I thought that was a strange remark, and a greedy one at that. Don't owners know they aren't supposed to get tipped? I am currently going to a different hairdresser and have been going to her for a few months now. She also owns her own business. She has an actual salon though, not in her home, but she is the only worker there as it's a small place. So would I not tip her too? Thing is, I wasn't thinking and have been tipping her all along, so don't know how I would stop it now. And don't you think it was rude of her to take my tips all along since she's the owner?

When I was in a salon I got tips all the time, even when I rented a booth. I even got gifts at Christmas and my birthday from many customers.

A hairdresser leasing a station isn't the same as an owner even if it is their business. They don't make money off of other people. In a restraunt for example the owner isn't serving you, and taking care of you. They buy the food and someone else serves it. If an owner of a salon sat in their office, and didn't do hair I wouldn't tip them either.

I don't understand where the "owner" thing comes in. I had a home salon that was licensed. I didn't make any more money than when I leased. In fact, I probably spent more because pampering my customers. I had to purchase gravel for parking, utility bills, I spent money on decor, flowers inside and out, a variety of magazines, warm drinks, ice water, etc to make it a pleasant experience for my customers. Yet, only a small percentage tipped me. I couldn't believe it.

I gave all my customers my best effort regarding their hair, but when it came to accomodating their schedules that were inconvenient for me, making sure I had fresh coffee or water, an extra nice shampoo and massage, etc. I can tell you I went the extra mile for those that tipped generously. They made it worth my while to do so.

What I finally did when it was time to raise my prices is add a tip to the normal increase, and told them I didn't take tips any longer. Because I wasn't willing to work for the amount of those that didn't tip.

Personally, I tip according to service and the amount the salon charges in the first place. Many years ago there was a movement in our area that was to get hairdressers classified as "professional". This meant higher professional prices and no tips. It didnt fly with the majority of hairdressers, but it made good sense to me.

The way I see it there are very high end salons, middle, and low end. They charge accordingly, and usually the level of training and expertise of the hairdresser will go right along with the price, although not always.

If I go into a high end salon I will not tip. I expect a level of professionalism, and quality based on what I am paying. It is common to find apprentices working in these salons and I don't feel an obligation to tip them either. They are getting their "masters" and I dont' feel it is my job to pay them for that. In the end they will reap the rewards of doing so.

In the middle range salon you get mid to high prices. Generally these salons don't have shampoo techs, and your hairdresser will provide you with all the services such as shampoo, drying etc. I will tip according to the services given. If they charge more I don't tip as much.

Personally, I don't go to the salons that get em in and out so I don't know what I'd do. They don't generally get paid much more than minimum wage though, so I would probably be generous if they did a good job.

Just my two cents worth

Yes, I know some think it's "dumb" to turn down a tip if offered. But I say it's honorable to do the right thing in turning it down if you are the owner, and your prices are not so cheap. A lot of people would take it when it's not warranted, but that's called being a crook. I will continue to tip her only because I accidentally started to from the beginning.

~Summer °Ü°

There are people that want to tip their hairdresser because they appreciate what they do regardless of etiquite. There really are! I even had people stick money in my pocket when I didn't accept tips although those people were few.

If you feel strongly about not tipping just don't do it. Why do you say it is sleezy for a hairdresser to accept it when you offer it? You are trying to look good for giving a tip in hopes she won't take it. Is that honest?

~Summer °Ü°

Also, I think we're all forgetting that traditional etiquite is less practiced these days, and while this may or may not be a good thing, more people are ignorant of these traditional rules than we all think. It is possible that the person you are not tipping because you dont think it is nesscessary can become very offended.

I just offer one to whoever services me, regardless of there position or status. If someone were to reject it because they were the owner, then I would not offer one in the future, but be sure to verbally express my satisfaction each time.

-Devon

My position was why in the word would you continue to tip a person just because you have already done so? That makes absolutely no sense to me. Circumstances change, I had customers that didn't tip me every time, or the same amount every time.

Ok, I won't bug you anymore. Just wanted to give you something to consider.

I feel obligated to tip because it's the "norm", but I also feel that she sets her own rates, runs her own business out of that booth so should I tip her?

On a side note - some of the comments about "owners" providing service of fresh coffee, nice shampoo, etc. This is your business and you charge for a service. I own my own software company and have to keep up with web development, nice marketing materials etc. ... nobody ever tips me because of that - so why should we tip an owner of a salon because they provide the essentials of owning a salon? I think tipping has just gotten out of hand.

I have clients who come to me, but stretch their budget to do it. from them, I refuse tips of money- but they are also the sort of people that will bring me a muffin, or a handfull of flowers from their garden- because I bring out the beauty in them.

I keep a day job so that I don't ever have to deal with people who think that I'm their servant, or who quibble about my rates, or have such a weak sense of ethics that they would ever have to bring the word 'etiquette' up.

I have a gift. I share it with the world, and the world shares its gifts with me in return- some poeple have nothing TO offer me but money, and I try and accept that as gracefully as I accept the roses that another has tended through years to be able to offer others a true gift of love.

I am quite sure as your skills increase so does your income. If not, I'd find another field. If a stylist is constantly learning they attend classes which are very expensive and they know a heck of a lot more than the average graduate of beauty school. These hairdressers charge accordingly. If they are good they are in demand and can get the prices they charge because customers know their value.

Now, about the fresh coffee etc. That is not part of my service as a hairdresser, nor does it have anything to do with my skill level. I did it because I wanted to do something for my clientelle that was so kind to me. It wasn't required of me to do so, and it wouldn't have made any difference in their coming back. I was good and they knew it. I never advertised, and I was as busy as I wanted to be thanks to those that appreciated me.

Ya know I could have put out some instant coffee and hot water, but I made fresh coffee with whole beans. I used quality shampoos instead of the cheapest I could find, and I used the best conditioners available. These again were choices I made for my customers benefit. I didn't "have" to provide them. I didn't only provide theses things I "served" them. I guess you could say I was a waitress too :-)

I also want to say I have done as chinacat said and given free services to those in true need that had been regular clients and fallen into a finacial slump. There were also many times I didn't charge for extra toner needed, reconstucters, etc, because the client made up the difference in tip. For those paying the bare minimum I didn't do that, and they probably ended up paying more than the tippers!

Tipping is all a choice and if we don't want to tip someone don't, but don't expect the same catering one would get that tips well. In most cases you won't.

That is a crappy way to treat your customers.

You are comparing apples to oranges, sorry, but working in a nursing home is not the same service as a haircut or restaurant server. You make a salary, these people work for less than minimum wage. Yes, a "thank you" goes a long way, but if you are making $2.13/hour that "thank you" just doesn't pay the rent.

If you don't like tipping, don't use the service.

Unless I missed it, I don't believe brownthumpia said anywhere that she worked in the service industry either. She worked as part of the staff of a nursing home.

Posted by hairguru: "It was one thing years ago when a salon was a cash business and an owner could skim a little off the top."

So you are saying that you are angry that you are finding it more difficult to cheat on your taxes these days?? An owner of a business who "skims a little off the top" can wind up in jail.

Not only that but many business owners who "skim off the top" and keep a set of "cooked books" to show the government, make themselves eligible for all sorts of government grants and no interest loans that are intended to help the small businessman. Do you do that too? If you do you, are hurting the true small business owners that need that portion of available grants and loans to get started or expand.

Most people who are in lines of work that involve tipping get very small hourly wages, no wages at all or have lots of expenses that come out of their pocket. When I was a server, I sometimes had to split my tips with the busperson, bartender, dishwasher, cooks and host/hostess. Hair stylists often split tips with the shampoo person.

If you begrudge tipping, it is probably best to not use services where a tip is traditionally expected.