Tipping in hair salons (Salon Cu in particular)

[ksushis.livejournal.com]

This Saturday I'm going to get my first haircut in the US (I've been getting them before when I was going home -  across the ocean) and I'm a bit nervous. I'm going to go to Salon Cu following all the recommendations from this community and I was wondering how does the tipping work there. I know that I'm supposed to tip 15-20%, but how do I actually do this? Who do I give the money to and at what point?
Thanks a lot!

Comments

[mizufae.livejournal.com]

normally you can either hand cash directly to the people you wish to tip with a "thanks" or a "this is for you" or you can ask the receptionist if you can leave a tip for people. If you are paying with a credit card you can ask to add the tip to the bill. It's normally good form to give a few dollars to the person who washes your hair, separately. Salons are a little funny and every one is different, so don't feel at all out of place asking how, who, or when to tip.

[ayelle.livejournal.com]

I don't know when the practice changed, or why, but no salon I've been to in the past several years has allowed me to add tip onto the credit card. I've been caught embarrassingly short when I didn't have cash on me.

[mizufae.livejournal.com]

really? i did that just last month. must depend on the salon, though it does make a bit of sense since there is a transaction fee charged by the credit card companies.

[chumbolly.livejournal.com]

It's not the transaction fee--it's taxes. Most people that receive a significant portion of their income through tips always prefer cash as that income is hard to track. In restaurants where I've worked, the waiters would only report enough tip income to get their wage, when combined with the tiny base hourly pay, above minimum wage.

[curiositykt.livejournal.com]

Generally places I've gone have given me receipts like in restaurants, with a line for tip.

[ayelle.livejournal.com]

The receipts nearly always still have the line for tip on them, but the places I've been to have said they can't accept tip that way. I didn't used to be that way. I really don't know why it's different in so many places now.

[ad-lib.livejournal.com]

at salon cu, they don't allow you to tip on the card, which i forget every single time and have to go run across the street to get cash!

[ksushis.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the info, it's good to know. I'll just take cash with me for the tip then.

[joifulgurl.livejournal.com]

i totally agree with the above comment. i generally feel funny about handing cash to my hairdresser (he's usually with another client by the time i pay & get change enough to tip him), so i usually leave it with the receptionist. she has envelopes with each hair dresser's name on it just for this express purpose. :)

[mkwatt.livejournal.com]

At Salon CU, in my experience, usually whoever just did your hair (Carlo, Umberto, or there's also a girl) will ring you up in the end, so I just take care of everything there, ie, I just give Carlo cash + 20%. They also take credit cards, so you can just include the tip in that I believe, though I have been to salons who don't allow you to include the tip in the credit charge, but I think that may have just been abnormal.

[marphod.livejournal.com]

For what its worth, at most mid-to-high end locations, it is almost always appropriate to ask a greeter (receptionist, Maitre d', etc.) what the appropriate method and amount of gratuity is for the location.

[nomacmac.livejournal.com]

Nothing else to add, but wanted to say 'welcome'. I spent the first 23 yrs of my life in SE Minneapolis. After moving here, it took me about 2 years to start calling it 'soda' instead of 'pop'.

[lemononmylips.livejournal.com]

psssshttt. it's ALWAYS pop! stay strong!

[lemononmylips.livejournal.com]

ah! great choice! carlos is amazing and so so friendly. i think i've found my salon.

[ksushis.livejournal.com]

I'm going to see Summer. I want to do highlights and I was told that she's great with that. We'll see, but I've only heard good things about her so far.

[enhf94.livejournal.com]

I see Summer, and I like her a lot! I usually either give her cash when I'm paying the bill or I walk over to the ATM across the street, pull a couple of bills and ask her to make change from that, leaving $x for a tip.

[secretlyironic.livejournal.com]

Sweaty $1 bills tucked into their underwear.... or was that in strip clubs?

[angelpiglet.livejournal.com]

I love Salon Cu
Been going to Umberto since before he & Carlo opened their salon.
You reminded me that I have to make an appointment!
So thanks!