This post is helpful, because I struggle with this at the salon. It's usually the hair washer who rings up my purchase, and I always feel like I'm under-tipping by giving her and the other hair washer $5 each.

Last time, I gave the entire tip in cash to the stylist and told him I would like to tip back $5/each to the assistants. He immediately set $10 aside. I felt like that worked better.

Usually my stylist does my shampoo, so I don't tip her extra beyond my usual 20% tip. Her shampoos are mediocre, at best. However, the last time I went, someone else did my shampoo and she was *INCREDIBLE*! She did a very vigorous and thorough shampoo (with nails! ahhhh!) and then the most divine scalp massage while the conditioner was in. I died. She rinsed everything so well - I wanted to take this woman home with me. I tipped her $5, but I also told her how fabulous her shampoo was. My own stylist looked a little miffed.

When I was a shampoo girl nearly twenty years ago, I rarely got tipped and when I did it was only a few dollars. Thus, I don't tip shampoo people now.