# I'm getting my first fancy salon haircut and I don't know how much to tip!
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-getting-my-first-fancy-salon-haircut-and-i-dont-know-how-much-to-tip/558719
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
**Created:** [October 29, 2010, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-getting-my-first-fancy-salon-haircut-and-i-dont-know-how-much-to-tip/558719 "2010-10-29T00:14:39Z")
**Posts on this page:** 18
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)
#### Post date: [October 29, 2010, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-getting-my-first-fancy-salon-haircut-and-i-dont-know-how-much-to-tip/558719/1 "2010-10-29T00:14:39Z")
My appointment is scheduled for tomorrow. From reviews on yelp and word of mouth, this woman is known as the Hair Whisperer (haha get it?). Supposedly she’s some kind of magical haircutting genius. But her haircut only costs $40 in Naperville. I’ve never been to anything fancier than supercuts, where I would normally tip around $5 unless I absolutely hated the haircut.
So what should I tip? I’d like a range based on if I hate it, am ok with it, or love it (I expect to love it, but gang aft agley, mice, men, etcetera). My hair is currently bra-strap-length and I’m planning to get a significant amount cut off, if that matters (to shoulder length or a bit shorter).
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### Author:  [@Gestalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gestalt)
#### Post date: [October 29, 2010, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-getting-my-first-fancy-salon-haircut-and-i-dont-know-how-much-to-tip/558719/2 "2010-10-29T00:46:25Z")
For a good $40, I’d tip 10-15.
For a great one, $20
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### Author:  [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)
#### Post date: [October 29, 2010, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-getting-my-first-fancy-salon-haircut-and-i-dont-know-how-much-to-tip/558719/3 "2010-10-29T00:48:46Z")
Sheesh, and here I’m still paying 12 bucks for a cut and tipping 2. I sure am glad I’m not fancy.
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### Author:  [@Merejane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merejane)
#### Post date: [October 29, 2010, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-getting-my-first-fancy-salon-haircut-and-i-dont-know-how-much-to-tip/558719/4 "2010-10-29T02:21:34Z")
I’d say up to 20% – which would be $8 – for a great cut, but no more than that.
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### Author:  [@C3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C3)
#### Post date: [October 29, 2010, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-getting-my-first-fancy-salon-haircut-and-i-dont-know-how-much-to-tip/558719/5 "2010-10-29T03:24:43Z")
If someone besides the stylist shampoos your hair, she should get a couple dollars, too.
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### Author:  [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)
#### Post date: [October 29, 2010, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-getting-my-first-fancy-salon-haircut-and-i-dont-know-how-much-to-tip/558719/6 "2010-10-29T03:58:54Z")
She runs a one-woman operation from what I can tell. And she does a scalp massage with the shampoo, that’s going to be my favorite part 😃
> [@Rigamarole](#):
>
> Sheesh, and here I’m still paying 12 bucks for a cut and tipping 2. I sure am glad I’m not fancy.
Well this is the first time I’ve ever gone outside of a cheapie place myself. I’m tired of getting mediocre at best or shitty at worst haircuts. Here’s hoping it goes well!
IMO 2 dollars would be an insulting tip for a female’s haircut (especially in Naperville). For a male haircut that’s probably just barely sufficient not to get (metaphorical) spit in your hair the next time you come in.
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### Author:  [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)
#### Post date: [October 29, 2010, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-getting-my-first-fancy-salon-haircut-and-i-dont-know-how-much-to-tip/558719/7 "2010-10-29T04:24:04Z")
I would tip $10. 25% is plenty generous. My girl charges me $20 - she’s the owner (one of 'em) and I went to her before she owned a salon, so I guess it’s a loyalty discount. I tip her $5 sometimes, and $10 sometimes, depending on how big a change we’re making. Her salon’s typical charges start at $40-$50. I get there a few minutes early and get a wine or beer from the fridge, or they have Bailey’s or Kahlua for the coffee!
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### Author:  [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)
#### Post date: [October 29, 2010, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-getting-my-first-fancy-salon-haircut-and-i-dont-know-how-much-to-tip/558719/8 "2010-10-29T19:49:04Z")
I ended up tipping $10 on top of the $40 because it was a pretty drastic cut and she took the time to add lots of product and blow dried with a diffuser (which takes finesse!). Very happy with her! Highly recommending Niki Moon for anyone in Chicagoland 🙂
(I’m not a shill, I swear to frog)
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### Author:  [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)
#### Post date: [October 29, 2010, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-getting-my-first-fancy-salon-haircut-and-i-dont-know-how-much-to-tip/558719/9 "2010-10-29T20:01:14Z")
Congratulations! Do you think you’ll have any trouble when you go to style it yourself?
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### Author:  [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)
#### Post date: [October 29, 2010, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-getting-my-first-fancy-salon-haircut-and-i-dont-know-how-much-to-tip/558719/10 "2010-10-29T21:10:34Z")
I don’t know for sure how it’s going to turn out when I wash it, since I generally don’t heat style. I just let it air dry for maximum curliness (and laziness!).
I just got a flu shot, I feel weird. o\_o
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### Author:  [@Ibanez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ibanez)
#### Post date: [October 29, 2010, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-getting-my-first-fancy-salon-haircut-and-i-dont-know-how-much-to-tip/558719/11 "2010-10-29T21:37:38Z")
My haircuts cost 15$. I tip 5$. But then I’m a male and my brush cut only takes 15 minutes.
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### Author:  [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)
#### Post date: [October 29, 2010, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-getting-my-first-fancy-salon-haircut-and-i-dont-know-how-much-to-tip/558719/12 "2010-10-29T22:45:02Z")
I have always heard the shampoo girl gets $2.00 and the stylist gets between 15% and 25% depending on the works she does, is she nice, does she treat you well etc, etc.
I can get a Supercuts Special for $10.00 and I usually leave $2.00. I stopped this recently 'cause I pretty much just buzz my hair short so I can buy a pair of clippers for $10.00 and do it myself
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### Author:  [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)
#### Post date: [October 30, 2010, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-getting-my-first-fancy-salon-haircut-and-i-dont-know-how-much-to-tip/558719/13 "2010-10-30T02:20:41Z")
Does this haircut have anything to do with your prospective threesome?
Just wondering.
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### Author:  [@Terra1041](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terra1041)
#### Post date: [October 30, 2010, 8:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-getting-my-first-fancy-salon-haircut-and-i-dont-know-how-much-to-tip/558719/14 "2010-10-30T08:35:24Z")
I usually tip 15-20% of the total. That ended up being huge when there was an expensive bottle of hair product in there.
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### Author:  [@Carol\_the\_Impaler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carol_the_Impaler)
#### Post date: [October 31, 2010, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-getting-my-first-fancy-salon-haircut-and-i-dont-know-how-much-to-tip/558719/15 "2010-10-31T22:05:16Z")
Don’t tip on product, I would say. Only tip on the cost of the service.
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### Author:  [@Hockey\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hockey_Monkey)
#### Post date: [October 31, 2010, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-getting-my-first-fancy-salon-haircut-and-i-dont-know-how-much-to-tip/558719/16 "2010-10-31T22:46:42Z")
I was always told that the owner of the salon did not get nor expect tips. She charged what she expected to be paid. Other stylists in the salon only got a percentage of the charge so they should be tipped. Generally, the owner of the salon charges more for his/her services anyway.
ETA: and I always tip 20% at salons or spas.
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### Author:  [@lisacurl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lisacurl)
#### Post date: [October 31, 2010, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-getting-my-first-fancy-salon-haircut-and-i-dont-know-how-much-to-tip/558719/17 "2010-10-31T23:54:05Z")
On a $45 service from a stylist, I would generally tip $10 – a little less than 25%.
If I was asking them to create an entire new style for me and not just trim up what was already there, I’d tip up to $15.
I live in Baton Rouge, a city of about a half-million.
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### Author:  [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)
#### Post date: [November 1, 2010, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-getting-my-first-fancy-salon-haircut-and-i-dont-know-how-much-to-tip/558719/18 "2010-11-01T21:41:07Z")
> [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](#):
>
> Does this haircut have anything to do with your prospective threesome?
>
> Just wondering.
There’s no causal relationship between them. However I am feeling rather more daring as of late, prompting the haircut (since I’ve had the same hairstyle for the last oh, 8 years of my life). And the daring also prompted agreeing to said threesome.
Basically, I want to do nice things for myself after getting out of an abusive relationship. 🙂