Tipping for expensive salon visits

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To those making calculations about where the fee for service goes in a salon - some to the stylist some to the salon owner - I haven’t seen any of you factoring the cost of materials, which aren’t cheap. All the product they use on your hair from shampoo/conditioner to color, keratin treatment, styling product, etc. - that all costs plenty and the high end salon is using the high end expensive products. Yes they likely get a wholesale price, but still it’s cutting into the service price so don’t think it’s all going into the pocket of stylist or salon owner. Plenty of other overhead costs, too.

That’s factored into their cost of doing business which sets their prices. Do you tip your doctor because they use paper, bandaids, saline, pay someone to answer the phone, has a website, and needs a Zoom subscription now?

The fact is that the compensation for a stylist has historically been in part based on tips plus part of the cost of the service. You can start a crusade to change the industry (and while you're at it the restaurant tipping compensation scheme) but shorting the person who performs your service because you believe the entire industry is wrong is not a great way to go about it.

I don’t short them, I just don’t go often. I do tip servers 20% because they make about $2 an hour and they are not professionals. I used to work as a waitress and in a spa. I just don’t buy into this whiny, I deserve $200 an hour nonsense. Or a shampoo apprenticeship needing a $5 tip for 5 minutes work on top of their hourly wage.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To those making calculations about where the fee for service goes in a salon - some to the stylist some to the salon owner - I haven’t seen any of you factoring the cost of materials, which aren’t cheap. All the product they use on your hair from shampoo/conditioner to color, keratin treatment, styling product, etc. - that all costs plenty and the high end salon is using the high end expensive products. Yes they likely get a wholesale price, but still it’s cutting into the service price so don’t think it’s all going into the pocket of stylist or salon owner. Plenty of other overhead costs, too.

That’s factored into their cost of doing business which sets their prices. Do you tip your doctor because they use paper, bandaids, saline, pay someone to answer the phone, has a website, and needs a Zoom subscription now?

The fact is that the compensation for a stylist has historically been in part based on tips plus part of the cost of the service. You can start a crusade to change the industry (and while you're at it the restaurant tipping compensation scheme) but shorting the person who performs your service because you believe the entire industry is wrong is not a great way to go about it.

I don’t short them, I just don’t go often. I do tip servers 20% because they make about $2 an hour and they are not professionals. I used to work as a waitress and in a spa. I just don’t buy into this whiny, I deserve $200 an hour nonsense. Or a shampoo apprenticeship needing a $5 tip for 5 minutes work on top of their hourly wage.

If you begrudge a shampoo attendant $5 a visit (which. if you even go monthly. is $60 a year), you are cheap and you are kind of a bad person. You are the one who is whining.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To those making calculations about where the fee for service goes in a salon - some to the stylist some to the salon owner - I haven’t seen any of you factoring the cost of materials, which aren’t cheap. All the product they use on your hair from shampoo/conditioner to color, keratin treatment, styling product, etc. - that all costs plenty and the high end salon is using the high end expensive products. Yes they likely get a wholesale price, but still it’s cutting into the service price so don’t think it’s all going into the pocket of stylist or salon owner. Plenty of other overhead costs, too.

That’s factored into their cost of doing business which sets their prices. Do you tip your doctor because they use paper, bandaids, saline, pay someone to answer the phone, has a website, and needs a Zoom subscription now?

The fact is that the compensation for a stylist has historically been in part based on tips plus part of the cost of the service. You can start a crusade to change the industry (and while you're at it the restaurant tipping compensation scheme) but shorting the person who performs your service because you believe the entire industry is wrong is not a great way to go about it.

I don’t short them, I just don’t go often. I do tip servers 20% because they make about $2 an hour and they are not professionals. I used to work as a waitress and in a spa. I just don’t buy into this whiny, I deserve $200 an hour nonsense. Or a shampoo apprenticeship needing a $5 tip for 5 minutes work on top of their hourly wage.

If you begrudge a shampoo attendant $5 a visit (which. if you even go monthly. is $60 a year), you are cheap and you are kind of a bad person. You are the one who is whining.

Oh, please. It’s 5 minutes of work they’re already being paid for.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To those making calculations about where the fee for service goes in a salon - some to the stylist some to the salon owner - I haven’t seen any of you factoring the cost of materials, which aren’t cheap. All the product they use on your hair from shampoo/conditioner to color, keratin treatment, styling product, etc. - that all costs plenty and the high end salon is using the high end expensive products. Yes they likely get a wholesale price, but still it’s cutting into the service price so don’t think it’s all going into the pocket of stylist or salon owner. Plenty of other overhead costs, too.

That’s factored into their cost of doing business which sets their prices. Do you tip your doctor because they use paper, bandaids, saline, pay someone to answer the phone, has a website, and needs a Zoom subscription now?

The fact is that the compensation for a stylist has historically been in part based on tips plus part of the cost of the service. You can start a crusade to change the industry (and while you're at it the restaurant tipping compensation scheme) but shorting the person who performs your service because you believe the entire industry is wrong is not a great way to go about it.

I don’t short them, I just don’t go often. I do tip servers 20% because they make about $2 an hour and they are not professionals. I used to work as a waitress and in a spa. I just don’t buy into this whiny, I deserve $200 an hour nonsense. Or a shampoo apprenticeship needing a $5 tip for 5 minutes work on top of their hourly wage.

If you begrudge a shampoo attendant $5 a visit (which. if you even go monthly. is $60 a year), you are cheap and you are kind of a bad person. You are the one who is whining.

Oh, please. It’s 5 minutes of work they’re already being paid for.

Agree. Stop trying to guilt people into giving away money. You are already paying for a shampoo as it is part of the service.

[Anonymous]

When I was seeing my stylist during his freelancing years I didn’t tip, he can bill whatever that makes him happy. He never dropped me as a client.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To those making calculations about where the fee for service goes in a salon - some to the stylist some to the salon owner - I haven’t seen any of you factoring the cost of materials, which aren’t cheap. All the product they use on your hair from shampoo/conditioner to color, keratin treatment, styling product, etc. - that all costs plenty and the high end salon is using the high end expensive products. Yes they likely get a wholesale price, but still it’s cutting into the service price so don’t think it’s all going into the pocket of stylist or salon owner. Plenty of other overhead costs, too.

That’s factored into their cost of doing business which sets their prices. Do you tip your doctor because they use paper, bandaids, saline, pay someone to answer the phone, has a website, and needs a Zoom subscription now?

The fact is that the compensation for a stylist has historically been in part based on tips plus part of the cost of the service. You can start a crusade to change the industry (and while you're at it the restaurant tipping compensation scheme) but shorting the person who performs your service because you believe the entire industry is wrong is not a great way to go about it.

I don’t short them, I just don’t go often. I do tip servers 20% because they make about $2 an hour and they are not professionals. I used to work as a waitress and in a spa. I just don’t buy into this whiny, I deserve $200 an hour nonsense. Or a shampoo apprenticeship needing a $5 tip for 5 minutes work on top of their hourly wage.

If you begrudge a shampoo attendant $5 a visit (which. if you even go monthly. is $60 a year), you are cheap and you are kind of a bad person. You are the one who is whining.

Oh, please. It’s 5 minutes of work they’re already being paid for.

Agree. Stop trying to guilt people into giving away money. You are already paying for a shampoo as it is part of the service.

Then stop trying to convince people not to tip. You don't tip - fine, but the rest of us will do it. No need to go on a crusade to short the salon workers.

[Anonymous]

If you don't want to pay 20% tip then don't get the high end service. And FFS please tip the shampooer, how cheap could you be?

[Anonymous]

NP. I'm so freaking happy the salon I go to allows customers to tip via Venmo now. I never have cash and when I do, it's not the right amount. The amount I'm charged seems so arbitrary each time.

[Anonymous]

I tip the stylist $10-$20 per service and go regularly. It’s my compromise for high end treatments. She doesn’t seem to mind because I go to her for cutting and coloring. It would be too expensive to go as often as I go if I tipped more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you don't want to pay 20% tip then don't get the high end service. And FFS please tip the shampooer, how cheap could you be?

What high end service? I pay $300 for cut, color, and walking out with a wet head. I’m in a room full of chairs and surrounded by loud hair dryers and women complaining about their in laws. I get a cup of tea. Isn’t $300 enough for the time and talent of a simple cut and color?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you don't want to pay 20% tip then don't get the high end service. And FFS please tip the shampooer, how cheap could you be?

What high end service? I pay $300 for cut, color, and walking out with a wet head. I’m in a room full of chairs and surrounded by loud hair dryers and women complaining about their in laws. I get a cup of tea. Isn’t $300 enough for the time and talent of a simple cut and color?

You don't pay for the blow dry? You need to go somewhere less expensive. You can't afford it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you don't want to pay 20% tip then don't get the high end service. And FFS please tip the shampooer, how cheap could you be?

What high end service? I pay $300 for cut, color, and walking out with a wet head. I’m in a room full of chairs and surrounded by loud hair dryers and women complaining about their in laws. I get a cup of tea. Isn’t $300 enough for the time and talent of a simple cut and color?

...and a cut and color. If your hair is so simple, you should be going to a $25 salon not a $300 salon.

[Anonymous]

I would go to my salon for the shampoo people alone. Is there a massage place that focuses on scalps? I hate massages, but rub my head and play with my hair for more than 5-10 minutes? Yes, I will pay for that.

[Anonymous]

I tip per hour at the salon not per percentage.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would go to my salon for the shampoo people alone. Is there a massage place that focuses on scalps? I hate massages, but rub my head and play with my hair for more than 5-10 minutes? Yes, I will pay for that.

You can book a massage and tell them where to focus. Nothing wrong with scheduling a 30 min massage and requesting they just massage your scalp.
(Former massage therapist who thinks that tipping is nice and also out of control- if you go to a chain, tip more, if you see a solo practitioner it’s not necessary)