Hairdresser Tip Question

[mjkacmom]

I'm going to get my hair highlighted for the first time soon and I'm going to give $5 for the tip on a $60 bill.

So, you're already planning to undertip? $60 is a great price for highlights. For a full head (sometimes I just do partial), it takes my stylist close to an hour just to put in the foils.

I pay $150 for highlights and a cut (took me a few salons to find a place this inexpensive that I like - I used to pay $230). I'm in there for almost 3 hours. I tip the standard 15 -20% for hard work and a job well done.

Here, stylists can't rent a chair - they all work for the salon, and tips are part of their salary.

 

[BellePrincessBelle]

My cut/highlights ran about $120 I tipped $40.

 

[mistysue]

So, you're already planning to undertip? $60 is a great price for highlights. For a full head (sometimes I just do partial), it takes my stylist close to an hour just to put in the foils.

I pay $150 for highlights and a cut (took me a few salons to find a place this inexpensive that I like - I used to pay $230). I'm in there for almost 3 hours. I tip the standard 15 -20% for hard work and a job well done.

Here, stylists can't rent a chair - they all work for the salon, and tips are part of their salary.

That's another difference that happens in a HCOL vs. LCOL area. Once you consider that a stylist might go through $5 in product to do your whole head... we used to estimate an hour for highlights. $60 highlights lets the stylist walk away with $55 profit. In that case, a $5 tip means your stylist just made $60 in an hour! That's a pretty good income for a career field that doesn't require much training.

Just because I'm curious, are you sure they have to work for the salon? I know in many cases the salon collects the money and then pays the stylists because, to be blunt, stylists lie about how much they are making. If they don't take it by force too many don't pay for the rent or for products they use. Then the salon gives them a check for the difference and at the end of the year they get a 1099.
That could be a rule in your state, I've just never heard of that.

 

[brymolmom]

I base my tip on amount of time it takes. For my kids - who take about 10 minutes - they get $2. For my stylist who I've been going to for years - if she does a very quick cut and blow dry and we're done in 20 - 25 minutes (I have short hair) - it's usually in the $5 range...If she takes awhile with the styling and we go to 40 or so minutes - it's closer to $10.

 

[mjkacmom]

That's another difference that happens in a HCOL vs. LCOL area. Once you consider that a stylist might go through $5 in product to do your whole head... we used to estimate an hour for highlights. $60 highlights lets the stylist walk away with $55 profit. In that case, a $5 tip means your stylist just made $60 in an hour! That's a pretty good income for a career field that doesn't require much training.

Just because I'm curious, are you sure they have to work for the salon? I know in many cases the salon collects the money and then pays the stylists because, to be blunt, stylists lie about how much they are making. If they don't take it by force too many don't pay for the rent or for products they use. Then the salon gives them a check for the difference and at the end of the year they get a 1099.
That could be a rule in your state, I've just never heard of that.

I'm positive it's a very strict law in NJ - all salon employees are paid by the salon - they use the salons equipment and products. I'm sure they get a cut of what they do, plus are expected to be tipped. It gets tricky when you have more than one washer, colorist, stylist, and every now and then, someone else blows you out.

 

[it's kelly]

I've worked in both Fl and NYC and have been employed by the salon every place I worked. There are places where you can rent a chair, set your hours/prices, etc.
Also, depending on what products your salon carries, not all products are $5.00 and the profit isn't as large as you think. Most color tubes are $10 and higher that's not including s&h when ordered from the distributor. Uncle Sam gets his cut too. I wish I was making that much profit from every head I worked on.

 

[bigbabyblues]

I usually tip about 20%

 

[KDIPIAZZ]

I tip 50%. My hairdresser cuts, colors, throws in a couple foils and waxes my eyebrows/lip for $50. Plus catches me up on all the latest gossip. Even with a $25 tip, I'm spending less than I used to for just a cut and occasional highlights.

My son and husband also use her for $5 haircuts They tip 100%

 

[aubriee]

I'm going to get my hair highlighted for the first time soon and I'm going to give $5 for the tip on a $60 bill.

Wow, that's not even 10%. I'd give her at least $12.00. Everyone around here tips about 20% for everything (hairdressers, nail techs, waiters, etc.) It's just industry policy. In fact, at the bottom of the bill they always have a suggested tip for 18% and 20%. No one would ever tip less than 18%.

I tip 50%. My hairdresser cuts, colors, throws in a couple foils and waxes my eyebrows/lip for $50. Plus catches me up on all the latest gossip. Even with a $25 tip, I'm spending less than I used to for just a cut and occasional highlights.

My son and husband also use her for $5 haircuts They tip 100%

Wish I could find someone that cheap around here. I live in a fairly small town, but the cheapest cut and color I could find was $65.00 (which I thought was really good) then another $10.00 to wax lip and another $10.00 to wax brows. Highlights are another $60.00.

 

[Sagginit]

i tip between 15-20% depending on the service. i did have someone who was kinda giving me a deal as a family friend for a bit so i tipped a bit more. for ex. my hair color and blowout is $60 so i tip $15. my haircut and blowout is $45 so tip about $12, but if i dont have singles i just round up to $15, however i never round down.

hairdressers are like waitresses, they rely on tips so i would never under tip, if i cant afford the tip, i cant afford the service.

the thing about NJ is true, i knew someone who was a hairdresser and was renting a chair from a salon and she knew it was illegal but wanted to try to make more of a profit. in that case i assume my hairdressers are following the law and would not tip more b/c they may be illegally renting a chair and carrying higher costs. also i have had hairdressers who came to my house. in that case i do tip a bit less b/c they are using my water, electricity, and products.

i think the bigger dilemma with hairdressers is finding one that stays put in a salon and does not make you go all over the county as she swaps salons.