Just have a conversation with her! Tell her what's going on and ask if she'd rather you come less often but tip the usual amount, or come with the same frequency but tip less, or what. Don't freaking surprise her at the end like this, though - that's terrible.

These small business situations, like Sola Salon, are really not the same as someone owning a salon with multiple stylists. They have to pay rent, equipment, utilities, insurance, etc, but they don’t have other employees working for them. I absolutely tip my stylist who has her own little business at Sola Salon just like I did when she worked at a bigger salon.

I would imagine that service related business are feeling the affect of all the layoffs and people are probably canceling or going less often. That said, I think you did the right thing by explaining your situation, and it’s definitely different than stiffing a restaurant server or hairdresser in a regular salon.

A friend is a stylist. When she worked for a large salon, she did depend on the tips since she was paying a % to the owners for booth and supplies. She did not have control over her prices. She moved to her own suite and sets her own prices to cover her rent and supplies. In fact, she provides consultations so she knows she will be using more toner for someone with thick long hair or more time for a complicated highlight. Her quotes include her time and supplies with a small profit. She does well and said she will do well even if she received no tips. She appreciates tips but does not expect them since she sets her prices. As more stylists move to this model, some struggle as business people to set their prices correctly and remain competitive. You should not depend on tips.

Owners want cash tips to cheat on taxes. I go to sole owner shop with other employees. He wants top in cash. Most salons are like that.

Anonymous wrote:I’ve been going to the same hairdresser for about fifteen years. She has always rented her own space as an independent stylist. So she’s the owner basically and all the money goes to her, as well as the expenses for renting her little closet sized space. So recently my husband was DOGE’d and we lost 2/3rds of our income. I went to have my hair done and when it came time to pay I apologized and said I couldn’t tip for the time being as we are really in a bind. (Yes i still have to have my hair done for my job to look presentable). Anyway, I always figured that I was being very generous by tipping an independent contractor anyway. But she seemed kind of taken aback …. Thoughts? Do you tip salon owners?

That's like saying yeah we have eat so we go out but don't tip our waiter for their service! GTFO!

I don't like tipping at all but I always feel guilty so I'd tip very little.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So if my stylist rents her own small space I don’t need to tip? Why them does she hand me an Ipad with 3 options? 20/25/30% tip? It’s so gross. And a haircut costs $175. I hate going there but I love how it looks. I am shamed into tipping so I do it. I just go really I frequently. I’m in DC.

Go to hair cuttery. Kidding, kind of. There is somewhere in between $175 and $35. However at some point it will show. If you have an $$ job yourself you need an higher end stylist.

Also you can set your own top amount.

I was going to suggest this. I found a stylist who does a much better job than the expensive guy. She's been there for years.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Disagree on this. Hairstylists pay relies on tips. It’s one of the few professions, IMO, that you should tip (another being a restaurant server). You don’t think your stylist is feeling a pinch from our current economy too?

Well her choice is either getting business from OP or not. Would she rather get $100 or $0? If she NEEDS $120, then she should make that her price. She gets all of the money, she's not an employee or independent contractor but rather a sole proprietor.

You (and OP) know that this profession depends on tips. That’s why the question even came up. If you decide not to get your hair done, your favorite stylist goes out of business.

Also, maybe OP can clear up her stylist being the owner? You can be an independent stylist and rent out a chair in a salon without being the owner. It’s not quite the same as being the owner.

Well, maybe all professions should stop depending on tips. They should charge what they think they deserve. It's pretty well known that Americans are sick of tip culture. Every week there is at least one thread just on DCUM "Should I tip and how much?" for various services, from poor service at restaurants to movers. We need to move away from tipping altogether. My favorite stylist going out of business is how the free market works. I am only one person, my $20 tip that she receives every three months isn't determining whether she's in the correct industry or has the best business plan.

Would love to hear from a hairdresser about this, how they get paid and what they really expect. A similar thing happened to me in that I have followed my stylist from salon to salon - she has moved around 5 times in 8 years. Each salon she moved to was a little more expensive than the last but the current one is much much more expensive. I tip her as I have always done, but the same service has essentially tripled in price since I first met her. I have no idea how much of it she makes. However the net result for me is that I go to her much less frequently than I did before as it is now so much more expensive. Does she want this? The tip isn’t specifically why I have done this but it adds up and is not an insignificant amount. I just wonder whether this and the advice on here to OP to go less frequently is actually what the stylist would want - fewer customers? When the service itself has become so expensive, is this really still a tipping situation?

I go to an independent stylist in one of the salon plaza/suites type places where each person just rents their own studio salon. I’ve been seeing her 10+ years and yes I tip her. Her rates are lower than anywhere I was able to find back then and her prices have gone up at a reasonable pace. I’m thankful to have her and would be sad if I had to find someone else.

Instead OP, maybe stretch the time out between when you go. Wait three months instead of two or something like that.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was always told you don’t tip the salon owner. I consider this a salon owner. She gets 100% of the pay. It’s not like a waiter. It’s like tipping the restaurant owner after the meal.

Agree. This is what I have always understood and practiced.

A salon owner is getting % from all the other stylists’ income and - therefore- she is not paying someone else a % of her income. This independent stylist you see is the same in that her income is hers and her expenses are hers.

Maybe her seeming taken aback was that you would be worried about tipping when you are going thru this challenge.

An independent contractor within a salon is not a salon owner. This is ridiculous.

Ummm, the salon owner is paying rent. For the whole place! Just like the independent stylist in this scenario.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was always told you don’t tip the salon owner. I consider this a salon owner. She gets 100% of the pay. It’s not like a waiter. It’s like tipping the restaurant owner after the meal.

No, she is not the salon owner. She rents the space so has to pay those expenses out of her own pocket, along with any supplies that aren't shared. The salon owner gets the revenue from the renters and that is why you don't tip the owner when she/he does your hair (I do anyway since it is a personal service but it is not customary).

Anonymous wrote:I was always told you don’t tip the salon owner. I consider this a salon owner. She gets 100% of the pay. It’s not like a waiter. It’s like tipping the restaurant owner after the meal.

Agree. This is what I have always understood and practiced.

A salon owner is getting % from all the other stylists’ income and - therefore- she is not paying someone else a % of her income. This independent stylist you see is the same in that her income is hers and her expenses are hers.

Maybe her seeming taken aback was that you would be worried about tipping when you are going thru this challenge.

you tip or don't get the service duh

Anonymous wrote:The only thing this thread shows is that people of means have ZERO clue into the real finances and decision making of stylist and guest. You don't stop going to a hair dresser, a long time hairdresser, because you can't afford a tip, which is a bonus for a job well done. This is not a celebrity stylist with a waitlist. It's another person doing the best they can to make ends meet and probably very happy to get that $150 or $200 even without the tip.

Wow.

Who also likely pays their own benefits. Tips really do matter.