My hubands friends wife has been highlighting and cutting my hair for the past 3 years. She works at a salon, but has always either come to my house or sometimes I go to her house when I need my hair done. We never discussed pricing, but I started giving her $50 in the beginning every time, then I don't know I somehow started giving her more, anywhere between $60-$80 depending on what she was doing to my hair. We both have 2 kids and she would always do my hair during the day because I am a stay at home mom and she would have a few days off during the week, so the kids would be there and she would mention how I should come into her salon to get my hair done. I never wanted to before because the salon she works at is pretty expensive, but I finally decided to go there yesterday.
She did highlights, lowlights, and a haircut and only charged me $40!! I had no clue it was going to be that cheap, she obviously gave me a HUGE discount. Well, I had my husband take out cash so I could tip her, and he took out $25 since I thought it would cost me around $140, not $40! so that was all I gave her, and now I feel horrible that I only gave her $25. When I got home, I told my husband and he was like wow, yea you should give her more money. So, I texted her and said, "thank you so much, I didn't know the whole thing would only be $40, I only had $25 cash I would like to give you more money, can I stop by this week and drop that off?" All she replied was, "it was great seeing you, thanks for the generous tip" Then I wrote her back saying "I really want to give you more money, that was not enough for all that you did and for the huge discount." But she never wrote me back. She always seems to avoid conversation about money when it comes to me paying her.
I am just really embarassed, but not sure if I should be. I feel like I wasted her time. I was her last client and she left right after she was done with me, which is why I didn't get a chance to talk to her in person about this. I don't know if I should keep bugging her about giving her more money, or just let it go? I know this girl and she loves money! She is a go getter, she has 2 jobs and loves to shop, her life is all about making as much money as she can, so even though she is acting like it's no big deal I feel like she's just trying to be nice. Just wondering what I should do?
Edited: Sorry if that was confusing. I paid for everything on a credit card and the $25 was for the tip.
I should explain, a big reason why I do feel so bad is because I know she only gets paid minimum wage there so she ends up taking home about $50 a week, plus tips. That $40 went to the salon she works for, not to her. So, she usually makes $60-$80 doing my hair and this time she only made $25. But thank you everyone, you made me feel a lot better!! I tend to over analyze things, I will know better next time!
Stop talking about it with her and send the money to her. If you were paying her $60-80 before, $25 could be an insult to her, but she sounds like a nice person. You sound like a nice person. So just send it with a brief apology and thank you and don't worry about it anymore. We all do and say goofy things at times we wish we could do over.
I think you gave her a fine tip. She didn't give you a discount to expect a bigger tip...so I think you did fine :). Tip her more next time and you'll be fine :).
I think if you keep bugging her about paying her more after it was all over, it's going to be weird and get on her nerves. Just tip her more next time. I definitely agree that you need to establish the foundation for payment. Who cares if she avoids conversations about money? She's offering you a service and you are a paying customer. You may be friends, but business is business, don't let it get in the way.
Over tip her next time...and bring in her favorite drink.
I think you gave her a nice tip, I would leave it alone.
Don't bug her cause she'll feel uncomfortable about it. You can send her a check and a thank you, or overtip over the next few times she does your hair - whatever makes you feel comfortable about paying her what you want without HER feeling uncomfortable about it too.
maybe i'm just dense, but i'm super confused... you thought it was gonna cost you $140 so you only brought $25 with you? and since it cost you $100 less than you thought, you didn't have enough money?
are you meaning to say that you charged the services on credit card and then used the cash for a tip? if so, $25 for a $40 job is a good tip. and if you typically pay her $60, and this time you basically paid her $65, not a huge difference there. she prob wants you to come to the salon b/c it's less messy and all her "stuff" is there, making it easier for her. it doesn't sound like she's mad or whatever, so quit worrying about it. have more cash with you next time if it'll make you feel better!
I've had two long term hair dressers in my adult life. Both are/were very good friends. Both try to give me (and my kids) a HUGE discount and try to refuse tips, both own their own salons.
I am inconsistent with it. Sometimes I insist, and if I DO they'll eventually take the money. Sometimes I thank the graciously and let it go.
I also bring a nice bottle of wine or some coffees everytime I go too for all in the shop to enjoy, so that helps me feel a little better.
I also be sure those December haircuts include a nice Christmas tip, and for THAT I WON'T take no for an answer.
It's a nice thing, you're lucky to have her. Just let it go. She already knows how much you appreciate it!
:)
If she loves shopping and refuses to take anymore cash, then get her a gift card to spend in her favorite store. But I definitely would not continue to bring it up again. Accept that she was being a blessing to you and allow the blessing to be a blessing. :0)
I would let it go. You extended the gesture. You didn't know it was going to be so inexpensive. Maybe give more next time you have your hair done. $25 tip is very generous anyway.
A.
It sounds like she likes you as a person and a friend. If she didn't answer back I would let it go. My friends often babysit and when I offer to pay them they always refuse, but I offer every time just incase the would ever need the money. I wouldn't worry about it at all. Maybe just tip her extra the next time. :)
well I would definitely be bold and say something like "I know we don't usually talk about money, but I want to talk to you about this..." She sounds like a good friend, and a good hairstylist is hard to come by, so make her happy however you can!! If she brushes you off, then I'd say forget about it and you'll know next time what to expect.
I think the $25 tip was perfect. What confuses me was that you went with only $25.....clearly from the beginning, that's all you planned to tip! Even if you thought it would cost more....you still only had that $25. So where's the problem? She set the price, not you!
???!!
When my dd gets her hair colored. She gets lowlights, highlights, and the underneath of the back colored plus a haircut for $35. So it is a good possibility that the $40 your friend charged you is the correct price and not a discount.
OMG I have never tipped my hair dresser more than $5. Your tip was WAYYYYYYYYYYYY generous. She feels bad because she knows you have been over paying her for some time.
Let it go
Here's the thing: You never "discuss" a tip with the service provider. Ever. If you wanted to give her more you should have sent her a card with extra in it or handed it to her the next time you saw her.
