Us Wearers: How Much Do You Tip Your Stylist?

[Hairconomist]

I'm a bit confused how to how much I should be tipping my stylist (in the US) for a new piece installation, which includes bonding and cut in. The new piece, bonding, and cut in together come out to $605. I know the common rule of thumb is to tip 20%, but tipping $121 on this seems awfully steep for what is about an hour of work total. I'm pretty sure the new piece itself is provided by the salon rather than the individual stylist.

The salon also offers a monthly maintenance service which is just a rebonding and hair cut for about $100. Since the maintenance service is essentially a new piece installation minus the new piece, I figure that the "stylist's" portion of the new piece installation comes out to $100 while the new piece provided by the salon is effectively $500. I tip the stylist 20% on their portion, which is $20.

Is this proper tipping etiquette or am I way off?

 

[TheLoneWigMaker]

There is no itemized list of what charge is the cut-in? The cut-in service is where the tip should go. When I first started out, I supplied my own pieces and they just charged $125 for the cut in. I tipped $20.

I assume you are just starting out, and maybe learning the ropes. Soon, you'll want to supply your own units from a high quality online store. There are many: hairdirect, toplace, northwestlace, oneheadhair. They will all be cheaper than the salon, and from my experience, better.

Eventually, consider learning to cut-in yourself as well. In your case, that's $120 saved, and no waiting for a scheduled appointment.

 

[hair4meTomorrow]

Why are you tipping when they are already charging you a very good hourly rate? I don't tip my stylist because I pay them enough.

 

[TooBad]

Why are you tipping when they are already charging you a very good hourly rate? I don't tip my stylist because I pay them enough.

It's standard practice to tip for good Hospitality related service.
With that logic you would tip for a cheeseburger but not for filet mignon and Dom Perignon?

 

[TooBad]

I'm a bit confused how to how much I should be tipping my stylist (in the US) for a new piece installation, which includes bonding and cut in. The new piece, bonding, and cut in together come out to $605. I know the common rule of thumb is to tip 20%, but tipping $121 on this seems awfully steep for what is about an hour of work total. I'm pretty sure the new piece itself is provided by the salon rather than the individual stylist.

The salon also offers a monthly maintenance service which is just a rebonding and hair cut for about $100. Since the maintenance service is essentially a new piece installation minus the new piece, I figure that the "stylist's" portion of the new piece installation comes out to $100 while the new piece provided by the salon is effectively $500. I tip the stylist 20% on their portion, which is $20.

Is this proper tipping etiquette or am I way off?

I tip 100% for a great cut in.

If you're paying them $600 plus for everything, I would at least tip them $50 if you are happy with the service.

 

[Hairconomist]

There is no itemized list of what charge is the cut-in? The cut-in service is where the tip should go. When I first started out, I supplied my own pieces and they just charged $125 for the cut in. I tipped $20.

I assume you are just starting out, and maybe learning the ropes. Soon, you'll want to supply your own units from a high quality online store. There are many: hairdirect, toplace, northwestlace, oneheadhair. They will all be cheaper than the salon, and from my experience, better.

Eventually, consider learning to cut-in yourself as well. In your case, that's $120 saved, and no waiting for a scheduled appointment.

Interesting ideas, but I'd have to find a salon in my area that will let me supply my own hair piece. At this point, I have no plans to learn to cut my own hair.

 

[Diesel guy]

Interesting ideas, but I'd have to find a salon in my area that will let me supply my own hair piece. At this point, I have no plans to learn to cut my own hair.

Hairconomist - I use a salon as well, and I wouldn't be able to supply my own hair piece for them to cut in. For me to do it myself, I would need to basically build the infrastructure from the ground up. and I am amazed at people who can do this on their own. I am not coordinated enough to manage all the moving parts in this process.

As for tipping - I typically do $20 per visit. Then at xmas, I give an extra $100.

 

[cottonReville]

I buy my units online, off Amazon, etc., then have an ordinary hairstylist, a highly talented woman I've been going to for years, cut the unit to my liking for 30 bucks

 

[TheLoneWigMaker]

I was under the impression that most wearers cut their own pieces.

Maybe I'm wrong and don't do as good a job as I think. It seems easy. Grab small piece by piece and just cut all the hair to one desired length (buy a comb with a built-in ruler), then go back and graduate the edge lengths. Finally, use a Jatai Feather texturing blade on the edges to blend density.

Some other DIYs could probably give me tips for improvement. Style seems ok to me though.

 

[TEG]

There is no itemized list of what charge is the cut-in? The cut-in service is where the tip should go. When I first started out, I supplied my own pieces and they just charged $125 for the cut in. I tipped $20.

I assume you are just starting out, and maybe learning the ropes. Soon, you'll want to supply your own units from a high quality online store. There are many: hairdirect, toplace, northwestlace, oneheadhair. They will all be cheaper than the salon, and from my experience, better.

Eventually, consider learning to cut-in yourself as well. In your case, that's $120 saved, and no waiting for a scheduled appointment.

I tip 20