Tipping at a hair salon

Layla · by **Layla** on Sat May 02, 2009 1:12 pm

I recently started getting my hair done at a much more expensive place that I am used to. My appointment for highlights and cut cost $170. I like my stylist, and she does a great job, but 15% is over 25 bucks. That seems like a lot. Is that what I should be paying? What is a reasonable amount to tip without being insulting?

trissysmommy · by **trissysmommy** on Sat May 02, 2009 4:20 pm

I remember a thread like this a few months ago, as I was wondering the same thing. One thing I recall others saying was that they tend to tip about $10/hour, with the minimum tip being $10. So if a hairstylist only took half an hour, you would still tip $10. To me that makes sense, rather t han tipping on the total - tip on the actual amount of time spent working on you...if you're just sitting and waiting for your highlights to be done while the stylist is doing something else, I'm not sure that should be considered time you need to tip on

Tranquility · by **Tranquility** on Sat May 02, 2009 6:19 pm

This is a great question... I always wondered what to do as well. I always leave my girl $20. She does an awesome job and my highlights and cut/style comes to $110. I am there for about 1:45 to 2:00 hours. I sit for about 20 minutes.

Can't wait to hear what others say as I don't want to tip too low either. I think it also depends on how well the girl does your hair. Speaking of tips... how baout for waxing?

Anonymous 1 · by **Anonymous 1** on Sat May 02, 2009 7:49 pm

This might just be a dumb guy question/observation but....at $170 how long is a highlight/style/cut good for between visits? The other thing is I am not by any means against tipping because I also tip my hairsylist but you have to remember these people are not a minimum wage waitress who depends on tips. They make a good wage and at $10.00 an hour tax free....Wow! Where do I sign up!

Tranquility · by **Tranquility** on Sat May 02, 2009 7:59 pm

Mine doesn't cost $170, but I only go every 3 months as I am lucky that my hair doesn't grow that fast and I get colours that are similar to my natural colour. Hmmm.... wondering what my natural colour really is! :eek:

I don't mind my tip because she also cuts our bangs whenever we want at no charge. Depending on how they are set up is how much they make. My stylist rents space and she buys all of her products while other stylists are employeed with an hourly rate. I think some may even not pay for the "chair" but gives a % of their earnings. Not sure how it all works. Any stylists out there that can enlighten us?

Alli · by **Alli** on Sat May 02, 2009 8:17 pm

I was a hair stylist before I had my kids. How much we earn or how we are paid depends on the salon.

For some salons, we are usually paid approximately $10.00 / hour to start or 40 - 50% commission depending on which is greater. For a8 hour shift you get $80 or make over $170 min. worth of services to make more then your base salery.

For other salons you either rent your chair and pay the salon a set amount of "rent". Another options for stylists is also working for places where they give you a set % of how much you bring in, with no base pay.

In my experiences working in Toronto and then looking around in Victoria when I first arrived, most salons tend to offer either the base + commission or they "rent" out chairs.

Hope that helps any.