I just found out that my regular hair dude at the medium-scale salon I normally go to up and quit, which sucks, because he’s the only person, ever, who’s ever given me a more than one satisfactory haircut.
He also did his own shampooing.
So I’ve got an appointment with the salon owner tomorrow, instead. Now I understand I’m not supposed to tip her - she charges a few bucks more than the rest of her stylists, anyway.
I’m assuming she’s not going to wash me herself, given she’s a sweet older lady temporarily come out of retirement to run the latest outpost of her slowly expanding hair empire.
So how much am I supposed to tip whoever shampoos me?
FWIW, the normal charge for a haircut at this place is $30, and since the previous guy usually spent close to an hour working on me, I tipped him $10.
Is someone pulling the suds over my eyes? There are seriously people called shampoo artists who acquire that title by washing hair? And they apparently expect tips?
Tipping the person who cuts or styles your hair, I can understand. But, what’s next, tipping the person who subscribes to the magazines in the waiting area?
Oh man, there are very few things-that aren’t rated X-that a person has done to me that is better than a shampoo. It’s so relaxing…and her boobs usually brush my shoulder…
mmmmmm…
You could always wash your hair before you go and skip that whole part of the routine. If you do get your hair washed there, most recommendations I’ve seen are $2-$5.
Can I add how much I hate this whole practice? IMO, the shampooers should be like busboys at restaurants, where the waitresses/stylists tip them out of their own tips.
It’s awkward to have your hair sopping wet and wrapped up, and have to pull out a few dollars to give it to the shampoo person. I always forget about this, and never have any ones on me, and then feel like a jerk for the rest of the day.
I don’t tip them anything. I wash my hair every morning, including the days on which I get my hair cut. So when they insist on washing my hair before they cut it, it’s for their benefit, not mine. Didn’t ask for it, don’t tip for it.
And I tip the ‘cutter’ about 15%. It’s not a gourmet meal in a great restaurant where the server is knowledgeable and waits on me like she knows what she’s doing, it’s a haircut. 15%.
Weirdness. Well, if your hair is more or less straightish, it’s better to have it wet when they cut it (in most cases). Does your hairdresser hose you down with a spray bottle or something?
Tell me about it. The 'poo lady at the parlor I visit is a sweetheart, a fairly recent widow :(, and I’ve been considering putting the moves to her, but I understand she’s Albanian, which makes the etiquette rather touchy.
