Quick Quiz: Should You Tip The Owner of A Salon?

November 16, 2007

I get lots of emails asking about tipping etiquette for hair, nails, and other general salon and spa treatments, so I thought it was time to address the issue. Growing up, my mother always told me that it is not standard practice to tip the owner of a salon.

This unspoken rule stems from the idea that the entire cost of your treatment goes to the house. So unless your level of service was exceptional (say they gifted you with a deep conditioning treatment or an eyebrow coloring), a tip is unnecessary. Do you think this rule still applies today? To find out, take this quick quiz!

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39 Comments

salonmama 1 year 35 weeks

As a salon owner....I get HALF of everything my staff does. And all of what I do. If I don't get a tip. I WOULD NEVER THINK LESS OF A CLIEN. Shame the rest of you who would. Owning a salon is. Rent, and product which is CHEAP! Oh and btw...we pay 40-50% of what that hairspray or shampoo is being sold for on shelves. So I get most of that too. The cost. Of a full foil to me is approx. $10. That includes utilities. The rest of what your. Paying for is time. No cost in cuts......again, just time. So all profit. End of businessday business expenses are rent, ins, products, utlities. Approx $f2500 a month. Cleared easily with 4 stylist that are busy.

3 years 34 weeks

This is bogus. Update your website. tip means you appreciate the service. Owner or not. The answer is Yes you do tip, A big chunk does not go to the owner, what world are you in? Rent starts at @ 150.00 a week at low end salons but low end salon can make $1000.00 a week. Wheres the big chunk? If you don't tip we may not accommodate you when we know a tipper wants the same time frame. We do whats best for us. Why make the tipper lose out. They are paying for this time plus a bit extra.

veronicaraye 5 years 23 weeks

true true/

rivrchild 5 years 26 weeks

I've been going to the same stylist for years now and we are very close friends. His wife used to babysit me when I was a toddler and we were next door neighbors for a long time too, When he finally got his own salon, my mom and I would tip every time, but then his prices starting going higher and higher. If I'm not in a financial crunch, I will leave a tip because he does do an excellent job. But they both know us so well, that I don't feel bad not tipping. The last time I got a cut and color and they actually gave me a great discount when I told them my financial situation, so the next time I go, I will defnitely tip well. If I didn't know the stylist well, and he/she did a wonderful job, I would feel weird not tipping in that case.

ER1008 5 years 26 weeks

I have been back and forth on this topic with myself. The girl who does my cut and color is the sole owner of her salon and I had always heard that you don't tip the owner. She always has someone else wash my hair and another separate assistant help with the color. I of course tip the 2 assistants and usually end up giving some sort of tip to the owner (who does my hair) but she is not cheap and then I am tipping 3 people on top of it which almost adds up to the price of a haircut. I usually end up giving her some sort of tip, I would give more if she didn't have someone else helping out with the color.

Lanne109 5 years 27 weeks

My stylist owns the place, so technically I'm tiping the hairdresser and the owner all at once. =]

actorgirl21 5 years 27 weeks

I totally disagree! I'm an esthetician and I have A LOT of hairstylist friends and a few of them own salons. Your stylist SHOULD be tipped if you liked the work regardless if they own the salon or not. It is a rare occassion that someone is SOLE owner of the salon. Profits are almost always split between 2-6 partners. PLUS it costs a heck of a lot of money to have the salon up and running! If they deserve it you should tip them!

cittypark 5 years 27 weeks

i completely disagree. i tip when the service is exceptional, as well as when it's not. tipping is a given, not an option. i tip whoever does my hair, including the owner, and the ppl who wash & dry. i thought it was common sense, especially since these ppl make most of their pay from it. don't we all tip when we get our nails done? waxed? etc...? it's the same thing.

zc 5 years 27 weeks

I read soemwhere that a simple thank you crd or flowers/box of chocolates is nice to give salons..

htiduj 5 years 27 weeks

oh, but i would not tip the owner unless it was the owner who cut my hair. actually, i dont even think ive ever met the owner of my salon! oh, and mars0803, i tip my hairstylist $20 - the cut costs $85, but he sculpts my hair to my face, and lately ive been getting HUGE cuts - like chopping of my long long hair into a pixie. and the assistant $5. i think if its just a trim, you are ok with less. my stylist gives free bang trims, so since thats just a small trim for that i would not tip him $20, but definitely tip him $10.

htiduj 5 years 27 weeks

i always tip the person who does my hair was well as the person who washes my hair. in my salon they are very discreet about it, you just put your tip in an envelope addressed to the person and from you, and they give it to them at the end of the day. so you dont have to have that awkward come up to them in a middle of a client. they also always tell me who washed my hair (they call them assistants) so that i dont have that embarassing moment of not remembering the name. (since its not usually the same person every time, the way my stylist is). and of course, i always tip somebody who does my nails/eyebrows/waxing etc

creepupmytee 5 years 27 weeks

yes I think so. after all, if not for them, you wouldn't get nice, lustre hair all done in an afternoon.

kurniakasih 5 years 27 weeks

I always tip my stylist or my manicurist/pedicurist really high. I don't go to the salon that often (maybe three times a year), when I do, I kind of understand how pretty tough their job is and I always make sure to tip really good.

mamalizzie 5 years 27 weeks

would just feel too weird not tipping ... even though i know the etiquette allows otherwise ...

MandyJoBo 5 years 27 weeks

I consider tipping a thank-you and customer feedback. (Even though I'm against the whole concept of tipping someone for doing their job, until it goes away and they get paid accordingly, I will have to tip.)

JaimeLeah526 5 years 27 weeks

What Bella is saying is that if the person who cuts your hair also happens to be the owner of the salon you do not have to tip him or her since they're making all the profits off your service. I beleive that you should tip him or her if they did a great job on you that went above and beyond (that could be because I plan on opening my own salon haha)

terryt18 5 years 27 weeks

I never tip the owner. Like Bella said, it isn't necessary. I totally agree with that. Also, I read it in Ann Landers. Ha!

Munkeyhed 5 years 27 weeks

Here's my question: I got my hair colored-$140 + $28 tip. Color washed out at the first shampoo. Went back & had the color redone for no charge, should I have tipped the stylist? I gave her only $10, didn't want to, as it was a major inconvenience, but I didn't want to seem cheap, either.

Linny 5 years 27 weeks

i only tip the person who cuts my hair. she is also the one that washes it. the owner has her own clients who can tip her if they want. i'm moving though, so i will need to find a new person in dc. anyone know a good one?

sofi 5 years 27 weeks

no- you don't go looking for the owner after someone else cuts your hair! The question is if your hairdresser happens to ALSO be the owner of the salon who basically takes in all the cash in the place, do you need to tip them. If they do a fantastic job and you want to make sure they can do it again, but it isn't neccesary as bella said (since they are getting everything anyways as owners).

Phasekitty 5 years 27 weeks

My hairdresser started out working at the salon and then bought it, so I still tip her, of course. I think I would feel funny not tipping anyway, but I figure that even if it's considered uncouth to tip, I can still do it since I went to her before she was the owner.

tundrababe 5 years 27 weeks

I tip the stylist, who is never the owner. I don't understand this question. Do people look for the owner and tip them too?

Mars083 5 years 27 weeks

guys, im going to get my hair done tomorrow..the stylist i go to just got voted best in the city...my trim is $70 she has an assistant who washes, conditions, and then blows out the hair..so i tip both..last time i went to her i gave her $10 and the assistant $5..is that sufficient?! $70 for a trim is a bit pricey but I have long hair and shes great...