Hair Raising Questions on Tipping.

June 29, 2015 6:53 PM

How (not what) to tip in US Hair Saloons?

Since I've moved to the US, 6 years ago I've had one hair cut at which I didn't know I had to tip. I would like to go to a nice saloon & get a colour cut & conditioning treatment and not be too embarrassed to return.

While it feels like am supposed to tip every single person that comes within a yard of me I know it's just 20% for whoever cuts my hair, not sure how much for the colorist if it's not the same person, and then a couple of bucks to the person who washes my hair.

Aside from just scattering notes like confetti as I leave how am I supposed to hand over the money, do I tip at each step? Do I run around the saloon afterwards trying to find people? What if they are busy with someone else by then? Can I just add it to my credit card as I leave and tell the receptionist who to pay? The one time I tried this last one at a nail saloon angry Korean ladies were angry in Korean at me. Can I use my debit card to get cash out when I pay if I find I don't have enough cash at the time (I don't use cash much)?

I've got the hang of restaurant, cab, hotel & bar tipping Metafites please help me over this last tipping hurdle.

posted by wwax to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (10 answers total)

Best answer: My salon has little envelopes near the cash. I place the money for each tip in an envelope and write the name of the person* who should receive the tip on the envelope. The cashier will help me out if I don't remember a name or if someone is new. Usually colour and the hair cut are priced separately, so I base the tip amount to each provider is based on the cost of the service.

*usually not more than three: colourist, shampooer, stylist
posted by TORunner at 7:18 PM on June 29, 2015

Best answer: Higher-end salons will let you get cash back and they provide little envelopes. I just put a $20 in each one for each provider - but you don't have to tip the shampooist. If you don't know if you can get cash back, it's easiest to just get cash on your way there.
posted by bleep at 7:22 PM on June 29, 2015

Also, I'm Canadian, but I expect the process is similar. The ladies at the nail salon probably expected to be tipped in cash, but they sound rude. Don't go back there.
posted by TORunner at 7:23 PM on June 29, 2015

Best answer: When I'm done with everything I go back and tip my stylist 20, the blower-outer 10 and the washer 5. If they're busy they will tell me to put it in their drawer or their smock pocket or leave it on the shelf or whatever. I promise you that it's really and truly not a big deal at all to interrupt someone to give them money. For a color I would tip the same as the stylist.

I only tip in cash and never add it to the card because I know from personal tip out experience that it is far better to have cash in your hand at the end of the day. You should make sure you go to a cashpoint before you go in for your appointment if you think you won't have enough cash on you.
posted by poffin boffin at 7:47 PM on June 29, 2015 [1 favorite]

Best answer: TORunner has it. At a nicer salon in the US, in general:

-Tip the colorist as you would the stylist. Colorists receive as much education and training - no real reason to tip any less (though yes, the amount may vary depending on the price of the service).

-Tips are very much appreciated by the person doing your shampoo. This person is likely an assistant - someone who has completed hundreds of hours of education, is in training to become a stylist or colorist, and makes minimum wage to do all the dirty gruntwork while they are exploited I mean paying their dues. Most people wouldn't even think of not tipping their waitperson at a restaurant, but for some reason it's not uncommon for clients to not tip their shampoo person.

-Usually you tip the stylist or colorist (both if you get both cut and color done) and the shampoo person. There's no such thing as overtipping, but you're not expected to tip someone for walking you over to the chair, or sweeping up the hair from the floor or something.

-Tips should be cash, in envelopes. You can chase them down if you want to, but it would be a courtesy to not interrupt their work.
posted by taupe at 8:15 PM on June 29, 2015

As a counterpoint, I tip 20% on the full bill using my credit card and let them sort it out. I am personally really embarassed with other methods, and I prefer to go to salons where you are not served by several people. My salon uses one of those ipad checkouts with the percentage choices set up.
posted by nanook at 8:51 PM on June 29, 2015 [2 favorites]

You can also ask the front desk person. For example, at my salon the stylists tip out to the shampooers, so I don't tip then separately.
posted by matildatakesovertheworld at 8:55 PM on June 29, 2015

Best answer: I know it's just more convenient to put everything on a credit card, but for beauty services, make a quick trip to the ATM beforehand and get some cash for tips. The staff at a hair salon near where I live quit en masse last year because the owner retained all the credit card tips, among other shitty things. The nail salon I frequent will only accept cash tips, and it's not an uncommon practice. This may explain why the employees at the nail salon were upset at you.

I don't get my hair coloured, but I always tip the stylist 20%. Same thing at a blowdry bar. If a younger, more junior person does the hair-washing, I'd give her $5.

At the nail salon, 20% of the cost of the service. If you're in for a mani-pedi that is done by different people, ask for their names and tip them separately. If I smudge my manicure because I was an impatient klutz and return for a quick fix, I always try to tip a couple of bucks but I've always been waved away.

I'm awkward and avoidant as hell, but handing over cash tips directly to salon employees is non-negotiable. If I were better organized, I'd buy a bunch of mini envelopes to put the tips in as they're often not provided.
posted by peripathetic at 9:55 PM on June 29, 2015

20% most of the year, 50% in December before Xmas.
posted by brujita at 10:57 PM on June 29, 2015 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: Thanks everyone for the advice. I am going to do the mini envelopes prepared before hand (with some extra cash on hand in case) method. I find hairdressers with all the small talk & strangers touching me very draining so being prepared before I go is a great idea. I really like to make sure people get paid fairly for their work & time which is why this was worrying me so much.
posted by wwax at 6:43 AM on June 30, 2015