that means that I don’t get paid vacations or days off. I have to pay for my own health insurance. I have to buy all my own products. All of that is a HUGE chunk out of the money I get to keep.
I definitely would hate to be put on the spot and announce my tip out loud. If our clients pay by card, they just write it on the receipt before handing it back. If paying by cash they just hand it to us. Like I said, I personally feel like a nice tip shows how much they appreciate your services and skills.
(I haven’t read through everyone’s’ response so I apologize if this has already been brought up)
When did tipping become mandatory? What happen to a tip being a way to show someone your appreciation for a job well done? And what sense does it make to tip someone based on the amount you spend, instead of the job they did?
I live in the Bay Area, California. There are a LOT of options when you get your hair cut here. You can get a hair cut for under $20 at some places, but they usually don’t color and they usually can’t give you what you ask for. At the other end of the spectrum, you can usually expect to pay anywhere from $110-170 for highlights and $60-90 for a haircut at nice salons. I used to pay over $200 for a cut and color, PLUS I always tipped 20%. My boyfriend and I are firm believers that people who give you good service deserve good tips. ESPECIALLY when you are a repeat customer. ESPECIALLY with something as important as your hair.
And most nice salons only take cash or check, so I just include the tip in the total check amount. You usually write the check directly to the hairstylist.
I like you, had no blasted idea about the whole tipping mafia!!! What the heck??!! I feel that they are getting paid pretty well and they already have their supplies so I thought 5 bucks was pretty darn good. So yup. I am with ya on the whole black sheep being talked about….oh well! I am raising three kids on a shoestring budget so that is literally about all I can afford! I wouldn’t feel bad about it.
I so feel your pain, Raechel!
I live in Louisville, KY, and I pay $140-$150 for all over color, a cut and a brow wax. And of course, when I add product — which I try to limit/stretch out — it’s into the $200s easily. In fact, around Christmas, I spent $250 when all was said and done and I nearly got sick in my car trying to justify it all.
It is an Aveda salon (I’m particular in that regard; been using Aveda since I was in around 22, and I’m almost 40 now), so I know what I’m paying for. But the whole tip topic does make me cringe.
When I’m done getting my color/brows done by one of a couple much-loved colorists, I head over to my much-loved stylist. So, there are two people providing me with services. I also get the complimentary (or is it?) blue oil rubbed onto my neck with a massage along with the occasional hand massage, but the hand massages seem to be just another way for them to market more products to me. Don’t get me wrong…I love them. But I do sometimes feel a bit pressured to try the new hand cream. Besides, between their hair and body products, I have more than enough. You could say I’m a very loyal Aveda customer!
After my hair’s done, my stylist walks me to the front to check out and always asks me if I need any products. Then they ring me up, hand me the receipt and, if I ask for one, a calculator. I used to tip 20%, but it became ridiculous when I added up what I pay in product alone there (when I could get it at a slight discount somewhere else). Now I just tip $15-$20 depending on how generous I’m feeling.
I’m embarrassed to admit this, but I went to this salon (one of the nicest in town) for four years before I realized what I was paying for each service. There’s a printout that each of the stylists have with a listing of all your prior services, product buys, etc., and for some reason, they always keep it close to them, passing it off to each other. I simply never thought to ask what was on it. Until I did. And then, there in glaring flashing lights was all the money I’d spent all the times before and I thought I was going to die. I’m happy to say I’m no longer in the dark! In fact, sometimes if I have nowhere to go afterwards, I schedule my appointments for the last one of the day and either leave with it wet (in a baseball cap) or dried, but no style. It saves me about $20. I’ve also been having my brow waxes at every other appointment and just tweezing in between. That also saves about $20. The more grey hairs popping through, the more often I need to go, though. I was going every 8 weeks, but now I can barely wait 6 before I look like a hot mess.
I’ve thought about getting my color only done at the salon and then going to a place like Great Clips for the cut/style. I think Angie Smith wrote about refusing to pay high prices at a salon once and just going to the less expensive places for a cut. Might want to check on that.
Good luck!
Well well well. I typed in the google bar to find out about tipping your hair stylist. My old hair stylist died suddenly a few months ago and I have been seeing him since I was 20 years old – that’s almost half my life. He cut and styled hair for magazines such as Vogue, Toronto Fashion, Flare, Elle etc… SInce we became friends over the years and I don’t make much money, we bartered for half the cost of my cut – which was $185.00 for a wash and cut. So, I happily tipped $20.00 on top of $100.00 cash. Now I am going back to the same salon and the owner (who also cuts famous peoples hair) is cutting mine and I not only do I have to pay full rate, I have to pay tax and tip on top of a $200.00 haircut. Yikes. With tax thats $230.00, with tip – and only 15%, is another $34.00. Ridiculous I think, especially when they make that much an hour in the first place :(
Thank you for being brave. I’m leaving in an hour to go to a high end salon to get a color correction. I’ve never been to a salon before for anything and have no idea what to expect or tip. The issue of tips has always been a touchy one for me. I run a movie theatre & my staff work hard serving people all day for minimum wage with no tips. We think of it as doing our job. We are paid to help and work hard and we do. So why should I tip 20% to the lady who does my hair? Am I not already paying for that service? It has been implied that the tip ensures great service. So the converse of that is without the tip, I should expect my service to be not-so-good? Not to mention that I’m going to end up paying nearly $400 for my services today, so that’s $80 in tip?!? Seems outlandish to me.
I am in Plymouth, Michigan, and my cut and full highlight is $160 so tell me where in Mi you are getting that service for dirt cheap. I tip 15-20% but bc of the cost I only go every 10-12 weeks.
Hey Ellen. I’m talking small town Adrian or Morenci or something like that. I’m sure Plymouth is much more. And, I have a feeling you probably get what you pay for! :)
I’m so glad I found this blog…..I go to Aveda also….once a month for a cut or a wash and every 3 months for a relaxer (chemical hair straightener). I was surprised that it was $140 for a relaxer! I’m African American with relaxed hair and it’s difficult finding someone you trust to do your hair properly! It easily breaks off witha relaxer and this stylist comes from Arizona so she used to doing hair in a dry climate AND can do relaxers! Also, I can just drive there during lunch for a quick wash since it’s so close! A relaxer is 2hr so I go after work for that.
I just tipped $5 because I thought it was ok and never thought about a percentage. One person on city-data told me they also go to Aveda, love it, and 20% is the norm in NY. She said she tips that or more no matter how many times she goes and said she wouldn’t tip below the norm. She also said, “Frankly, if you can’t afford or don’t want to tip up to standard at the Aveda salon, I suggest you go elsewhere where prices are closer to what you are used to rather than stiff the stylist. JMO.”
I figured that was a bit harsh. After reading on the blog I commented about the $400 bill and an $80 tip….I think $80 is outrageous! I added up my cost and I spend a minimum of $840/yr going to this salon…..and that’s not including tips or buying all their products (I’m switching from Chi to Aveda…Chi was bought out and I think they changed their formula so my hair started breaking off more :( ) So, in short, I figured with tips and buying their products I’m spending well over $1000 a year. If giving them a grand a year makes me cheap then by all means call me cheap!
I tip well at restaurants, usually 15-20% and if the services are exceptional, usually more than 20%. I also tip well because they make below minimum wage. But when you’re on commission, and I hear some stylist at Aveda (read up on one Aveda salon in Austin, TX “Aveda Avant Garde” ) can make from 40% (Tier 1) to 55% (Tier 5) for services they provide and I think is unreasonable to say I “should” leave them an additional 20%.
I loved Amanda (Aveda hairstylist), Amy, Jennifer, Laura, and Alexandra’s comments! I believe I’ll still tip $5 for a wash/cut but if it’s something like relaxer (that can do some SERIOUS damage to my hair if not done right) I’ll tip between $10-$15 depending on what I can afford, since a relaxer is an extra hour of work. I know my birthday is coming up and I’m gonna change my look and get a diff style….lots of breakage so need to do some serious cleaning here to give my hair a good opportunity to grow. So, if it’s not just a trip but a full on cut and she does a great job I’ll prob leave a bit more.
I really do like my stylist, she always takes time to tell me what I should and shouldn’t do to make sure make hair stopping breaking off from relaxers and such. I also don’t wanna feel like I’m obligated to tip her %20….especially since she’s on commission and doesn’t make below minimum wage. Since I go to her once a month I figure $5/hr should be more than enough, a little extra for my relaxer if I can afford it, and a little extra if she does an AWESOME cut (not trim) :)
OMG….so many typos! Oh well, it’s Sunday, call me lazy :P
I found this blog because my hair stylist just raised her rates and I wanted to get an idea of whether I was being overcharged. She is charging $120 for a cut and color with partial highlights. Sounds like that is about the norm. She does do a great job and I realize she has to rent her station, pay her own health insurance, no paid vacation, stand on her feet all day, etc etc. But that’s $60/hr and she drives a Mercedes for chrissake! And she told me she only works 30 hours a week. I’m really good at my job too but I have a college degree in a hot field and I don’t make that kind of money AND I work really long hours. Don’t even get me started on tipping!
I go to Mario Tricoci salon In Chicago area, for about 30 years now. When I first started going there a hair cut was $20. Now I pay $75 for a wash, cut and blow dry only. Usually I give a $10 tip which I is cheap by their standard of tipping, Not to mention tipping the Shampoo girl another 3-5 dollars. Receptionist told me 20% was standard. tip.
Another thing that irks me , is if she’s running behind, she stops and welcomes the client brings her sits her down and does consultation and bring her to the shampoo girl Sometimes she also has another another girl blow dry me.
She always asks but you feel like a jerk if you say NO.
The question is do you tip what you can afford or pay the 20% of the $75? Do I tip the girl that blows dries me too?
$95 ( total ) unreasonable for only a hair cut However I had gone other places for a terrible hair cut.
I’m a server and I always want to be fair about tipping because I believe what goes around comes around in the service industry. When we get tipped by a table a percentage of the tip goes to the bartender and a percentage goes to the busser. So when customers leave 20% it is really appreciated. Some customers leave over, some leave under. Biggest pet peeve is people thinking that $5 to $10 is a good universal tip on any amout. It makes us think we did something wrong :( I only make $4.80 an hour plus tips after nightly tip out so I have to make the most out of every table I get. Hopefully great service = your server paying her bills too. Ps. Never be to shy to ask how accepting tips works and how $$ is earned.
Wow…I have been super over tipping…for some reason I thought that you are to tip 30-50%! On smaller things and at holiday times I have even tipped 100%…no wonder all the ladies know me!
Tip at least 15. But standard is 20%. This does for hair services and restaurants. The one thing I don’t ever and would never tip on is Laser hair removal services.
Let’s just say I am up feeling bad about this matter because I went to a Devacurl salon to pay $70 for the first time today as I usually do my own hair and tipped $4. Yes $4 bc I felt as if the price of a wash, small cut and under dryer treatment should have been $60. Then I spoke with a friend that said the standard is 20%. So I feel bad and I have no issues with tithes or waitresses, but hey I guess I will not be going to the hair dresser as much now for real. I will go back in a few months and try to tip to make up for the first visit, but I do hope she doesn’t give me a downgraded service because she remembers I was the new physician who came in with a $4 tip. I simply have a lot of debt and bills, and my friend who recommended this place should have told me about tipping. I had no idea. I hope I can get over this…
a tip is not guaranteed….no reason to feel bad about tipping what you can afford….I paid 120 for a relaxer at Aveda and the lady messed it up 2 of the 3 times I went….each time I tipped $10 (1st and 3rd time I ever went she messed it up). Sign in the store even says tipping is not EXPECTED but appreciated. Well I started going to someone else for $60 and she does a WAAAAAAY better job. Tipping lower than 20% doesn’t mean you’ll get crappy work on purpose. If you do I would question their ethics. I’m with Janet S. on this…..if tipping is supposed to be guaranteed then raise your rates.
i just tipped $30 on a $118 haircut and the stylist acted as if i had stiffed her. i am embarrassed and feel badly and am wondering if i should send her a check and flowers? she did everything herself – washed my hair and swept up the fallen hair after my cut – and reminded me after i paid of how much she did. i want to die…i am so embarrassed for being lame for the low tip. can someone tell me what to do to make it right? thank you!!!
In all honesty a tip is not guaranteed nor is it required. Some countries see tipping as an insult. Tip what you can afford or what you want and be done with it. No need to feel guilty as a tip is not a salary.
I’m getting tired of this tip system. If were going to tip one group of people might as well tip everyone. Everyone is deserving of extra cash. Then again I am not rich to do so. I hate going to a restaurant to get crappy service because the waitresses or waiters assume I will not tip. If anything I think the cook deserves a tip as well but I can’t affort to give everyone. I take my three boys for a fade haircut and the hair stylist wants to act dumb and not give me my change back. Or ask me do you want me to charge your card the total amount. Like really if I new how to cut my own kids hair I would do it myself. Almost every store I go such as convenient store or serve yourself frozen yogurt shop there’s a tip jar. Like really people. It is your job and we’re paying and you want more on top of that.
Just came across this thread – and although old, it is still relevant – I feel your pain – it is the holiday season and I am wondering what to bonus my hairdresser…I normally tip 20% on top of what is typically a 170.00 bill for cut and color. I am reading that it is customary to tip an additional amount equaling that of the service (170.00 in this case) for an Xmas bonus. Ahhhh! Really? I don’t spend that much for an Xmas present to one of my close friends and/or extended family member, much less a hairdresser I barely know, even if I do see them a few times a year. I would love to know what the consensus is for holiday tipping.
Hi! So I just came across this post today when I googled how much to tip my hairdresser. So I have THICK, long hair. I haven’t gotten my hair cut or colored in over TWO YEARS! The last time I had it done it literally took the girl 5 hours and I didn’t get what I wanted and I paid over $200. So over the weekend I found a GROUPON for Paul Mitchell beauty school for $29! It includes partial highlight, cut, and keratin treatment. On the Groupon it states something about tipping on what the full amount would be. So I’m confused on what to tip a girl in school..I’m fully aware my appointment tomorrow will probably take ALL DAY, but hey, it was $29! Hope I don’t regret this.. ??