Tipping Question

I tip the lady who does my hair $10 every time but my hair is always the same cost - for wash, cut, color (1 or 2), style = $60...she owns her shop (is the only one there).

When it comes to salons, even the owner, I tend to tip based on the amount of time they took with me. Not the price at the end. Example, $300 at the end of the appt is paying for color, electricity, cleaning, Etc. The stylist, even an owner, isn't getting $300 from you. they're getting less than 50% in most salons. If they took 3 hours of their time with you? Worth about a $30 tip. He let others assist him, and gave you the finished product? I'd give him $20, and give $10 to the assistants! He didn't work for that money!!!

You aren't supposed to tip the owner-same protocol as it always has been. Also-you are only supposed to tip 10% at salons. Nowadays, certain industries try to make people feel like they should tip more, but that's over the top in my opinion. Anymore, restaurants are trying to tell you that you should tip 20% for average service. No no-20% is quite a generous tip and should only be given for outstanding service. This salon owner should have done the same thing the owner at the other salon did and refuse the gratuity.

I always thought you weren't supposed to tip the owner too but it turns out you are still welcome to tip them (and of course they are welcome to refuse it). My hairdresser is the co-owner of the salon I go to and he and his partner are both tipped by every client (I've been going awhile and I watch). I tip him 20% based on the bill. Recently I "strayed" and tried a new salon - again I got the owner and at the end wasn't sure what the protocol was so I discretely asked the receptionist while checking out and he said you were welcome to tip for good service, owner or not. So I did.

As for the amount, I totally agree that tipping 20% based on the final bill is the way to go,at least in these parts of the country. I've never lived in the south or the midwest so perhaps 10% is fine there. Here I think that's an insult at either a restaurant or a salon - 20% is for good service. However, where my Mom live in Western PA, her relatives typically leave a $1 tip for dinner. Yup you read it right, $1. They think that's fine. So who knows what's standard in other parts of the country - around here I think you are right - go with 20% and enjoy your beautiful hair!

Wow, that seems like a lot, but I have never had that much done on my hair before. I think that you tip based on the service, not a straight percentage. My hair dresser is awesome, and cheap. She usually styles my hair afterwards, and the last time, I had to take my son with me, and she was so great with him...even gave him his own cape like mommy. I usually tip her about 30%, but again, she is pretty cheap.

It sounds like you are on the right track, you liked what he did the first time so you tipped, you didn't the next time, so you didn't. Why reward him if he isn't giving the service? As far as owner, versus, not owner, I have never heard of that before. It would be nice if they refuse it, but if they earned it, then you should probably at least offer it, if you would offer it to a non owner. If it is a question of cost, then maybe make it a smaller tip, but you did choose to go to him rather than the cheaper stylists.

I always struggle with this as well. I get a simple cut each time I go. Usually takes about 20 minutes with wash, cut, everything and costs $38. I always take my girls with me and they get their hair cut, ribbons put in their hair, nails cut etc and they take twice as long and their cut is $12 (for my younger one) and $18 (for my older one). I always think the girls who work with them work about 10 times harder than the girl who gives me my $38 cut. So I tip based on service, not on price. But I never tip 20%. I always thought 20% was saved for really good restaurant service and for hair salons tips usually are much less. I don't know anyone that tips that much in my circle of friends.

I have always heard that you don't tip the owner of a salon. They always charge more for the services as they are supposed to be better trained, etc. My person is way better than the salon owner. Anyway... I can't even imagine tipping any one more than $20, even if it's a $300 process. Especially if they are taking on other clients while your hair is processing (as with color). I would tip according to how happy you are with your hair and service. If the owner basically ignores you and passes you off to subordinates the whole time, tip the subordinates with some cash and forget him.
S.

I'm a licensed cosmetologist, but haven't worked in a salon for years. The guideline about the salon owner not being tipped is a fairly dated one. Personally, I would still tip a salon owner for good service (key words,here)--- they have overhead and responsibilities that the other stylists typically don't. Tipping guidelines in hair salons are, typically, the same as for restaurants - 10%-20% of the bill, depending on your area and personal preference. However, I would tip according to service and satisfaction with the finished product, salon owner or not.

In the second experience, with the salon owner, that you described; I would have tipped the stylist who shampooed and dried your hair (assuming you were happy with her services) and tipped him nothing. That is completely unacceptable! Did he even apologize??? I would be hard pressed to return to him in the future. I would never treat a client that way. Ever. If for some strange reason, I was forced into that situation with a client, I would have apologized profusely and given some compensation with the bill.... if I charged at all. That's incredibly unprofessional.

There are some, very high end, hairdressers who have other people shampoo, blow dry, rinse chemicals, etc. as a matter of course. In that case, I would divide the tip I would have given to the stylist, had he done all the work, among the people who did the work. I would divide it according to time spent with me and satisfaction of the service they provided. The total of my tip would not change because there were more people working on me.

Having said all that... speaking as a person who used to work for tips, I believe that tips are not a service provider's God-given right. I didn't believe it when I was the recipient and don't believe it when I am the tipper. I tip for good service. Period. The better the service the better the tip. I do have harder time leaving no tip at all in a restaurant (in this state) because they are not paid really anything by the restaurant. If I am unhappy enough to not leave a tip at all, I would also speak to the manager. But a hairdresser IS getting paid for the service. Yes, the tips are a big part of their income. But they do make money, whether you tip or not. In a hair salon, if I am not happy with the finished product and/or the service. I tip accordingly and don't feel the least bit guilty about not tipping if it's warranted. Conversely, I tip very well for good service and an outstanding end result. In, fact, I just got a haircut the other day. I got a really great scalp massage and loved my haircut. I had the stylists full attention from start to finish and it was not in the least bit rushed. I tipped $15 for a $45 service. I might have tipped a couple dollars less, but luckily for her, I didn't have any ones. :D I would have tipped a minimum of 20% for that service, regardless of the change in my wallet, though.

I would probably tip also, if I were you, based on the level of service you receive that day.
Not sure where the "no tipping owner" ever started. The owner can always refuse the tip--their choice but doesn't sound like they refused the first time.

In my opinion, the amount of the tip pales in comparison to what you are already spending. Your hair must be gorgeous! (I don't think I spend $300 on my hair in a year.)

I tip based on the service quality and the cost of what I have done. I don't think it matters if it is the owner or not. Usually I also tip the girl who washes and rinses out my hair about $5 just to be nice as well. $60 sounds like a pretty huge tip though, even if you did have $300 of services done.

Yep--you tip the stylist 20%, owner or not. base it on the final bill and add 20%.

i always tip, owner or not owner but 60 dollars, and while iit is 30 per cent, but o top of 300 would be a bit much for my pocket. i'd probably give 25-30 (and btw, i always tip good) but in this case the service is expensive to begin with.

I just did a quick google and it appears you should tip the owner. I've heard the same as you heard though but never really ran into that situation.

My stylist owns her own salon but she's the only one there, I tip her 20% sometimes more if I want a new style.

I get $15 haircuts and tip $5 to the owner who does it. But that still only comes to $20 total. I color it myself at home. I have a very short hairstyle, basically a little boy's cut. I only use half a box of Clairol hair color every 5 weeks. I cannot image spending $360 on my hair! Now if it was a purse, I might.......I guess we all have our extravagances. A friend I know is super frugal but spends lots of money on wine. If you love your locks and like the results, spend the money and tip the owner.

I tip 20% and round up to the nearest $5 no matter who is doing my hair. I give extra at Christmas. I also spend a small fortune on my hair, so it's shocking sometimes how much the tip amounts to, but I figure my hair is my one personal extravagance. Also, the woman who does my hair does a fantastic job and spends a lot of time on my hair. She does occassionally have someone else help her, and for awhile she had someone in training do a lot to my hair, but I privately told her I preferred her, and since then she has been the only one to touch my hair other than shampooing. Whatever you decide, I hope your hair looks great!