Comments on: How to Tip a Hairstylist

on 7/10/2009 (Please read both comments below first- this section was also cut off... Thank you!) If a server worked 16 hour days 7 days a week without any tips, they would still only make about $260/week BEFORE taxes. Yikes! I hope this puts things into perspective for those who are non-believers in tipping or giving adequate gratuity. I appreciate your time and thank you for listening.

on 7/10/2009 (Please read below first- this was cut off... Thanks!) Many of us receive all of our income via paychecks/payroll through our employers, but that is not universal for those working in industries such as serving and cosmetology. These employees rely on tips from their customers/clients, and most work very hard to please those they are serving and therefore deserve to be compensated for their time and efforts. I hope people will show respect and compassion for service providers in these industries, as they are forced to rely on their customers’ gratuity to pay the bills. Stylists who rent out their booths usually pay what many spend on their monthly mortgage bill and must also purchase their own products and supplies. Their gratuities help to make up for their “overhead.” Servers’ employers factor in their tips when giving them the hourly wage of $2.35/hour. If a server worked 16 hour ...

on 7/10/2009 I see here that some people are stating that servers make “minimum wage,” which is currently $6.55/hour. This is untrue. Servers have a separate minimum wage requirement of roughly $2.35/hour. Servers MUST rely on tips in order to survive. This does NOT mean that stylists do not need tips to survive, either. Servers and stylists alike cannot rely on their “salaries” to pay the rent. In this society, it is expected that we as consumers tip employees in certain professions for their services. If one cannot afford the services plus the customary gratuity, then it may be wise to seek alternative services, such as cosmetology schools, Supercuts, cafeteria-style restaurants, or even shopping at the grocery store and cooking meals at home. Please show respect for those that provide us services within industries that factor in expected tips and thereby reduce “salary” wages. Many of us recei...

on 12/18/2008 A questions - I have a sytlist who works in a salon, but told me she also comes to my neighborhood to do hair, and offered to come to my home instead. I washed my own hair, etc., and we used my products. The price of the cut was $45 - do I tip in this situation? If so, what percentage?

on 10/29/2008 A friend just called and she is going to a stylists home to get her hair cut...does she tip or not? She said the stylist told her it would be $15. I suggested giving her a $20 and then seeing what the stylists response is. Do any of you stylists have suggestions?

on 9/20/2007 I think it is up to the client. Did you get a good service? Then make your choice, tip or don't. As a hairstylist/owner, I would rather see someone go out happy and tell everyone than not. Do not assume everyone can afford the service and a tip on top, and when a tip comes your way appreciate it. I also have clients that don't tip but give chocolate at christmas or one tip a year, and quite frankly the gesture of those are sometimes more meaningful if you know it is from someone who maybe saves to come and see you every six weeks or if they honestly enjoy all your hard work. I have one client who brings me coffee everytime she comes. The 1.60 she spent on it means more than the 20 dollars from the arrogant person who treats me like a hired hand. If you are a true professional and do what we do because you love it, you know appreciation comes in many forms from clients.

on 8/13/2007 Beauty Industry Tipping - We always have a choice to go to someone who charges more or less, but keep in mind that the majority of this industry only receives commission & gratuity for the work they do and also do not receive benefits, vacation, sick time, or retirement. Why would you tip a waiter for bringing you food more than a stylist who has probably spent more time on you, has to have a license that must be continually renewed to perform any services, pays to get more education in their field, and performs many different skills from cutting to coloring or highlighting, perming, etc...Also remember that the stylist gives you splendid service before he or she even knows what type of gratuity you will be giving them. If you want continued great service then you must always let your stylist or food server know by the percentage of gratuity you give. It feels great when you look great!

on 7/25/2007 Some people mentioned that anything less than a $5 tip is insulting on cuts that are $12. GIVE ME A BREAK. Thats over 40%. Sorry, if we choose to go to a "chop shop" it's obviously because we cant afford to tip the higher end shops. The extra money I save I keep, not you. Besides, I believe the rule is 10-15%? That's $2. I would rather insult you than insult good sense.

on 4/26/2007 While I think that this is an agreeable article, doing away with a tip is absurd. It is a gracious gift that a guest can give to whomever is taking care of them. Like they say with the restaurant business, if you can't tip don't eat out! If you know you can't afford to say thank you with a tip, then don't go to the expensive salon. This industry is certainly different than a grocery store or even a job that you get with your degree. I have my degree and I'm a hairstylist, I do make more money than I did with my degree, But that is because my clients trust me with their hair and I make sure that I keep that trust. Which is why they tip me and I tip them back with a fabulous set of locks

on 4/25/2007 Tomorrow I have an appointment in a two-chair salon, figure I'd try out a real professional just once. He quoted me $375 for a full head of highlights, which is $75 dollars more than it states on his website. How much is the customary tip if he owns the salon? Maybe the $75 was figured into the bill for the extent of his services?

on 4/6/2007 Hey Sparklyb:
With those kind of costs, how on earth can you let yourself be treated that way? That's totally unacceptable! I'm sure there are plenty of other capable hairdressers that are far more courteous and not slobs that would appreciate your business. Find another hairdresser ASAP!

on 3/18/2007 well I ALWAYS tip my stylists. BOTH of them. The person who cuts my hair I have been going to 15 years. I trust VERY much with my hair. Never runs late or cancels...but sadly is a total pervert. But I at LEAST give him 17 bucks for a 70 dollar cut of which is almost nothing since my hair is long and I keep it that way. So its a trim. The girl that colors my hair is a different story. My bill is usually from 100-120 dollars. I've tipped her between 20-30 bucks each time, but she DOESN'T appreciate me. I get the feeling she's ducking me all the time when I try and make an appointment. I do NOT fuss.. I've even kept my mouth shut even though my hair didn't turn out the way I've liked. The only time I lost it was when my appointment was at 1pm and she had STILL not gotten to me at 2:30pm .. I didn't say anything to her, but she heard me being indignant on the phone with my husband. She is always late.. always is overlapping bookings. Never is really consistent in what she does, but I do trust her. She acts like I'm a bother. Her phone rings constantly and she actually stops to get on it. I've actually had to wait on her fat behind to finish EATING! If she actually DOES answer her damn phone for me, she tells me she'll call back and never does because I can hear her and snobby coworkers at the salon making plans for the weekend. People have told me maybe because my hair is sooo long thats the problem. but she only does the hair that frames my face. ONLY once did I forget to give her a tip..and I made it up next time. I don't understand if I even overpay this woman WHAT her problem is. I do feel if you tip well you should at least get better service or have an advantage there. But, most don't care.
My nail lady.. I stopped going to altogether. Fills for 15 bucks and I usually gave her $8-10 tips and she was constantly taking shots at me about my feet or hands.. or if I waited "too long" to get my nails filled. Are these people doing so WELL that they are pissing off clients and risk losing them???

on 3/18/2007 well I ALWAYS tip my stylists. BOTH of them. The person who cuts my hair I have been going to 15 years. I trust VERY much with my hair. Never runs late or cancels...but sadly is a total pervert. But I at LEAST give him 17 bucks for a 70 dollar cut of which is almost nothing since my hair is long and I keep it that way. So its a trim. The girl that colors my hair is a different story. My bill is usually from 100-120 dollars. I've tipped her between 20-30 bucks each time, but she DOESN'T appreciate me. I get the feeling she's ducking me all the time when I try and make an appointment. I do NOT fuss.. I've even kept my mouth shut even though my hair didn't turn out the way I've liked. The only time I lost it was when my appointment was at 1pm and she had STILL not gotten to me at 2:30pm .. I didn't say anything to her, but she heard me being indignant on the phone with my husband. She is always late.. always is overlapping bookings. Never is really consistent in what she does, but I do trust her. She acts like I'm a bother. Her phone rings constantly and she actually stops to get on it. I've actually had to wait on her fat behind to finish EATING! If she actually DOES answer her damn phone for me, she tells me she'll call back and never does because I can hear her and snobby coworkers at the salon making plans for the weekend. People have told me maybe because my hair is sooo long thats the problem. but she only does the hair that frames my face. ONLY once did I forget to give her a tip..and I made it up next time. I don't understand if I even overpay this woman WHAT her problem is. I do feel if you tip well you should at least get better service or have an advantage there. But, most don't care.
My nail lady.. I stopped going to altogether. Fills for 15 bucks and I usually gave her $8-10 tips and she was constantly taking shots at me about my feet or hands.. or if I waited "too long" to get my nails filled. Are these people doing so WELL that they are pissing off clients and risk losing them???

on 3/17/2007 If you feel your stylist is not perfoming to standards; by all means do not tip, and find a new hairstylist. Do not however assume that because cost seems high for a service that the stylist is making a large salary. I must respond to many blogs that can be seen over and over on this forum. While the medical profession comments seem quite logical, the professions can only be compared because of the connection to people. Cosmetology
is artistry, it is not something to read in technical books. My mother is in the medical profession, and I can personally vouch that after expenses and my mortgage-like booth rent of $1000 a month are paid out, I do not make even half her salary. I am still a starving artist and choose this profession because I love making others feel wonderful about themselves. That being said, hairstylists come in all price ranges, and there is a price range for everyone. If you can not afford the high-end salon color prices, please find a more affordable hair stylist. My goal is to always please my clients, and my clients come back 10 fold because of that. Gratuity is a privelage, but I would not want to think that a client would not tip because my pricelist is not affordable. As far as how much to tip, I feel 10-15% on a job well done conveys appreciation. Anything more I will clearly accept, but would never expect. Thank you for reading:
From your hairstylist's
favorite hairstylist

on 1/27/2007 Tipping hairdressers - Common tipping etiquette is 15 to 20% of the total price of the service. Enough said.