Tipping the Hairdresser

Cos Dashit · Post by **Cos Dashit** » 2008-08-13 12:32am

Got my hair cut today, and as I was tipping the woman who cut my hair, I began to wonder.

Tipping a waitress/waiter in the US is pretty much mandatory. Reason being, as much as 15% is taken off their paychecks because they get tipped. Therefore being a decent guy means giving at least a 15% tip, perhaps more (unless, of course, the service is horrible, but that's beside the point). If you go to a restaurant and spend 15$, odds are you're giving a 17-18$ tip.

But, does the same apply to hairdressers/hair stylists/barbers?

I am not sure whether or not money is taken out of their paychecks to compensate for tips. I do not think so, but I could be wrong. I tend to tip after a hair cut like I would after a meal, between 15 and 20%. Am I/Are we correct in doing this? It seems that the hairdresser would be making a significant amount of money more than the waitress.

Be great if I could hear from anyone who has worked as a waitress or hairdresser. My thanks in advance.

Tsyroc · Post by **Tsyroc** » 2008-08-13 12:42am

I think it's fairly common to tip hair dressers/stylists these days but I think it's more of an extra thank you than a necessity. When I started getting the feeling that a tip was expected at even some place like Cost Cutters for giving me a butch that took a few minutes only I started cutting my hair myself at home.

I don't know about tipping the barber. When I was a kid we just paid the bill and that was it.

I can see giving a tip if you get something elaborate done (coloring, perm etc..), but anything that is mostly done with clippers the regular fee should be enough.

Death from the Sea · Post by **Death from the Sea** » 2008-08-13 01:07am

Depending on where I go and how much they charge and how good of a job they did cutting my hair, depends on what kind of tip, if any I give them.

Shinova · Post by **Shinova** » 2008-08-13 02:14am

My local barber shop doesn't seem to expect a tip, but I once went to a fancier shop in New York City and my barber was waiting by the door when I was ready to go out. Showing me out was probably part of the intention, but a tip definetly seemed wanting then.

Bounty · Post by **Bounty** » 2008-08-13 03:24am

I used to tip my old barber, but the new guy refuses to take them. Maybe he charges extra on the fancy hair styling stuff, but my every-couple-months ten-minute trim has always cost me exactly a fiver.

ArmorPierce · Post by **ArmorPierce** » 2008-08-13 06:12am

I've always given a tip. My tip scales up by quality and how low the base hair cut fee was.

Post by **Mr Bean** » 2008-08-13 06:24am

I always give a tip, and in the 20%-30% range.
I'm nice to people who hold sharp instruments near my throat on a regular basies. And I hope to inspire them not to accidentally slit my throat while giving a shave and a haircut.

Aaron · Post by **Aaron** » 2008-08-13 07:48am

I usually slide my barber and extra few dollars, shaving a head seems to call for it and he goes over to Afghanistan to cut for the Canadians. I figure that's worth a little bit extra as a thank you.

Max · Post by **Max** » 2008-08-13 09:39am

This thread made me feel better. I got a hair cut/color a couple weeks ago that came to, like $230. I had every intention of leaving a tip, but I paid with credit card and the receptionist said that I couldn't put in a tip and that I had to do it with cash (which I never carry on me). I told her that I'd have to go to an ATM to get some cash to tip...but after 20 minutes on Newbury St trying to find an ATM, I gave up and just went home. I felt really bad doing that, because I always tip.

Anyway, I probably won't go back. A) I'm embarrassed now, and B) there are plenty of other overpriced hairstylists in the city.

Molyneux · Post by **Molyneux** » 2008-08-13 09:43am

Bounty wrote:I used to tip my old barber, but the new guy refuses to take them. Maybe he charges extra on the fancy hair styling stuff, but my every-couple-months ten-minute trim has always cost me exactly a fiver.

Only five dollars for a trim? Damn, that's a cheap barber.
I always tip the guy who cuts my hair, because it pays to be nice to the man who you let hold a straight razor near your face.

Also, there're the benefits of being a favorite, regular customer - they're willing to bend the rules a bit for you when you really need it, like the times we've needed to pick up dry cleaning and need the guy to keep the shop open for an extra ten minutes or so.

Eris · Post by **Eris** » 2008-08-13 12:41pm

I tip my stylist, but I actually have a proper stylist - I can't imagine tipping at one of the chain Cost Cutter style places. I guess times are changing without me noticing again.

But the place I go is a modestly upscale place with a regular stylist who's attentive, skilled, and gregarious, so she really does deserve it. I still consider it an act of extra generosity than something that is expected, though.

Guardsman Bass · Post by **Guardsman Bass** » 2008-08-13 01:31pm

I usually give them one or two bucks (my haircuts aren't very expensive), but I feel kind of weird doing it, since my hair cut is usually a buzz, and that takes like 2 minutes to do with one cutter.

General Zod · Post by **General Zod** » 2008-08-13 01:40pm

Max wrote:This thread made me feel better. I got a hair cut/color a couple weeks ago that came to, like $230. I had every intention of leaving a tip, but I paid with credit card and the receptionist said that I couldn't put in a tip and that I had to do it with cash (which I never carry on me). I told her that I'd have to go to an ATM to get some cash to tip...but after 20 minutes on Newbury St trying to find an ATM, I gave up and just went home. I felt really bad doing that, because I always tip.

Anyway, I probably won't go back. A) I'm embarrassed now, and B) there are plenty of other overpriced hairstylists in the city.

Who the fuck spends $230 getting their hair done?

That said, I don't tip because barbers get paid a regular wage, so it's not as if they depend on tips or anything.

Bounty · Post by **Bounty** » 2008-08-13 03:34pm

Molyneux wrote:
Bounty wrote:I used to tip my old barber, but the new guy refuses to take them. Maybe he charges extra on the fancy hair styling stuff, but my every-couple-months ten-minute trim has always cost me exactly a fiver.
Only five dollars for a trim? Damn, that's a cheap barber.
I always tip the guy who cuts my hair, because it pays to be nice to the man who you let hold a straight razor near your face.

My barber is weird like that. He's gotten me free drinks at concerts where he does security, he's invited me to his wedding, gives me dating tips, and I don't even really *know* the guy. He's like Mary Poppins with scissors and a shady past. I'm not complaining.

Enigma · Post by **Enigma** » 2008-08-13 06:46pm

I've been going to my barber for ever a decade and I pay him $20 every time, even though it only cost me between $12 to $15.

Cos Dashit · Post by **Cos Dashit** » 2008-08-13 06:51pm

Eris wrote:I tip my stylist, but I actually have a proper stylist - I can't imagine tipping at one of the chain Cost Cutter style places. I guess times are changing without me noticing again.

I avoid chains like that. The place I go to is a small business, and every time I've went there, I was treated to an interesting conversation during my hair cut. The guy who owns it is really interesting to talk to, and so are the people he employs. I always tip, even if it is just a trim.

Cos Dashit · Post by **Cos Dashit** » 2008-08-13 06:52pm

Ghetto Edit: The haircuts aren't bad, either. I've always been happy with them.

Death from the Sea · Post by **Death from the Sea** » 2008-08-13 08:20pm

General Zod wrote:
Max wrote:This thread made me feel better. I got a hair cut/color a couple weeks ago that came to, like $230. I had every intention of leaving a tip, but I paid with credit card and the receptionist said that I couldn't put in a tip and that I had to do it with cash (which I never carry on me). I told her that I'd have to go to an ATM to get some cash to tip...but after 20 minutes on Newbury St trying to find an ATM, I gave up and just went home. I felt really bad doing that, because I always tip.

Anyway, I probably won't go back. A) I'm embarrassed now, and B) there are plenty of other overpriced hairstylists in the city.
Who the fuck spends $230 getting their hair done?

That said, I don't tip because barbers get paid a regular wage, so it's not as if they depend on tips or anything.

yeah, I was thinking who spends $230 on a haircut... even my girlfriends hair cut and color only costs about 40 to 60 bucks.

Aaron · Post by **Aaron** » 2008-08-13 10:39pm

General Zod wrote:
Who the fuck spends $230 getting their hair done?

Somone with to much disposable income?

That said, I don't tip because barbers get paid a regular wage, so it's not as if they depend on tips or anything.

The guy I see runs his own shop, so I don't mind giving him an extra dollar or so. If I go to First Choice than they can fuck off.