What Your Stylist Won't Tell You

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed)
Apr 2nd 2010 at 7:02AM

Is your hair stylist being completely honest with you? Chances are she's not, as no matter how close the two of you are there are certain things he or she is probably thinking but wouldn't dare say out loud. Here are a few of the most common.

"I can't work miracles. I can give you that celebrity's haircut but I can't give you her face."
"This is a business so although we might be friends please call if you're running late. It's just basic respect."
"Don't ask me to 'squeeze you in' when I'm already booked. It would mean rushing through or taking time away from others and that's bad for my business and hardly fair to other clients."
"I'm a good listener, not a therapist. I know about hair, not relationship problems and mental disorders."
"Your hair changes with your hormones so if you're pregnant or menopausal it might not hold curls the way it used to or become brittle and limp. Don't blame me, just see a doctor."
"You're lucky children's haircuts don't cost more than yours, and they definitely shouldn't cost less. Kids don't sit still, they kick, and they scream. It isn't easy."
"A dollar doesn't buy anything anymore so you should tip at least $3, more if you have long hair or got a special treatment."
"A trim is never "just" a trim because it takes both my expertise and my time. Would you let your neighbor do it? Or one of your friends even? No? I didn't think so."

Tags: beauty, beauty-pedia, hair stylist, salon, stylist

Filed under: Services, Spas

Source

Subscribe to these comments

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 14)

Rebecca Apr 2nd 2010 7:18PM

Uh, I've read almost this exact same article before. It's even linked above.

I know the Internet is awash with repurposed information, but when did it become okay to publish a new article that just paraphrases from one other article and adds nothing new, not in content nor in format?

vnat2 Apr 4th 2010 4:26PM

I am soooooo tired of the tip being something that is expected! You pay the price for whatever service and that is ALL that should be expected!!! A tip should ONLY be given when you feel that you have gotten exceptional service, not just because the deed was done.

Customer service has gotten realllllllllllly bad over the years and I contribute alot of that to people expecting tips, instead of feeling that they have to EARN them.

Again Tips should be earned, not just a fact of life.

Nana Apr 4th 2010 7:26PM

I am a good tipper but someone once said something to me that made since. Why would I give someone earning a wage more than 10% when 10% is what I give God. God is worthy more than a person already getting wages. I cangive them 10% and give the rest to a family in greater need.

pbwbnb Apr 4th 2010 7:28PM

Gosh Rebecca take a chill pill. Who cares if it paraphrases previous articles, not everyone is as well read as you perhaps.

Agnes Wong Apr 5th 2010 7:57AM

I feel that employers should be made to pay the emlpoyee more$$$ not depend on the customer to pay for the service, plus give a tip... hait-cut-dinner-gas attendant-delivery man-mailman-etc.. you get the idea...
airline employee ticket agents gate agents- flight attendants- bank tellers- supermarket cashier- dept.store clerks- etc.. these employee work very hard at min-pay level.. and No body even thinks for 1 second that these employees should get a tip... they provide a service...why should get a tip and others not.. tipsing should be done away with.. or take the % off the price of the bill and then the employers pay the employee from what the customer take off the bill EX-
Bill $100.00 minus 10% tip total $90.00 to employer and $10.00 to employee.
That way the customer is not paying twice....

indepaudio Apr 5th 2010 11:59AM

What difference does it make? They charge $25 and you pay a $5.00 tip. Or they charge $30 and you pay no tip.

Wow....in Italy they do not accept tips......so they just charge $5.00 more.

The rest of us just tip a little more to cover themselves. It all works out.

Ruth Apr 5th 2010 5:20PM

Nana, why are you giving God only 10%? That is simply the tithe. Offerings should go above and beyond the 10%. Instead of tipping less, give God more.

When great service is rendered, tip well. My stylist is the salon owner, but I still tip her. Great service is great service no matter who provides is. I tip to reinforce good behavior. With the US in its current economic situation, if you can, why not tip extra to make up for the clients who don't have enough to tip well?

maureen Apr 10th 2010 10:19PM

Mellow out. I haven't read the article before and just might find the info helpful.

Brian Apr 2nd 2010 8:07PM

At least a $3 dollar tip? I bet most people reading this site are tipping much above that on their $50-$200 haircuts. Unless you are talking about a $15 chain haircut special.

Jan Apr 15th 2010 6:41AM

Anyone idiot enough to pay $50-200 for a haircut is idiot enought o tip more than $3. No hair stylist/dresser is worth that much. (And yeah, I've never had that kind of money to waste on such a travesty.)

debbs954 Apr 4th 2010 3:12PM

I do agree. Working the field, massage therapy, I know I'm not happy with a $5.00 tip. I am when I get 20 or 25%, which in all honesty should be the tip one leaves if they're happy with their service.

idolkelly67 Apr 4th 2010 3:24PM

Jan, you seem like a big fool. To everyone else, the normal tip is 15-20% like a restaurant, depending on service. The owner should not get a tip, he/she makes the money. If the stylist rents the chair still tip and don't forget the person who washes your hair, which she's the one who should get the $3.00.

sandstone23 Apr 4th 2010 3:40PM

i work at one of those chains and believe me we get all walks of life the average tip is five dollars anything less is a insult. I have regular clientel and I make at least 150 in tips a week,My highest tip was from and elderly gentleman with a beard down past his shoulders he asked me to clean him up because his daughter was coming to get him to live in Florida. He looked like a vagrant so I shampooed cut and shaved and yes he was so pleased he gave me a $100 bill. Don't judge the clents purse and do't judge the stylist's choice of employment. We can all do a basic cut. It is the personality and yes we are arm chair therapists. It is my job and if I make one person feel better I've done my job. So the high dollar salon wonders what happen to Sally she's in my chair because her eyes are the bluest with carmel highlights. god bless all the stylist out there we all work for our money.

Skip Apr 4th 2010 3:52PM

To the Big Tipper::: The Tip is 10% of the bill... 15% is atttributed to Diamond Jim Brady... Look it up... I tip 15% for Good Service... Not just for filling my tea glass once...

Joan Apr 4th 2010 4:29PM

I tip a good 15 - 20% when I get my hair done and my daughter is the one who is doing it. This is what she does and she is good at her job. Right now my hair is a mess, but soon she will be cutting and styling and coloring me again. I have her to thank for all the complements I get. And when I did go to the cheapie places, I tipped at least $5 for my little trim.

BeenThereDoneThat Apr 4th 2010 4:49PM

I agree. I figured it was the usual 15 - 20%.

clayrenee Apr 4th 2010 4:50PM

I lived in Italy and the hair dressers their do NOT accept tips. Why are we tipping anyways??

Marcy Apr 4th 2010 5:07PM

I would be very offended if i got a $3.00 tip for a haircut!

sasperilla23 Apr 4th 2010 5:15PM

Well, for us middle class and poor class citizens, $15 to $20 is all we can afford.
Goodness! I haven't had my hair cut in about 6 months and before that it had been a few years simply because I can't afford it. I've been having to trim my own hair. Which is not easy, by the way, since I have abnormally kinky curly hair. I'm white, but my half black step-sister has hair just like mine so.... you get the picture on how that is. Since my hair is long and a pain, I usually tip about $8. Which is pretty good when the cut was only 15 to 25 bucks.

jlovechild66 Apr 4th 2010 5:27PM

I wonder what Vnat"s hair looks like? You probably dont have a stylist that you trust .I am a hairdresser 25 years and let me tell you i do alot more for my clients because the value me ! Maybe you do your own hair in the bathroom.I work in tv and film as well.My clients repect my time and talent i have continued my education in all areas of beauty because of "tips" and will continue to serve my clients even if they cannot come to me .Not all hairdressers make a regular salary they work on a commission , they make a fraction of what a seasoned hairdresser would make.I would never change my occupation i love my job and never tire of my craft. Art art art

| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Most Recent | Next 20 Comments