Alexa rest easy , you did more than OK. My bill is usually about $225.00 when I get a cut and colour...crazy I know but she is so good.

My hairdresser, herself , told me to tip on half the fee because the other half goes to the salon not to the hairdresser and has nothing to do with her services which are really about $125-$150.

She's the one that told me to do this and she was serious! So I usually tip her $25.00-$30.00 and she is more than happy with that amount.

I color my hair at home since I am on a limited budget. However I can not cut my own hair so I go to Fantastic Sams and get it cut there. I usually go on a Monday afternoon after I get off my crossing guard duty because they reduce the price on Monday evenings for Ladies night. Since the haircut is priced at 15.00 for a regular cut on any day other than Mon, I pay 10.95 on Mon evening. I usually tip the person that cuts my hair a dollar or two if I have the money to spare. Sometimes I do not have it if I have had school holidays that gives the kids a day out of school. If I don't work , I don't get paid.

Thanks Sharon!

I feel better knowing that. I know it was self-indulgent to spend that kind of ching at a salon, but I was there for 3 hours and had a total blast! The man who did my hair was recommended as a color genius, and I am thrilled with the results so I was feeling a bit awkward about the tip.

Now I can enjoy my new "do" guilt free!

Alexa

Wow, my last cut and color was $60 and I thought it was outrageous, so I went back to coloring my hair myself.

I do have to break down and get a cut, which is $12, I've cut my hair myself three or four times since last May, I got the cut and color right before I married Elery.

I tipped $10 on the $60 cut and color, BTW, and they don't have a wash girl, the same woman does everything. I didn't even know you were supposed to tip 20%, LOL, it's maybe the third time in my life I've even been IN a salon...

So, no, I sure wouldn't feel guilty or go back and give them more, LOL, but I have a whole 'nother perspective.

Annie

I would have done the same thing, and I usually tip 20% + a few bucks if someone else washes my hair, etc.

Sigh. I'm having a terrible time finding a stylist since mine moved. Are you in the Philly area? Do you mind sharing?

Sue

It costs me $115 for single process color and a cut. I tip the shampoo girl who also applies the color $5, and the stylist gets $15. Now that I think about it, I guess I should up it a bit.

I definitely think that the tip you left was plenty. I'm sure lots of people do not tip 20 percent. Yeah, just get over it! They should kiss the ground you walk on if you are dropping $300 in there.

I am tryin to go longer between cut and color to save a few bucks. I am currently sporting a good inch and a half of roots, not to mention the shaggy dog look.

Goldgirl, I don't think you're in my area of the Philadelphia suburbs, but I go to Stacy at Toppers in Devon and she is wonderful. I have sent a lot of people to her and they are all still going.

I'm in Jersey but willing to drive. That's a bit too far, however.

Guess I'll have to keep looking. Why oh why is it so hard sometimes to find the right stylist?

Hair cuttery gal here!!
I found a gal who does an amazing cut...no really she is way too talented to work at hair cuttery!!
I color at home but I do spring for the good stuff.

I've always been a low maintenence kinda gal and now that we've been pinching pennies I am glad!!

I have this one co-worker who is a beautiful Italian gal, maybe a year or 2 younger that I am....lovely olive skin and stunning chestnut brown wavy hair. Poor thing was trying so hard to be a blonde she overprocessed till be was almost bald!! Her hair is dry and very much straw like-and yea she is still blonde!!
Goes to the hairdressed every 2 weeks to bleach her roots!!

WE have all tried to tell her to find another stylist/colorist but you just can't tell some people.

I have a pic I of her I took at work when we all dressed up in Phillies garb...anyhoo her hair looks green!! I'll see if I can find it LOL!!!

Cheers!
Susie

I get my hair cut once or twice a year, and pay the woman that does my hair a $5 tip on top of the $25 charge. I haven't figured out what percentage that is. She does it all, the washing and the cutting. I don't have her style it, since my hair and haircut is wash and wear. I've never, ever colored my hair, and don't plan on it. I may change my mind sometime, but don't really want to be bothered by it. I'm not afraid of gray hair. I'd rather spend my money on plants or good cheese or chocolate or land or some other fun stuff.

Sally

Goldgirl

The Salon is David Witchell in Newtown, PA. They do offer a lot of services, but this is the first time I have ever gotten my hair done there. Email me at caliloo at yahoo dot com and I will give you the scoop on both this salon and another one in town that I can recommed. I'm not sure whre in Jersey you are, but coming down Rt 1 to 95 we are the 3rd exit after you cross into PA. If it helps, I am about 20 in from Wegman's in Princeton.

Alexa

Here is a link that might be useful: David Witchell

Timely post Alexa! Just yesterday I visited the salon where I get my color done, an upscale place like yours in Beverly Hills. I love my colorist and won't change, I get my haircut elsewhere at a lower rate, but for highlights every 3 months, I'm resigned to the higher price tag. My bill for highlights --which is two hours of her time, is $175. I tipped the shampoo lady $5 and tipped my colorist $25.00. I think that's a bit low, but it's hard to get myself to tip $35! She's always so sweet, but after reading this post, I'm feeling very cheap!

I don't tip! ..... read on!.....

I've been using the same hairdresser for 25 years now, we're both in our early 50's and so I've seen her grow her business and clientele. She has developed a pretty high end place and has around 20 employees, day spa etc. You have to book 2 months in advance or you won't get in with her and she rarely takes new people.

Since she owns the business, I don't tip her. She does charge a little more than her other stylists and once years ago, I was hoping that I was correct and so I asked her outright if I was doing the right thing. "Absolutely" she said..... "No tipping to the owner".

So I go overboard on the shampoo lady, she always does me and gets around 8.00. More at holiday times or if I'm feeling flush.... she is a hard worker and can use it.

Grace

That's what I've heard, no tipping to the owner. But, everyone else gets a tip. Frankly, if I were a hairdresser and had to make a living off of clients like myself, I'd go out of business. I'm very fortunate to have someone I've been with for years, and treats me as well as her clients that spend more money.

Sally

My daughter is my stylist. She has a salon about an hour from here. She charges me for product only. However, I tip her the amount the salon would have charged me if I were not the Mom. So for an $8 cut and color (actual cost of product) she gets a $65 tip. LOL.
In the salons I used before she became a stylist, I would tip about 20%. However, salons around here don't charge more than $100, so I never had to tip $50 or more. With my daughter, it is a joy to tip her and keep her off welfare, LOL.

I tip 20% and I always tip the owner. I dont know who ever made up that silly rule. I've heard it too but dont follow it.

Found this article that may help anyone who is wondering about whether or not to tip the salon owner.

Here is a link that might be useful: Tip the Salon Owner too!!

Cripes, I do feel cheap. I was going to a higher end salon but after spending $125 plus tip, I moved to a Super Cuts place last summer when I saw what the economy was doing. Cut and color with tip is rtunning about $50 now and if they have a coupon I use it. And I like the cut and color better!

Sorry ladies, and no offense to anyone, but these days I would feel so guilty spending 3 figures for a cut.

Tip 20 percent. If it's over 175 I might tip a bit less. But that's been rare. No one in my town is that expensive even if I get color, a weave, and a cut. There might be a few stylists that charge more but they are booked into eternity and not accepting new clients, anyway.

As for tipping the owner, most of the stylists here rent their spaces so aren't they in essence self-employed? I can't imagine not tipping them. One salon I know of employs their stylists, they get benefits and all the perks of being employed but that seems to be rare. One of the owners there does hair but he is one of the booked-into-eternity stylists mentioned above. I've never had my hair shampooed by anyone but the stylist - even when I had my hair done in San Francisco when I lived in the area.

Mostly I'm low budget and color my own hair from a box but spring for a good cut. I like having a few highlights but hate the maintenance. Susie_Que, what is "the good stuff"? Do you use professional products or the a more expensive off the shelf box? I'd like to try pro products but lack the knowledge to be mixing up my own stuff.

One additional thing, when I have my hair colored, I blow dry it myself. The salon charges $50!!! to have a stylist blow dry -- the colorist doesn't do blow-drying! That's one way that I save some money and then spend it on tips. Besides, most times I'm more satisfied with my blow dry efforts than with theirs!

Another reason it's nice to be a guy! Holy cow ladies! I pay 8.00 and tip 2.00 3-4 times a year. That is when I don't do my own buzz-all-over in the backyard with my own clippers LOL.

My wife doesn't tip. She is so bad. When we go out to eat I be sure to tip the 20 percent, and she is getting better about that since I have been nagging at her for 20 years or so. But when she goes to Fantastic Sam's or whatever I'm not there to cajole her. She is a good person in most other respects, but pretty bad about tipping. She is amazed that some people are so generous tipping me (their pet sitter), although many people, and some of the more demanding clients don't tip me at all. I think it is voluntary and not a 'must'. If I had to depend on tips I would just raise my rates to compensate.

Duane

My daughter goes to this high end salon too. The owner does her hair and I don't tip. I guess I would tip if the price wasn't so high, but since it is, I figure I paid enough.

Wow, I had no idea salons were that expensive! I've had my hair professionally cut once and I hated it. It's my fault as I had an idea of what I wanted but wasn't very articulate about it. So I let it grow back out and went back to having my mom trim it as needed (usually 4-6 months). I trim my bangs myself and would have no idea how to use a curling iron or other hair stuff. :)

The one time I had my hair "done" was for the wedding. My hair was around $75 to style and makeup was $50 including the practice runs for both. I definitely tipped 20%. The stylist and makeup artist did a great job and helped keep me calm on the big day, they deserved it!

Bri

I wish I could color my hair at home and just get occasional highlights, but as I've gotten older I've had more trouble getting the color right. One problem is that my hair lightens on its own - part of it's just me and part because we're on well water. Its seems like no matter what shade I do, it still comes out heavy looking. sigh.

Well, I went from salon coloring, to doing it at home, to not doing it at all, LOL. I just live with the gray (it's actually white- just a little). I had no idea you were supposed to tip that much! I bet my hair dresser hates me. I only see her twice a year. And I know a few ladies who spend 150.00 on just a cut. Not for me, but they swear by their hair dresser. My cut is 25.00 and I get a treatment that removes hard water build up for another 20.00-25.00. It's different every time. No blow dry for me either.

I'm glad you posted this, caliloo. I'll start tipping better. argh.

Hmmm I tip $5 for a hair cut...and a partial blow dry. But she's the "owner" and is the only stylist too..and a friend..and she charges me $20 or $25 I don't recall..I'm back to getting my hair "cut" 2x a year..LOL I do my bangs myself..since I've grown it back out.

Five bucks here. I'm an easy guy....clipper all the way..takes all of five minutes. Twelve to fifteen bucks depending on where I go. Still looking for my gal/guy...miss my lady up at the lake...

David

I tip $5. on a $15. haircut. It took me a couple of years to find someone that could give me a good cut. Finally connected with a gal that does it from her home. She has a cute 'salon' room all set up. She limits her customers to just a few. I love it that I can get a haircut on very short notice, catch up on the local chat and get an excellent haircut. I often take her something I've baked, flowers from my garden or a jar of something good from work.

I've colored my own hair since my late teens and am quite comfortable with mixing up my own concoctions.

Nancy

I used to color my own hair:
{{gwi:1442531}}
and I generally cut it as well. I don't trust most hair stylists, and the last one I visited (in Beverly Hills) was already a wrestling partner of mine. That was a few years ago, and he only charged $40 for the cut and $40 for the color, which I thought was especially cheap for BH. It would cost as much in Venice. In the past few years, I've lost a lot of my vanity, and I suppose I should try to find it again.

BTW, to cut my own hair, I use two mirrors, one is a movable standing full length mirror, and the other is on the medicine cabinet in the bathroom. To cut the left side of my head, I used left-handed scissors and taught myself to be ambidextrous. It was not easy at first, especially when looking at a double reflection, but after a few attempts, it got easier. I tend only to let friends cut my hair - or at least someone that I already know. One of my best friends in Vancouver was a hairdresser, and when I stayed with him, he would always do my hair just before going out (see link below).

Lars

Here is a link that might be useful: {{gwi:1442529}}

I just got a cut from my fav salon after 4 months of blowing it off and I only do a trim -this time 4 inches off and bangs. It was 35 and I tipped 10. But my hair is down to my bum and a straight shot across I can get away with months at a time although I shouldn't. Janet cut my hair and did a 13 piece french braid for practice [she doesn't have many clients with hair my length and breadth] I went right before visiting my mom in the hospital and she loves french braids [I do my own but not that many strands] so my Dad took pics with my iphone.I'll try to send them to my email and post it, it looks like a 3 foot braided door knocker lol!

Once your spending that kind of money, what is $20?

Lars, great photo!

$3 on a $13 cut. Probably 3-4 times a year. I found a guy at a Great Clips that really "gets" my curly hair! His is curly too.
No color, I can live with the good Lord's choice of color! LOL
Works for me!

Deanna

Okay Alexa, I really want to see a picture of your $300 hair :) I think I would fall over dead if I had to pay that to get my hair done! How often do you go to the salon?

Tracey

hey Alexa! *waves emphatically* I'm in Montgomery! where do you normally go when you're not at the correctional institution? ;-)

Tracey! LOL!

You would have had to see what it looked like before to really appreciate what is changed. The red had faded to an ugly rusty looking mix of strawberry blonde and yucky roots and I had come to the conclusion that is was cheaper to have the hair returned to some normal shade of blonde than it was to replace about 40% of my entire wardrobe that was various shades of pink, red and purple that I could no longer wear with the red hair.

The operator did 3 sets of whole head foils, putting in low lights, base color and blonder highlights, then he cut it in a more managable style (lower maintenance, I no longer have to spend 40 min styling it before i can go to the bus stop) and I was pampered with latte, biscotti and great conversation during the entire 3 hour process.

I'm not sure it "looks" like a $300 "do" but it looks MILES better than it did when I went in and I can now wear everything in my closet again! I have worn pink or red EVERY single day since Sat! LOL

I'm glad I'm fairly tall so not many people can see my gray roots!

I had it done last time because my hair is so long I can't do a very good job getting everything, so it was a couple different shades in the back.

Dang it's expensive in my area. Now that its done properly I can go back to doing the roots myself until the rest of it fades. Then I'll go back to have it all done again.

What a hassle. Though I'll take the hassle, mess and expense over going gray - I am not gonna do it!

sands there you go again , cracking me up!

Alexa, it's a lot of money but as the commercial says " you're worth it" . Sometimes I think it's important to find that special something that makes us feel good.

My hairdresser does high lights, low lights, and colour on me. Not always the same mix. This time I find it to be a little blonder than usual, thicker high lights...she told me it was winter and I needed to feel like summer! LOL If I recall correctly I think you and Woodie even commented on the variation in colour when we were on the bus going into New York City.

When I'm there I also get a glass or two of wine, chocolates and lots of gossip. It's three hours well spent and a real treat every 2 to 3 months.

Okay, I went to the salon last night and the cost has gone up another $5 so my bill was $120. I added another buck to the "assistant's" tip, so she got $6 and I still gave the stylist $15. If it gets to be much more I may be looking for another place to go. This is a poor time to be raising prices, since people are stretching to pay as it is.

On the other hand, it is one of my very few indulgences, and Chase says, I'm worth it.

Pam and Chase, you're so right! My mother (and many of her generation) go to the salon every week for their "do" and color too. I go once every 3 months for the color and maybe every 2-3 months for a cut. I refuse to feel too guilty for my color indulgence! Especially when it makes me feel like I look so much better!