Tipping a hairdresser who works from home???

[Jerseylicious]

Hi everyone!

I have been going to the same hairdresser for about 10 years. She has finally left the salon to become a teacher. She is still keeping some customers and doing our hair from her home.

When I first went to her home back in June, I got my typical highlights and trim. I paid her what she charged me. I did not even think of tipping, because she is keeping the whole thing for herself anyway, as opposed to getting only minimum wage + small commission when she was at the salon.

Yesterday, I returned for highlights and a trim. My mother tagged along with me, and surprised me by paying for me! I noticed she added a $10.00 tip.

YIKES!!!

I feel bad now...should I have tipped the first time?? Or is my mother just being generous?? LOL I asked her about it in the car afterward, and she said she just always out of habit tips a hairdresser, and she didn't even think about it.

Does anyone go to the hairdresser in the hairdresser's own home, and if so do you tip them?? LOL I don't want to be cheap if it's the "thing" to do!! TIA

 

[mickeyboat]

DH used to, and he tipped.

Denae

 

[taylor1293]

I would pay her whatever you used to pay the salon including tip.

For example, if you used to pay $100 (which included her tip) at the salon, that is what I would give her at her house.

Unless she charges more than the salon charged you. In that case, I wouldn't tip at all.

 

[kdibattista]

When I work out of my home, I do not accept tips.

 

[Christine]

I never tipped in the home because, I have been told, that you never tip the owner of a hair salon if she does your hair. Something about the ownership thing. If a stylist is working out of their home, they are the owner of the business.

 

[Cindy's Mom]

Never in a million years would I tip a hairdresser that worked out of her/his home. That's just silly.

 

[JunieJay]

I don't go to anyone's home, but my hair stylist is also the owner of the salon. I do tip her. Not sure why. My mother always told me you don't tip the owner, but I don't feel right about that. Wouldn't feel right about not tipping someone in their own home either. I say do whatever you are comfortable with.

 

[mickeyboat]

My hairdresser is the owner, and a very good friend, to boot. I still tip her.

JunieJay is right - do whatever you are comfortable with.

 

[famofsix]

I tip regardless because I tip to show my appreciation for a job well done. My hairdresser owns the salon and I tip him. I did tip when I went to an in-home salon years back.

That's just me.

 

[SC Minnie]

My hairdresser owns her salon and she booth rented before going on her own. She told me one time that she doesn't feel that people need to tip her. She sets her prices based on what she needs so I quit tipping her. I think she appreciates the new clients I bring her even more than the tip!

 

[momof2inPA]

My stylist works out of her home. Her prices are very low, and I tip generously.

 

[Camicar]

You tip a worker at a salon bec they do not get to set the prices or keep the entire amount. You do not tip the owner since they get to set the prices and keep all of the income. It is up to the owner to set a price that allows for his/her expenses and provides a fair profit for them. If they need more money, then they need to raise their prices.

 

[Buckalew11]

I think there is a difference if she is just "doing your hair in her home" or she has a salon in her home.
I run a business in my home and some people tip and some don't. I hope if she is charging then it is a business because I think in most states it would be illegal for her to charge without having a business. You could give her money but she could not set a price. One never knows when a former boss or co-worker could get wind of what she was doing and turn her in--they'd feel like she stole business from them.
If she does have a business in her home then there are costs to that business so it is not 100% going in her pocket. There's product, water electricity etc. too. And then you get into all the taxes.

Anyway, I vote "do what you are comfortable doing". Hairdressers always make room/time for people who pay well though.

 

[Tiffer]

I would never dream of not tipping a haridresser, if she worked from home or not.

She still has to pay for the water and electric and insurance i presume.

I think $10 on highlights is rather cheap, but at least your mom tipped.

 

[Buckalew11]

And actually the general rule in the business is that no hairdresser should take tips because they are professionals. But I think hairdressers that when they hear them announce that!

 

[Christine]

I would never dream of not tipping a haridresser, if she worked from hoem or not.

She still has to pay for the water and electric and isnurance i presume.

I think $10 on highlights is rather cheap, but at least your mom tipped.

I would assume the hairdresser would have included that in the base price.

 

[BethR]

I was told by the one girl that did our hair that she got 45% of the price and the salon owner got 55%. (or maybe visa versa? Or perhaps a different percentage, but it was SOMETHING like that.)

ANYWAY, when she started working out of her home and would only charge us half of what we paid in her old shop, then I would tip.

If you think that someone working out of their home is charging you "market prices" then I wouldn't tip on top of those.

BTW - for the person that said that $10 was cheap for highlights, if the highlights are $50, then that is a 20% tip - very generous. It all depends on prices in the area.

 

[Buckalew11]

I was told by the one girl that did our hair that she got 45% of the price and the salon owner got 55%. (or maybe visa versa? Or perhaps a different percentage, but it was SOMETHING like that.)

ANYWAY, when she started working out of her home and would only charge us half of what we paid in her old shop, then I would tip.

If you think that someone working out of their home is charging you "market prices" then I wouldn't tip on top of those.

BTW - for the person that said that $10 was cheap for highlights, if the highlights are $50, then that is a 20% tip - very generous. It all depends on prices in the area.

This is the way most salons work. Ususally the hairstylist gets a percentage of what they bring in. That percentage may increase with the amount they bring in.

Another way is to "rent their station". Then the salon charges the stylist "X" amount of $$ per week for the space etc. I believe most of the time the stylist supplies their own products/chemicals.

If someone works for a chain, then you might do a minimum wage type thing and when you bring in a very large amount, then they'll start giving you a percentage of that. Usually these places offer benefits though. This is a good way for a new stylist to start and build a business because they are at least guarenteed a salary each week. Otherwise, you bring in 200.00, you get about 100.00. You bring in 1000.00, you get 500.00 (- taxes). And tips are supposed to be reported.

 

[Camicar]

She still has to pay for the water and electric and isnurance i presume.

That should be included in the price she charges, just as the overhead is included in the prices I charge for doing alterations. Iti s my problem to charge a price UPFRONT that covers my costs and gives me a living wage. If a person chooses not to do that, then they are choosing to run their business on the basis of risk -- the risk of not knowing how much profit they are going to make on the same service for different people. That is their choice to take that risk.

 

[maelstrom]

My aunt used to do hair and nails out of her home and most people tipped her.