Tipping at a Salon or Spa:  the when, who, and how of it

I always find the business of tipping at a salon or spa an uncomfortable process, since I'm never sure of "tipping etiquette."  Who should I tip and how much.  

Figuring I wasn't the only one who experienced "tipping anxiety", I decided to take the matter to some pros and asked friends who own or work at spas or salons to answer some of my questions about tipping.   (Thanks for your help guys and gals.)  Below you can find the list of questions I asked, and the answers I put together from both their comments and my own experience.  As an aside, salons with a "no tipping policy" do exist.  Click on the link for a list. 

What is a normal tip for services?

A tip should typically fall within the 15% to 20% range.  (This is before tax is added.)

Are there circumstances when you should tip more than 15% to 20%?     

If the service provider either did something out of the ordinary or did something that took a great deal of time (such as major make-overs, color correction, etc.) you might want to consider leaving a larger tip.

Who else should you tip other than the person who performs the service?

At a salon, you should tip the person who shampoos your hair ($5) and the person who blow dries your hair other than the stylist ($10).  It is not necessary to tip the receptionist or someone who brings you a drink.

Should I use an envelope to put the tip in or is it okay to give the service provider the cash without the envelope?

If the spa or salon provides envelopes for tips at the front desk, it is customary to use them.

Should I put my name on the envelope so that the service provider knows the tip is from me?

You should write both your name and the name of the person for whom the tip is intended on the envelope.  Don't write the amount of money you put inside the envelope on the envelope itself.

Should I leave the tip at the front desk or give it directly to the service provider?  If I leave it at the front desk, how do I know the service provider has actually received the tip?

You can leave the tip in an envelope at the front desk or give it to the person who provided the service, whatever makes you more comfortable.  Don't worry about leaving it at the front desk.  It will make it to the appropriate person.

If my service provider is the owner of the salon or spa, should I tip him or her?

Although tipping the owner is not "required," a tip is customarily given -- even if its a token.  However, I have seen situations where the salon owner will not accept tips under any circumstances.  If I plan to see the salon or spa owner, I always ask the receptionist what custom is for tipping him or her when booking my first appointment.

How much should I tip if I don't like the service(s) provided?

If you are unhappy with the service, first talk to the person who performed it.  If you don't receive a satisfactory answer, speak to the manager and/or owner (depending upon the particular salon or spa involved).  Most reputable places will stand behind their work and try to make the client happy.  In these instances you have to use your own judgment.  My rule of thumb is to leave some sort of a tip (nothing too insulting) if I'm even considering returning.  You may want to ask for guidance from the manager/owner if its gotten to that point.  Even if you decide not to tip the service provider, you should tip people like the shampoo person. 

At holiday time, should I give my service providers a holiday gift?

To some extent it depends upon your relationship with the service provider, but a gift is always appreciated.  An extra envelope with cash is an option and often the preferred one.  However, depending upon the person a more personal gift may be well received. For instance, I often give wine to people who I know enjoy it.  Just think about his or her likes and dislikes when selecting a gift.  

We are conveniently located in Schaumburg. Our  Hair Salon in Schaumburg is on Wise Road near Mitchell Blvd. Please stop by or call us today for an appointment or hair consultation.

847-895-4447

Schaumburg postal codes we serve: 60159, 60168, 60173, 60179, 60192, 60193, 60194, 60195, 60196.

Schaumburg Area Codes we serve:847, 630, 312, 773, 224, 815,708,309, 217, 618,   

Towns near Scaumburg we serve: Addision, Arlington Heights, Barrington, Bartlett, Batavia, Bensenville, Bloomingdale, Buffalo Grove, Carol Stream, Carpentersville, Crystal Lake, Deerfield, Des Plaines Downers Grove, Dundee, Elgin, Elk Grove Village, Elmhurst, Geneva, Glendale Heights, Itasca, Mount Prospect, Naperville, Niles, Oak Brook,  Palatine, Propect Heights, Rolling Meadows, Roselle, Saint Charles, South Elgin, Streamwood, Wood Dale.

General
A healthy lifestyle will mean healthier hair for you. Excessive stress, smoking, not exercising and not eating nutritiously are not healthy for your hair.

Get enough sleep.

Hair Products (Gel, mouse, hair spary...)
Avoid using hair styling products with alcohol which dries out hair.

Avoid puting hair styling products directly on your scalp, if you put it on your scalp you'll clog the pores on your head.

Swimming
Before entering a pool, wet your hair so your hair will soak up the initial water instead of the chlorinated water.

When swimming where a cap to protect your hair from chlorinated water, if you choose not to wear a cap make sure you shampoo and condition your hair right after you are done swimming.

Drying
Hot air can be damaging to your hair so when using a hair dryer use the cool setting.

Don't leave the blowdryer in one spot for more than a few seconds, keep it moving and at a good distance away from your hair.

To speed up the drying process, pat your hair dry with a towell and let the remaining moisture in your hair dry naturally.

Gently use your fingers or a pick to untangle any knots while your hair is drying.

Combing/Brushing
Use a brush whose bristles are made from natural animal hairs, it is softer and more flexible which means less damage will be done to your hair.

Hair is most fragile when it is wet so avoid brushing or combing when it's wet, or else it will cause breakage, wait until your hair is almost completely dry before brushing it.

Use brushes/combs with widely spaced bristles/teeth and smooth tips. Sharp tooth combs can damage your hair, cause split ends, and scratch your scalp.

To keep your brushes and combs clean, wash them weekly using soap or shampoo.

Comb your hair to remove any tangles before brushing it.

Begin by combing your hair gently at the ends to get any tangles out and work your way up to the base of your hair.

Always brush/comb with a downwards stroke.

Avoid using plastic brushes/combs which create static electricity

Shampooing and Conditioning
Buy shampoos & conditioners that match your hair type, trial and error is the best way to find out what specific hair product is best for your hair.

Shower with warm water, hot water can dry and/or irritate the scalp.

It is important to wash your hair, shampooing removes dirt, dead skin cells, hair oils, any hair products you may put into your hair.

When shampooing, rinse your hair out before applying any shampoo to remove any dust, dirt, and any other foreign items, then apply the shampoo onto your scalp and massage it gently with your finger tips and work your way outwards. After you are done make sure that you thouroughly rinse out your hair to remove any shampoo residue that may be left. Shampoo residue may dry your scalp/hair and or attract dirt. It is recommended that you only lather once to avoid drying your hair out, if you have oily hair, lathering again may stimulate your oil glands to create even more oil than normal.

You should wash your hair as often as you feel necessary to keep it clean, but a general rule is for oily hair you should wash it every day or every other day and for dry hair only wash it 2-3 times a week.

Try rotating the shampoo and conditioner periodically, your hair responds differently to different products.

Use a conditioner after shampooing, it'll moisturize your hair, give it extra protection, add shine, reduce static, and makes it easier to untangle.

Use a leave in conditioner, it'll hydrate and protect your hair. A leave in conditioner on your hair is the equivalent of moisturizer on your face.

When conditioning your hair, try to spread conditioner evenly through out your hair and leave it in for a couple of minutes before rinsing out your hair.

Put the conditioner in at about an inch away from the scalp, the roots of your hair contain the most oils and usually don't need the extra conditioning.

Be gentle when shampooing and conditioning, don't use excessive force rubbing your hair, remember hair is most vunerable when wet.