topic Re: Question regarding tipping in Community Chat

Question regarding tipping

Somertime — Fri, 16 Oct 2020 11:22:36 GMT

This is the first time I have ever experienced this situation. I made an appointment at a high end hair salon. I chose to have the owner who was a "Master" with a Level 4. His price was the most expensive by at least $ 15.00. It was for a haircut but really turned into a trim and slight shaping. His assistant (who was a licensed stylist) washed my hair, she did the blowout and styling as well. He only did the trim on my hair.

My dilemma came as to tipping. I tipped his assistant generously because of the amount of time and work she spent. I hesitated in tipping him because his price was higher and he, only, cut my hair. I did tip him as well but afterwards I thought I should not have. I have been to many salons where the owner's price is higher and someone else shampoos my hair but the owner has, always, done the cut, styling and blow out and I have, always, tipped the owner and the shampoo girl.

My husband was a hair stylist at Bloomingdales and later owned his owned his own salon in Manhattan for over 30 years. As an owner, his prices were the same for any stylist of your chosing, so I am aware of how salons operate. Some of his clients would not tip him because he was "the owner" even though his price was not higher but the majority did.

Anyone else have this experience? Just curious.

Re: Question regarding tipping

jellyBEAN — Fri, 16 Oct 2020 11:29:37 GMT

Good question. Looking forward to the responses. I will be having a similar dilemma on my next visit to the hair salon.

If the owner works alone in her own shop, do you still tip her? She does it all, has no help, its just her. I always get a cut and single-process color, takes about 2 hours from start to finish.

Going to get a haircut is not a cheap thing these days and any $$$ we don't have to spend is a bonus. I'd always heard in the past the owner of the salon doesn't need to be tipped but seems awkward not to.

Re: Question regarding tipping

Bri369 — Fri, 16 Oct 2020 11:41:04 GMT

I think not tipping the owner of a salon is outdated.

I would have tipped both the assistant as well as the owner. I think figuring out how much to tip is complicated when you have one person cutting your hair and another person styling your hair. I would have probably just split the tip evenly between them.

It will be interesting to see what the replies are here. LOL

Re: Question regarding tipping

CalminHeart — Fri, 16 Oct 2020 11:49:40 GMT

The person who did your hair should be tipped. How much is your choice. I would have tipped the assistant more too.

Re: Question regarding tipping

kaydee50 — Fri, 16 Oct 2020 12:03:51 GMT

I wouldn't tip the owner. His price is already higher and I would think he's getting a percentage of the earnings of the other stylists in his salon. Plus he spent so little time with you.

I'm glad I go to Supercuts!! I couldn't take the stress of a "high end" salon--LOL!!!

Re: Question regarding tipping

magicmoodz — Fri, 16 Oct 2020 12:04:47 GMT

We shouldn't have to be mathematicians to add a gratuity to an already high- priced service. If I were you, I would add 20-25% to the bill and allow them to decide how to split it.

Re: Question regarding tipping

RespectLife — Fri, 16 Oct 2020 12:28:53 GMT

I always tip 20%, total. Doesn't matter who owns the salon to me. I also agree 'not' tipping the owner is outdated.

How ever they chose to divide it up is up to them. If the owner has an assistant, that is their choice. I tip once. How they share the 20% is up to them.

I do not tip individually. I write one check with the 20% included.

Re: Question regarding tipping

tototwo — Fri, 16 Oct 2020 13:03:17 GMT

As long as I live, I will never understand why we're expected to tip at a hair salon.

Re: Question regarding tipping

mamaslittlepotato — Fri, 16 Oct 2020 13:03:24 GMT

I think it’s a lot of nerve for the owner “Master-Level 4” to charge $15.00 more, and then on top of it, doesn’t even do all the work. I would’ve tipped 20% total, but I personally would have handed the owner half, and the assistant half.

Re: Question regarding tipping

haddon9 — Fri, 16 Oct 2020 13:10:03 GMT

I used to go to a high end salon but since the Pandemic I've been going to someone who has a small salon out of her home.

It's just her (I like that it's only the two of us) and she charges less than half of what I paid before.

I've been tipping her but my friend who told me about her said not to tip ...no one does...but I don't feel comfortable not doing so....why does this have to be complicated?!!

Re: Question regarding tipping

Dusty1 — Fri, 16 Oct 2020 13:23:16 GMT

@Somertime But, do you love your hair?

That is way too much stress for me to get my hair done! I would rather get a root canal or go to the gynocologist than deal with going to the hair salon.

Just tell me how much it is to get my hair cut/colored, do it & let me out!

The talking, the discussing, the final thing where they hand you a mirror to look at the back of your head! It is so awful! And, then there is math.

They tell you a total & expect you to stand there & figure a generous extra amount to give them for the service that you are already paying for while they look at you.Ugh.

Re: Question regarding tipping

Cakers3 — Fri, 16 Oct 2020 13:26:20 GMT

Years ago (many) the owner of the salon would not accept at tip. This was back home. When we moved here, the owner(s) would accept a tip.

I tip the shampoo person one amount and the owner a higher amount. I tip in cash.

I agree that not tipping the owner is outdated.

It is odd that the stylist only did the cut but if that is how this salon operates the only choice is to find somebody else or tip graciously.

It also shouldn't matter if the salon is "high end" or one of those chain salons.

A haircut is a haircut; a service was provided and tipping at a hair salon is common practice.

Re: Question regarding tipping

Somertime — Fri, 16 Oct 2020 13:37:41 GMT

@Cakers3 I, too, found it odd that he, only, trimmed my hair and his assistant did the blow out and styling. This was my first experience that was done this way. I frequented many Manhattan salons when I lived in NY but my stylist did everyhting except shampooing. I live in SW Florida, now, so I was very surprised. I did tip both of them and in cash as well.

Re: Question regarding tipping

Somertime — Fri, 16 Oct 2020 13:46:08 GMT

@Dusty1 I can't say I love it but I don't blame him since it was only a trim and a slight shaping, not an entire restyle. I had not been to a hairdresser since February so my hair grew a lot. I was unsure whether to keep the length which I did chose to do. Lately, I can't stand the length anymore, so on my next appointment, I will go back to shorter hair, at that time I'll be able to judge better if he is a good cutter and if I am happy with it. I was, just, surprised he, only, did the trim and left everything else to his assistant.

Re: Question regarding tipping

songbird — Fri, 16 Oct 2020 13:46:39 GMT

@Bri369 I agree. I never tip the owner. Intersting, but when I was a kid & just starting to get my hair, that was what my mother said.

Re: Question regarding tipping

Cakers3 — Fri, 16 Oct 2020 13:55:16 GMT

@Somertime wrote:
@Cakers3 I, too, found it odd that he, only, trimmed my hair and his assistant did the blow out and styling. This was my first experience that was done this way. I frequented many Manhattan salons when I lived in NY but my stylist did everyhting except shampooing. I live in SW Florida, now, so I was very surprised. I did tip both of them and in cash as well.

@Somertime Maybe the assistant was in training? I think you should have been told, though, if that had been the case. Either that or they were over-booked.

I need a haircut myself but haven't had time to find out if he has reopened!!

Re: Question regarding tipping

Somertime — Fri, 16 Oct 2020 14:00:41 GMT

@Cakers3 That is what I thought. I asked her when she would be getting her license and was told she, already, had one and was going for her Master Stylist. ???????????

Re: Question regarding tipping

ahoymate — Fri, 16 Oct 2020 14:04:55 GMT

@magicmoodz wrote:
We shouldn't have to be mathematicians to add a gratuity to an already high- priced service. If I were you, I would add 20-25% to the bill and allow them to decide how to split it.

ITA!!!!!

Re: Question regarding tipping

ScrapHappy — Fri, 16 Oct 2020 14:22:00 GMT

I like to know as well. I'm in a similar situation. My hairdresser moved to different type of salon. It's call The Phenix. It's a large building that individual hairdressers buy/rent (not sure which one) a room. For her space, she opted to take the wall down in the middle which would separate two hairdressers and join up with her long time friend and hairdresser that she's been with for years. She says it's something she's always wanted to do and she did say "own her own shop." She does everything herself...the cut, blow dry, color, shampoo. I continue to tip her but wondering if I should. To be honest, I think it would be awkward if I didn't. I pay by check but I've seen others using their credit card in her phone and it's clear that when doing that transaction it seems their is an option to tip, something like either 20% or 10%. Her prices have also gone up since re-opening after pandemic shut down.

Re: Question regarding tipping

Peaches McPhee — Fri, 16 Oct 2020 14:33:40 GMT

@tototwo wrote:
As long as I live, I will never understand why we're expected to tip at a hair salon.

I agree with this. It makes sense in a restaurant, since they make less than minimum wage, but a hair salon? They make a good wage without tipping.