You tip hairdressers in the states? No wonder I never got my hair cute professionally when I lived there. That's just weird. charge for the cut and leave my math dysfunctional head alone! don't make me count!

@dabitch : Hairdressers, nail techs and other cosmetologists generally rent their stations from the owner, and they only get a percentage of the fee set by the owner. That is why we tip them and not the owner.

@occhiblu : Do not worry about it. If you want to tip, that is fine, and you do not even have to go the usual 15%, just a dollar or two. The owner will not be offended. Actually, if you really want to show your appreciation, for your next appointment, bring her a cup of coffee.

The best way to show your appreciation rather than tipping is to schedule your next appointment before leaving. Then, do your best to keep that appointment. If you must cancel, give a week's notice otherwise you may find that your appointment slots are getting overbooked. Customers who are habitually late also get their slots overbooked. (My ex and I owned a nail salon. Been there, done that.)

Oh, I tip the owner of my salon. He does great work, doesn't charge and arm and a leg, and I know he's always got overhead costs.

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Customers who are habitually late also get their slots overbooked. (My ex and I owned a nail salon.)

This is interesting both from a customer's perspective, as well as from a mecha perspective...one of those little details about someone's life that I would have never in a million years known or guessed otherwise. :)

I'd tip, just because that's what I'm used to. The place I go to doesn't let me tip on my credit card slip either, but they do have those stupid little envelopes.

It's also important to tip if you plan to ask your hairdress out eventually.

hairdresser

My hairdress goes out with me no matter what.

Engineering a bad customer's nail to "break" after a few days is one of the shadier practices. Acrylics especially. As my ex would say, "Yeah, she'll be calling Saturday afternoon." The nails were guaranteed, but my ex loved "squeezing" someone in over the phone at the most inconvenient times and then making them wait, yet still make "Miss Priss" feel like she was getting a huge favor and personal attention.

Why a sitcom based in a salon has never succeeded is beyond me. Or, did I miss one?

I think it is standard etiquette that it's not necessary to tip the owner. Long ago the owner of the salon I go to cut my hair for several months. I tipped her and while I was tipping her I knew it wasn't necessary. I felt awkward not tipping. I wish owners would politely refuse the tip, remind you of the etiquette and their owner status, and let you off the hook so to speak. If I were the owner I would politely refuse and tell them it's a pleasure doing their hair and having their business instead of being silent.

This is interesting both from a customer's perspective, as well as from a mecha perspective...one of those little details about someone's life that I would have never in a million years known or guessed otherwise. :)

No kidding! I vote ardiril makes a post listing his various types of employment/businesses.

I tip my hairdresser (who is also one of the salon owners) and I also give his junior (who puts me in the gown, gets me coffee and magazines, and washes my hair) a small tip too.

I tip my hairdresser and whoever shampoos my hair. The salon I go to is co-owned by a bunch of people who make money doing fucking makeup sessions on people while they are getting their hair done (which really pisses me off because that is my sleeping time, damnit) so I don't tip the owner, just my personal people.

Old etiquette was to not tip the salon owner. New etiquette generally says that's outdated. So don't expect the owner to tell you the etiquette is not to tip, when that's no longer true.

Thank you all. I also just realized that she might have tipping info on her website, which she does, and that (politely) suggests 15-20%. So looks like I need to start adding in a tip.