When we first started, we had to put in a lot of work to learn the truth about our beauty routines. The era of transparency is right now in its prime. Almost every ingredient can be searched for on Google, and has many reviews available. And now that social media is holding companies accountable, they are paying attention to our cries and have started giving us the details we need to choose the products we buy. The salon is one place where this accessibility of understanding has not yet spread.
Even for those of us who have been getting our hair colored and cut for years, tipping is still a subject that many of us find to be very confusing. The salon is more difficult, with no indication of who (if anyone) gets additional money and how much to give, in contrast to other restaurants where your receipt provides you a mild nudge toward gratuity by specifying the exact cash amounts for a 15, 20, or 25 percent tip. Do you have to give the owner a tip? In addition, what if several helpers gave you a blowout or shampoo? Knowing where your money is going is another issue: The wages of our servers are the subject of much more debate than the wages of our stylists. All of these elements make the equation much more challenging.
There is always that embarrassing moment when it comes time to pay for any services, like when we go to the hairdresser or cosmetologist. The same dilemma confronts the majority of us: how much should you give your hairdresser?
This post was written to address the issue and finally make it clear how much money we should (if any) leave at the salon as a tip because we frequently are uncertain of what is appropriate and what is not.
How Much Should You Tip a Hairdresser?
In general, tips for hair stylists do not have a set price. We pay in accordance with our financial capacity and the entire cost of the service we obtained (if we want to thank the expert, of course). The most annoying part of getting ready for a haircut or a more involved operation like coloring or style is when we have to pay for the service. You might question, “What’s so difficult about it?” Well, nothing can be done to choose the price. What about tipping at hair salons, though?
Will the amount of tips depend on how much the treatment cost in total? Alternatively, is there a set amount to tip the staff? How much should you spend while also not appearing extravagant (especially if the service is expensive)? Let us examine each feature in further detail.
First off, there is no such thing as a tipping law. In general, customers are not automatically required to leave gratuities for the workers at a hair salon. Giving tips is also always rather assumed, which adds to the tension of the moment. How do we first determine how much to pay? How much should you give your hairdresser as a tip? The most straightforward plan is to create your own price list based on the services you receive and their cost.
However, to make it simpler to determine the required amount of money, we advise everyone to concentrate on 20% tips since it is a typical average figure that will work for both parties—you and the salon.
How much to tip a hairdresser for highlights?
One of the most used hair-styling techniques today is highlights. You might be wondering how much to tip for highlights. Since there is not usually a set fee for a certain kind of service, as long as you follow the 20% rule, everything will be all right. However, of course, if you would like to offer extra, go ahead!
Depending on the degree of difficulty, the condition of your hair, the materials used, and the length of time needed to complete the session; this operation may be rather expensive. Therefore, it would be excellent to thank the specialist more generously if they had to work hard handling your locks.
How much to tip a hairdresser for color?
How much should you give a colorist? We would argue that everything depends on how challenging the session is. It is okay to pay roughly 20% of the total cost if the treatment took a lot of your time and resources (hair dye, shampooing, conditioning, etc.), and you are happy with the results.
But once more, if you notice any nuances or problems in the mirror after the session, choose how much to pay and whether to proceed or not. We acknowledge that all of these calculations may seem a little complicated and convoluted, so we created a quick tip chart for hairdressing services to help you understand everything.
Hairstylist Tip. Mandatory or Not?
Clients frequently ask, “How much should I tip my hairdresser?” along with the related question, “Is tipping even compulsory?” In conclusion, there is no law requiring customers of a hair salon to tip the stylists.
In other words, regardless of how long you have had a client-specialist relationship with your hairdresser, you are still under no obligation to leave tips if you don’t want to, can’t afford to, or don’t think it’s important to.
Naturally, it is customary for customers to leave tips while receiving long-term service, but even in this situation, a lengthy history of utilizing the same hairdresser or colorist’s services does not obligate you to continue doing so simply because you do so.
In Case, You do not Like the Result
Of course, we only give a hairdresser a gratuity if we are delighted with the work they have done and our final appearance! Even if the level of service is less what you had anticipated, we strongly advise against tipping just because it is expected of you.
You decide whether to give more money after your money has been paid. Tips are a way to express your appreciation for the work specialists have done, and you should only pay them if the outcome is truly exceptional. We advise you to save the extra cash in case there are any problems or mistakes. Additionally, a competent hairdresser will never accept uninvited tips.
In any case, talk to your stylist if this is not the first time you have been dissatisfied with the service you have received. Let the expert know what bothers you about the work done, and then work together to find a solution. Only if it does not work, consider switching hairdressers.
Tipping Extra. Yes Or No?
The decision of whether to tip or not over the Christmas season is another obstacle. Of course, the service sector is exceptionally busy before and after Christmas, which means that all of the workers put in more effort than usual.
Should you leave a tip considering this? It is entirely up to you, but your stylist or hairdresser would undoubtedly enjoy some extra tips, especially during the busy holiday season!
Therefore, you can see that how much you tip really depends on you and your preferences. The general rule of thumb is to leave tips if you were pleased with the level of service. Determine for yourself whether anything was wrong. Naturally, any stylist or hairdresser will value financial compensation, which is the main reason why customers feel uncomfortable when they do not leave tips. No matter whether you are required to pay or not, the choice is ultimately yours. In any case, remember that no specialist is allowed to force you to tip by no means! Her to tip or not.
The Owner Dilemma
At this point, tipping your stylist should seem obvious (hopefully), but owners are a very different story. Owner of the Smith & Davis Salon in Chicago, Michael Davis, calls the custom of not tipping owners “antiquated.” “While no longer collecting a commission, we are still offering a service. All of the revenue we get is used to run the company and pay the non-income producing employees. Stevie Smith, his co-owner, continues, “After operating costs, taxes, perks, and general overhead, the salon’s profit margin is typically between 8 and 10 percent.”
Paul Norton, a well-known stylist in West Hollywood, makes an even more direct statement: “Running a salon is expensive, and generally if the owner is still choosing to take clients, I can’t visualize that they thought, finally, a chance to work just as hard if not harder and earn even less money!”
What is In It for You?
Being a generous tipper not only helps you establish a good rapport with your stylist, but it also opens up a few opportunities. According to Derek J, proprietor of the J Spot Salon in Atlanta, “we prefer to show it back just as much as they show their appreciation.” “We always keep what kind of client it is in mind when a client requests an exceptionally early or late appointment,” the company stated.
Adding Finn “Stylists will go overhead and above for clients who leave lavish tips; we’ll come in early, stay late, or come in on a holiday. It’s okay if you do not want to tip, but let us be honest: if someone tips more than we expect, we will usually go above and above.
Just keep in mind that you will not get a good cut if you do not tip, advises Ryman. Since I am a professional, I will not provide you with a different level of service based on whether or not you tipped me.
If You Cannot Afford to Tip, What Happens?
Salons occasionally raise their service fees. Whether the price increases are the result of inflation or a stylist’s promotion, they may make some treatments unaffordable for some consumers, especially when tip is factored in.
Clients should not view gratuities as optional because they are an essential part of a hairdresser’s income. However, there are some other options to take into account if adding the gratuity to the final payment for a salon treatment genuinely makes it unaffordable.
One choice is to schedule your appointments with a salon that does provide services that fall within your budget. Other salons out there can help you if one is very pricey and perhaps out of your price range.
