topic Re: Another Tipping Question in Community Chat

Another Tipping Question

SamBrown — Thu, 30 Jul 2026 14:59:49 GMT

If a hairdresser rents a chair at a salon, do you tip? I do tip, but I really feel like they own their own business and should not be tipped.

I do it begrudgingly.

Re: Another Tipping Question

Maizie Green — Thu, 30 Jul 2026 15:00:59 GMT

I do tip, just not as much as a regular stylist.

Re: Another Tipping Question

Boehm Collector — Thu, 30 Jul 2026 15:05:56 GMT

My hairdresser works out of her house. I was always under the impression that the owner of the business is not tipped. But she expects it. So I do tip. I have been going to her since I was in my 20's. I am now 70.

Re: Another Tipping Question

RespectLife — Thu, 30 Jul 2026 15:07:00 GMT

Of course! Absolutely! Full 20%

Is she/he rents a chair, they have a business expense to pay. They also usually buy their own products.

It isn't like they have a free home salon (which would still have a mtg expense behind it)

Rent for chairs in our area are around $600 to $1500 per month. I would imagine even higher in larger cities.

I don't understand why anyone would NOT tip??

And if you are doing it begrudingly, then who do you think Should be tipped?

Re: Another Tipping Question

beckyb1012 — Thu, 30 Jul 2026 15:07:05 GMT

My stylist for the past 31 years as always rented her chair. I always tip, I always pay in cash, never have I written her a check. It is her money to report whether she wants to or not. I also give her a Christmas present every year and part of that gift is cash. 30+ years means a great deal to me and since she is five years older I am afraid of hearing the words, "I am retiring Becky."

Re: Another Tipping Question

Iwantcoffee — Thu, 30 Jul 2026 15:18:44 GMT

The lady that cuts my hair owned a salon, closed, and is at another salon. I assume she rents her booth from the owner because I call her cell to make appointments and I pay in cash for service and tip at her booth.

The lady that cuts DH's hair is the only one at her salon. He tips.

She does a great job.

Re: Another Tipping Question

bonnie f — Thu, 30 Jul 2026 15:28:17 GMT

yes! i feel like i should definetly tip.. or i would feel bad. i have had the same hairdresser for about 5 yrs.. i went to the same salon for over 20.. the girl i go to left the salon and now does hair at her house. and she's much cheaper now than the salon.. she charged me at least 50.00 less for my color.. but im glad because now she gets all the money.. and i did tip her well, i tipped at the salon too, but now she gets everything which i love.. so yes it is kinda expected to tip.. at leasr 20 to 25 % or more if you'd like... i tip my nail girl well too... it shows appreciation. for christmas i plan to give her a gift to show appreciation

Re: Another Tipping Question

bonnie f — Thu, 30 Jul 2026 15:25:18 GMT

@beckyb1012 wrote:
My stylist for the past 31 years as always rented her chair. I always tip, I always pay in cash, never have I written her a check. It is her money to report whether she wants to or not. I also give her a Christmas present every year and part of that gift is cash. 30+ years means a great deal to me and since she is five years older I am afraid of hearing the words, "I am retiring Becky."

hopefully you'll get lucky like me and she will still do hair at her house.. i always feared that also... but maybe she has a set up at home like my lady does.. i hope for your sake she does.. ask her one day if she does hair at home.. and its extra money in her pocket,, dont know how that works.. does she claim it in her taxes,,, i doubt my lady does. who knows that she does this at home.. so a plus because its extra money for them.. hopefully your hairdresser will still do your hair when shes done

Re: Another Tipping Question

JeanLouiseFinch — Thu, 30 Jul 2026 15:46:02 GMT

They ABSOLUTELY should be tipped. Chair rent is very expensive.

@SamBrown - there's a big difference in being self-employed where you rent a space to operate and owning a salon.

Re: Another Tipping Question

faeriemoon — Thu, 30 Jul 2026 15:34:20 GMT

@SamBrown wrote:
If a hairdresser rents a chair at a salon, do you tip? I do tip, but I really feel like they own their own business and should not be tipped.
I do it begrudgingly.

For YEARS I felt the same as you because you are absolutely correct. However, when I learned that my "policy" had become outdated, and just about everyone else was tipping, I started doing it too. I have been with her a long time, she's a fabulous hairdresser and has become a friend.

However, I agree with you.

Re: Another Tipping Question

Q-Checker — Thu, 30 Jul 2026 16:16:11 GMT

Absolutely, tip. I tip 20-25% to my hair dresser who rents her chair. Looking for an "excuse" not to tip for good service is simply not fair. In this culture, tips are customary at hair salons.

Came back to add: If you think that you got poor service at a salon, then don't tip. And ...... never return to that salon. Otherwise, leave the customary 20% tip or do your own hair.

Re: Another Tipping Question

jlkz — Thu, 30 Jul 2026 15:36:56 GMT

Be aware: Those who do hair in their homes have expenses you may not be aware of, i.e., water and electricity usage. If they do not have a license and they are reported, fines can be levied.

If a neighbor or customer alerts the water or electric companies, the unlicensed hairdresser risks theft of service charges / fines.

My sister used to do hair in her home.....

Re: Another Tipping Question

faeriemoon — Thu, 30 Jul 2026 15:37:03 GMT

@RespectLife wrote:

Of course! Absolutely! Full 20%

Is she/he rents a chair, they have a business expense to pay. They also usually buy their own products.

It isn't like they have a free home salon (which would still have a mtg expense behind it)

Rent for chairs in our area are around $600 to $1500 per month. I would imagine even higher in larger cities.

I don't understand why anyone would NOT tip??

And if you are doing it begrudingly, then who do you think Should be tipped?

The owner of a their own salon has all those expenses you mentioned (and more), yet they should technically not be tipped.

Re: Another Tipping Question

faeriemoon — Thu, 30 Jul 2026 15:41:07 GMT

@jlkz wrote:
Be aware: Those who do hair in their homes have expenses you may not be aware of, i.e., water and electricity usage. If they do not have a license and they are reported, fines can be levied.

If a neighbor or customer alerts the water or electric companies, the unlicensed hairdresser risks theft of service charges / fines.

My sister used to do hair in her home.....

But those are expenses incurred in owning your own business. With your way of thinking everyone who owns their own business should be tipped for their services.

Re: Another Tipping Question

Susan345 — Thu, 30 Jul 2026 15:43:31 GMT

My stylist is part owner of the salon. I pay with a credit card so my tip is to cover the fee she has to pay to the credit company.

Re: Another Tipping Question

Sooner — Thu, 30 Jul 2026 15:53:27 GMT

I had the most wonderful salon owner and hair stylist. Delightful human, talented and saloon owner. I gave him a well-deserved tip always. Then heard you shouldn't tip the owner.

So next time I tipped him I asked him if he was offended because he was the owner. He stepped back, looked at me and then just laughed and said "Honey! I am NEVER offended by money!" It was a joke then and we always laughed about it.

I sure do miss him, and so does my hair.

Re: Another Tipping Question

JeanLouiseFinch — Thu, 30 Jul 2026 16:00:02 GMT

I repeatedly SMH at things I read on this board, especially when it comes to tipping.

Are people really that ignorant regarding the service industry or are they just cheap tightwads who want great service and not have to pay for it?

Re: Another Tipping Question

bonnie f — Thu, 30 Jul 2026 16:01:07 GMT

@jlkz wrote:
Be aware: Those who do hair in their homes have expenses you may not be aware of, i.e., water and electricity usage. If they do not have a license and they are reported, fines can be levied.

If a neighbor or customer alerts the water or electric companies, the unlicensed hairdresser risks theft of service charges / fines.

My sister used to do hair in her home.....

yes my lady has a license.. she has been doing this for years

Re: Another Tipping Question

lgfan — Thu, 30 Jul 2026 16:04:58 GMT

Yes, I do tip the hairstylist because they are considered self-employed and have to pay the full 15% of social security for their income. They do not have an employer who pays half of the social security.

Re: Another Tipping Question

SamBrown — Thu, 30 Jul 2026 16:06:14 GMT

@RespectLife wrote:

Of course! Absolutely! Full 20%

Is she/he rents a chair, they have a business expense to pay. They also usually buy their own products.

It isn't like they have a free home salon (which would still have a mtg expense behind it)

Rent for chairs in our area are around $600 to $1500 per month. I would imagine even higher in larger cities.

I don't understand why anyone would NOT tip??

And if you are doing it begrudingly, then who do you think Should be tipped?

@RespectLife Every business has expenses and prices should reflect that. These hair appointments aren't cheap. Why are we tipping? Me and my granddaughter went for haircuts. We both have long, straight hair. We wash it before we go and don't have it dried or styled because every add-on is an expense. Used to be going to the salon automatically included a wash and dry and now that is not the case....and yet we tip.