How much to tip on a haircut?

[Kathi OD]

How do people not know this? I mean, as much as I can't stand tip jars at fast food places, salon workers are in tipped positions, just like cab drivers and servers.

I have never thought about tipping a shampoo girl. I would think that it would work similarly to a bus person at a restaurant; I don't tip them. They are "tipped-out" by the waitresses or waiters.

Fortunately, where I go to get my hair done, there isn't a separate person shampooing my hair.

 

[Karlzmom]

I was once told by the owner of a salon, that the owner is NEVER tipped.

It was my first time at the salon, and it just so happened that the owner did my hair. I didn't know he was the owner and so when I paid, I left a tip. He handed it back to me, telling me that the owner is never, ever tipped. I figure he should know.

...and the flip side is the owner that USED to do my hair who happily took my 20% and then made sure to make sure to say "20% added" on each subsequent visit when running my card. I actually had to point out that the price of the products shouldn't count in the total to calculate the tip.....like I said....USED to cut my hair.

 

[3boymthr]

I don't tip but the owner of the salon cuts my hair AND she is a close relative.

 

[kokomos]

Hair Stylist go to school to learn how to do this which is expensive, regularly have to pay take classes to keep up with the new styles, pay to renew license every year, Many have to pay for the products they use on your hair. They are self emplyed, means even higher taxes due to matching SS, They have to pay out of pocket for health insurance, then paying commission 30- 50% off each client or renting the chair They do not make a dime if they dont have a client unless they are working at a chain like super cuts, JC Pennys etc.

For those that dont tip the owner Is the owner driving a brand new car, on vacation a few times a year? Do they have alot of stylist renting chairs? Ive seen 10 salons close in our area in the last 3 years. many owners are barely getting by.
For those of you who do not tip Im just wondering if you tip the maids at the hotel? Who didnt go to school, who is doing the same job on every ones room with no special request. .
The waitress who didnt go to school that does make very lil money even during slow times. Thier training time is a couple of days. Ive seen many waitresses make more money in a weekend than a stylist does in a week.

 

[My2CrazyGirls]

Wow, I would think that 20% for a haircut and style is low. I just got my hair cut shampooed and styled yesterday, price $20 I left $30, so a 50% tip and I do the same thing when they cut my daughter's hair, price $10 I leave $15. I am a server and work for tips so I get it I guess. I lokk at it like this my hair stylist spent an hour on me only and I don't know what she gets paid from the salon but it probably is not that good. I can wait on 3 differnt tables in an hour and make $10-$15 or more per table.

That is all well and good for a cheap $20 haircut. But would you give a 50% tip on a haircut and color that costs $120. You would give a $60 tip????? 20% is good enough....it is $24.

 

[kbr345]

Do you tip if they cut your hair out of their house? Always wondered that.

 

[Karlzmom]

Hair Stylist go to school to learn how to do this which is expensive, regularly have to pay take classes to keep up with the new styles, pay to renew license every year, Many have to pay for the products they use on your hair. They are self emplyed, means even higher taxes due to matching SS, They have to pay out of pocket for health insurance, then paying commission 30- 50% off each client or renting the chair They do not make a dime if they dont have a client unless they are working at a chain like super cuts, JC Pennys etc.

For those that dont tip the owner Is the owner driving a brand new car, on vacation a few times a year? Do they have alot of stylist renting chairs? Ive seen 10 salons close in our area in the last 3 years. many owners are barely getting by.
For those of you who do not tip Im just wondering if you tip the maids at the hotel? Who didnt go to school, who is doing the same job on every ones room with no special request. .
The waitress who didnt go to school that does make very lil money even during slow times. Thier training time is a couple of days. Ive seen many waitresses make more money in a weekend than a stylist does in a week.

Sounds like lots of other jobs that involve contact with the public to me I think the whole tip thing has just plain gotten out of hand. That said, I still participate but am continually struck by how often I end up giving cash as the extra that is nearly the equivalent of my take-home salary for an hour of work.

When DH ran his repair shop he had to pay for items to be used to get the job done, pay rent, etc. He never expected to be tipped for providing the service. There are expenses that come with running a business, period. If a person chooses to offer a bit extra then it should be treated with gratitude rather than an expected *due*.

 

[kokomos]

You are correct when you say tipping is out of hand. I have never expecting a tip and I am always greatful to get them. The only reason I got involved was the amount of people who tip maid service. To me if your paid an hourly wage to do a job dont put a tip jar out. Many of my favorite clients have never tipped.
For a mens hair cut we charge 15.00 most tip 5.00 and get cuts once a month. On womens cut is 17.00 Most tip 3.00 and get cuts about every 2 months. Colors clients are 65.00-75.00 includes a cut and tip unsually 5.00-10.00
For hospital calls, I had a client who had a stroke and one with a brain tumor in the last 2 months I refuse any money and reduce rates and refuse tips for the family as long as needed. I also have a parlized client that I go to there house price is what ever they want to pay. I only do house calls for those in need so I dont know what to tell you if you should tip someone who cuts your hair at home.
The way I look at it is If your happy paying 20.00 for a haircut and your hair looks better than someone that pays 40.00, You were treated well and you like your stylist then maybe they deserve a lil extra. The ones that dont charge as much tend to have way more experince. They do twice as many cuts and they do it because they love what they are doing and know they are not going to get rich.
What Ive learned from 20 years in the buisness. Men tip better than women and dont get into the buisness for the money there are no financial benefits. What Ive earned is many clients I love dearly and you cant put a price tag on that.

 

[4HppyCamprs]

You are correct when you say tipping is out of hand. I have never expecting a tip and I am always greatful to get them. The only reason I got involved was the amount of people who tip maid service. To me if your paid an hourly wage to do a job dont put a tip jar out. Many of my favorite clients have never tipped.
For a mens hair cut we charge 15.00 most tip 5.00 and get cuts once a month. On womens cut is 17.00 Most tip 3.00 and get cuts about every 2 months. Colors clients are 65.00-75.00 includes a cut and tip unsually 5.00-10.00
For hospital calls, I had a client who had a stroke and one with a brain tumor in the last 2 months I refuse any money and reduce rates and refuse tips for the family as long as needed. I also have a parlized client that I go to there house price is what ever they want to pay. I only do house calls for those in need so I dont know what to tell you if you should tip someone who cuts your hair at home.
The way I look at it is If your happy paying 20.00 for a haircut and your hair looks better than someone that pays 40.00, You were treated well and you like your stylist then maybe they deserve a lil extra. The ones that dont charge as much tend to have way more experince. They do twice as many cuts and they do it because they love what they are doing and know they are not going to get rich.
What Ive learned from 20 years in the buisness. Men tip better than women and dont get into the buisness for the money there are no financial benefits. What Ive earned is many clients I love dearly and you cant put a price tag on that.

Around here the ones who charge more are "senior" stylist and only new stylist and cost cutter type "salons" charge in the 15-20 range. In this area we pay for experience.

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[Karlzmom]

Around here the ones who charge more are "senior" stylist and only new stylist and cost cutter type "salons" charge in the 15-20 range. In this area we pay for experience.

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Same in this area. My point is at some point it ceases to be a token of gratitude. I already pay more for the experience, then I pay an inflated amount on top of that. On top of that, I am supposed to pay the shampoo girl and the assistant. How is it any different than at a restaurant? The server who benefits from the help of a food runner and bussor gives them a cut if what the server makes because the job they do helps the server make mire money.

I have worked in restaurants, so I get that tips are important to people who provide services. I stand by my statement that I believe they have gotten out of hand and have become something other than what was the original intent. YMMV.

 

[3boymthr]

Hair Stylist go to school to learn how to do this which is expensive, regularly have to pay take classes to keep up with the new styles, pay to renew license every year, Many have to pay for the products they use on your hair. They are self emplyed, means even higher taxes due to matching SS, They have to pay out of pocket for health insurance, then paying commission 30- 50% off each client or renting the chair They do not make a dime if they dont have a client unless they are working at a chain like super cuts, JC Pennys etc.

For those that dont tip the owner Is the owner driving a brand new car, on vacation a few times a year? Do they have alot of stylist renting chairs? Ive seen 10 salons close in our area in the last 3 years. many owners are barely getting by.
For those of you who do not tip Im just wondering if you tip the maids at the hotel? Who didnt go to school, who is doing the same job on every ones room with no special request. .
The waitress who didnt go to school that does make very lil money even during slow times. Thier training time is a couple of days. Ive seen many waitresses make more money in a weekend than a stylist does in a week.

Yes, she's driving a brand new BMW, has recently put a big addition on her home and she takes 2 or 3 vacations a year. BUT she also runs the salon out of her home so minimal overhead. Mind you in the last couple of years she has scaled back her vacations because the amount she's clearing on "extras" has cut way back. She says that most people aren't buying the salon shampoos and conditioners, etc. any more on which she made a 100% profit. In '08 and prior she was making a "extras" sale to pretty much every customer.

 

[pearlieq]

I tip 20% of whatever the bill is.

DH, on the other hand, routinely tips $5 for his $13 cut at Great Clips. I can only assume she's cute.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

I usually give 20%. A basic shampoo and haircut is 22.00. I get my hair highlighted every other trip and that's about 75.00 I think. It just went up and I'm not sure how much so I'm guessing at the amount.

The small salon I go to just added a shampoo girl so I'm wondering if I shouldn't be giving her a couple of dollars too. How does that work?

One of the hairstylists (she is an aquaintance friend) left to work as a waitress at 2 different restaurants a few weeks ago. She said she is already making more money waiting tables than she got doing hair. She said she misses her clients but just couldn't afford to keep working there.

 

[ZoeBell]

Same in this area. My point is at some point it ceases to be a token of gratitude. I already pay more for the experience, then I pay an inflated amount on top of that. On top of that, I am supposed to pay the shampoo girl and the assistant. How is it any different than at a restaurant? The server who benefits from the help of a food runner and bussor gives them a cut if what the server makes because the job they do helps the server make mire money.

I have worked in restaurants, so I get that tips are important to people who provide services. I stand by my statement that I believe they have gotten out of hand and have become something other than what was the original intent. YMMV.

When I hear "tip 20% as the minimum" I always wonder WHO decided 20%was the minimum?

As far as tipping owner? No you don't tip the owner of the salon.

 

[ZoeBell]

Hair Stylist go to school to learn how to do this which is expensive, regularly have to pay take classes to keep up with the new styles, pay to renew license every year, Many have to pay for the products they use on your hair. They are self emplyed, means even higher taxes due to matching SS, They have to pay out of pocket for health insurance, then paying commission 30- 50% off each client or renting the chair They do not make a dime if they dont have a client unless they are working at a chain like super cuts, JC Pennys etc.

For those that dont tip the owner Is the owner driving a brand new car, on vacation a few times a year? Do they have alot of stylist renting chairs? Ive seen 10 salons close in our area in the last 3 years. many owners are barely getting by.
For those of you who do not tip Im just wondering if you tip the maids at the hotel? Who didnt go to school, who is doing the same job on every ones room with no special request. .
The waitress who didnt go to school that does make very lil money even during slow times. Thier training time is a couple of days. Ive seen many waitresses make more money in a weekend than a stylist does in a week.

Whether or not the owner is driving a BMW or just getting by is beside the point. You don't tip the owner of a hair salon. He or she set the rates and make money off of each client that walks thru the door. Etiquette is to not tip the owner. Any owner worth their salt in gold would tell you that.

 

[3boymthr]

Whether or not the owner is driving a BMW or just getting by is beside the point. You don't tip the owner of a hair salon. He or she set the rates and make money off of each client that walks thru the door. Etiquette is to not tip the owner. Any owner worth their salt in gold would tell you that.

And they make money not only off the the haircuts but off of all the products that they sell. Some salons may pay a commission on the products to the stylist but even if they do they still make a nice profit on those products.

 

[leianne]

I've always wondered about this because my stylist rents space at a beauty store. So if she is making her own prices should you still tip for service? I usually tip her $10, but I guess I am thinking of it like, "would I tip my lawn guy?" or a handyman, or the plumber? I am just curious.

Anyone clear this up for me?

Thanks!

Hey ya'll. I am a salon owner of a booth rental salon. Let me shed a little light on this subject. Even though I own the salon, the only income I earn is my work behind the chair. Services rendered are charged according to experience and education. You ALWAYS get what you pay for in the hair industry. MOST booth rental places are designed to be just a creative working environment for the stylists. They exist solely to generate enough rent to keep the salon running (utilities,rent, etc). As the owner, there is no profit to it. Also, I believe that this is one of the only professions in the service industry that anyone thinks twice about tipping. We work in such a close relationship with our clients, sometimes our clients lose sight this is still a job for us. Also, even though my clients pay a substantial sum, I still only see them every 6-12 weeks. Does your income revolve every 6-10 weeks? A tip is gratuity, are you grateful for the service performed? If so, then customary tips are 18-20%. I love my job, I am very good at it. I will still enjoy it with or with out a tip. But I may remember your gratitude when you need to squeeze in for a last minute trim....

 

[4HppyCamprs]

Same in this area. My point is at some point it ceases to be a token of gratitude. I already pay more for the experience, then I pay an inflated amount on top of that. On top of that, I am supposed to pay the shampoo girl and the assistant. How is it any different than at a restaurant? The server who benefits from the help of a food runner and bussor gives them a cut if what the server makes because the job they do helps the server make mire money.

I have worked in restaurants, so I get that tips are important to people who provide services. I stand by my statement that I believe they have gotten out of hand and have become something other than what was the original intent. YMMV.

I was responding to the portion that you wrote that stated that more experienced stylist charge less.

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