Haircut housecall...tip question?

[MinnieTink]

The same hair stylist has cut/colored my hair for about 5 years now. I changed salons when she changed. Now she is working an office job but still cuts hair. She will come out to the client's house or do it at her home.

In the salon I realize that the stylist only gets a portion of what is charged, much of it going to the salon, and I would tip about 10%. My question now is what do I tip now that there is no salon involved? Or do I even tip at all?

Thanks for any input!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Honestly, I would probably tip and take my cue from her.

If she turns down the tip or says something then you know she is not expecting a tip.

 

[java]

What is she charging you? Is it the same as the salon? Or less. Remember she is coming to your house so that's a premium. My friend cuts hair in her house and she only charges $20. Most people tip her 20% on top since that's way below the salon price anyway.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

The ones that I have known that do a housecall for hair cut/style often charge less than what they would have in a salon since they get to keep 100% and it helps them remain competitive. So something that cost $100, they'd only charge maybe $80 (as an example).

I would tip as I ordinarily would without regard to the fact that they don't have to pay the salon. I do this since I tip based on % and not a flat dollar amount.

 

[Buckalew11]

I wouldn't call it a tip...just throw it in with what you pay her since she's pocketing it all anyway. I believe by law she can't "charge you a set fee" but you know about how much you'd pay her anyway.

There's a difference between someone coming to your house as a housecall to do a haircut and someone coming because they want some extra $$ or just to keep their skills up.

 

[MinnieTink]

Hi everyone, OP here. Thank you for all of your input.

She is charging me salon prices. A $45 haircut at the salon she was at, is still $45. I guess that is why I am questioning it...

And, yeah, it's not like a housecall because I can't get out, it's just that she offered and I do like the way she cuts my hair...

Any more input is appreciated.

 

[Buckalew11]

Wow, I'm amazed she is charging you that.

 

[MinnieTink]

Wow, I'm amazed she is charging you that.

Yeah, that's why I feel like she's getting what she's charging me and that's it. I have committed so I am going thru with it. However next time I think I will just go to the salon. At least I get an hour of peace n quiet away from the kids and DH that way. Lol.

 

[Coconut36]

Wow, I'm amazed she is charging you that.

Wow that is a lot for a non salon visit! When my stylist was between salons (fired from the one she was working at when they found out she was opening her own but her salon wasn't ready yet) and I went to her house she charged me less than she did in the salon as she had none of the "overhead" and I still tipped her the way I would normally have (heck I wanted her to have enough for her salon lol: ). When she moved into her own salon she was obviously the owner (and I know some people don't believe the owner should be tipped) but I still tipped her like I did in the previous salon (where she was not an owner).

I am honestly not sure what I would do as $45 is a lot of money to charge when you aren't in a salon setting (heck my current stylist doesn't even charge that in a small salon).

 

[Buckalew11]

Yeah, that's why I feel like she's getting what she's charging me and that's it. I have committed so I am going thru with it. However next time I think I will just go to the salon. At least I get an hour of peace n quiet away from the kids and DH that way. Lol.

Well, exactly...for that 45.00, is the shampoo going to be the same experience? No. Is there a salon chair for her to work in? No, and doing a haircut in a straight back chair that doesn't move is tough, period. And you're right, there whole relaxing setting of being in a salon is not there.

Plus, chances are, it is illegal for her to actually charge--at least it is here.

I'd feel the same as you do. When I opened my salon at home I still gave my clients a price break. I realize that was my choice but it's my opinion that it's the right thing to do since I had no "rent" or was no longer giving my employee a percentage of what I made. I passed that on and for the last 17 years my clientele have been generous to me because I think they think I'm fair.

 

[Coconut36]

Well, exactly...for that 45.00, is the shampoo going to be the same experience? No. Is there a salon chair for her to work in? No, and doing a haircut in a straight back chair that doesn't move is tough, period. And you're right, there whole relaxing setting of being in a salon is not there.

Plus, chances are, it is illegal for her to actually charge--at least it is here.

I'd feel the same as you do. When I opened my salon at home I still gave my clients a price break. I realize that was my choice but it's my opinion that it's the right thing to do since I had no "rent" or was no longer giving my employee a percentage of what I made. I passed that on and for the last 17 years my clientele have been generous to me because I think they think I'm fair.

Why is it illegal for someone to charge to cut your hair in your home (or theirs)? I have never heard of that being illegal (maybe it isn't here).

 

[Buckalew11]

Why is it illegal for someone to charge to cut your hair in your home (or theirs)? I have never heard of that being illegal (maybe it isn't here).

It is not illegal if you have a licensed salon in your home OR you have a business that makes house calls for clients. But to just charge for a haircut is considered illegal--maybe not everywhere but it is here and probably is everywhere, actually, because they want to tax you and all. Taking money under the table would be easy to do if they didn't have laws about it all.

It is also wrong for someone to apply makeup to a client without a cosmetology license (or possibly special permission--like at a makeup counter) which is why Mary Kay people have you do your own (they are NOT supposed to touch a person's face!)

 

[msjprincess]

I wouldn't tip her if she's charging you full salon price.

 

[Coconut36]

It is not illegal if you have a licensed salon in your home OR you have a business that makes house calls for clients. But to just charge for a haircut is considered illegal--maybe not everywhere but it is here and probably is everywhere, actually, because they want to tax you and all. Taking money under the table would be easy to do if they didn't have laws about it all.

It is also wrong for someone to apply makeup to a client without a cosmetology license (or possibly special permission--like at a makeup counter) which is why Mary Kay people have you do your own (they are NOT supposed to touch a person's face!)

I have never ever heard of that before but it's not something I would have sought out or been exposed to (although I did go to my stylists home for a period of time while her salon was being finished..never crossed my mind to question any legalities of it).

 

[Buckalew11]

Well, it wasn't legal, most likely. But she was in a bit of a pickle in between jobs. I cut a few heads of hair at home while on maternity leave but that was for my own sanity! lol I was probably going to go out in the grass with my scissors and cut if no one would come to my house! lol

 

[scrapquitler]

The ones that I have known that do a housecall for hair cut/style often charge less than what they would have in a salon since they get to keep 100% and it helps them remain competitive. So something that cost $100, they'd only charge maybe $80 (as an example).

I would tip as I ordinarily would without regard to the fact that they don't have to pay the salon. I do this since I tip based on % and not a flat dollar amount.

My friend is a hairdresser. She gets 50% of the price when I go to the salon. If someone goes to her house for a cut, she charges them the same amount as she would get at the salon....so a $100 service at the salon costs $50 if you go to her house.

I suppose that if she were going somewhere else like a clients house, she'd probably still charge the $50 or maybe a bit more because of gas/travel (perhaps $55 or $60?)


I would tip the same amount (dollar wise, not percentage wise) as I would if I were in the salon, only because I figure I'm getting better service for a lower price and she's doing me a favor by going the extra mile to come to me.

 

[cornflake]

Wow that is a lot for a non salon visit! When my stylist was between salons (fired from the one she was working at when they found out she was opening her own but her salon wasn't ready yet) and I went to her house she charged me less than she did in the salon as she had none of the "overhead" and I still tipped her the way I would normally have (heck I wanted her to have enough for her salon lol: ). When she moved into her own salon she was obviously the owner (and I know some people don't believe the owner should be tipped) but I still tipped her like I did in the previous salon (where she was not an owner).

I am honestly not sure what I would do as $45 is a lot of money to charge when you aren't in a salon setting (heck my current stylist doesn't even charge that in a small salon).

I can see going to someone's house being cheaper but here if they come to your house, it's more expensive than in the salon because they're travelling to you, dragging all their stuff, etc. It's more time and more effort for them and a luxury service for you.

I'd still tip.