Hair salon etiquette, from tipping the owner to washed hair

Good salon etiquette is simple: tip 15% to 20%, owners included, tip the assistant who shampoos you separately, arrive with clean hair free of heavy product, and say plainly what you want. To book a haircut or hair color at OLLIN Beverly Hills, call (424) 204-9095.

Do you tip the owner of a salon if they cut your hair?

Yes, tip a salon owner who cuts or colors your hair the same 15% to 20% as any stylist. The old rule said owners take no tip, but that custom has faded. A stylist who rents a chair or a suite gets the same 15% to 20% from many clients, since they pay their own rent and product out of your bill. See how much to tip at a hair salon.

Do you tip shampoo girl separately?

Yes, tip the assistant who shampoos your hair separately from your stylist, so the money reaches the person who did that work. Guides suggest $3 to $5 for a shampoo, and up to $10 when the same person also blow-dries you or helps through a long service. Hand it to them in cash, or ask at checkout how a card tip reaches them.

Why do you tip a hairdresser?

You tip a hairdresser because gratuity makes up a large part of what a stylist takes home. Many stylists work on commission or rent their chair, paying for color, tools, insurance and rent themselves, often with no health plan or paid sick days. In the United States the usual tip is 20% of the pre-tax service price.

Is it better to tip a hairdresser in cash?

Yes, cash is usually the better way to tip a hairdresser, because it reaches the stylist the same day and in full. A tip added to a card carries a processing fee, often 2% to 3%, that the stylist or the salon absorbs. A card tip is still fine if you carry no cash; the amount matters more than the method.

Do people tip hairdressers anymore?

Yes, people still tip hairdressers in the United States, and 15% to 20% remains the expected range when a stylist works for a salon. What has shifted is the mood: higher prices and tipping fatigue have some clients tipping less or skipping it. The norm holds because tips still make up a major part of a stylist's take-home pay.

Do hairdressers prefer washed or unwashed hair?

Most hairdressers prefer hair that is clean but not freshly washed, though it depends on the service. For color, hair washed a day or two before is the usual ask, as long as dry shampoo and hairspray stay off. For a haircut, arrive styled the way you normally wear it, so the stylist sees your part and how it falls. For a keratin treatment or extensions, ask when you book, because some need freshly washed hair.

What not to do before going to the salon?

Don't load your hair with dry shampoo, oil or hairspray on the day, and don't color it at home in the weeks before. Box dye and home bleach change how salon color takes, as our guide to salon versus box hair dye explains, so tell your colorist about all of it. Skip a turtleneck, arrive on time, and bring a few photos of the hair you want.

What not to say to your hairdresser?

Avoid "do whatever you want" and "just a trim", because neither gives your stylist anything to measure. Say the length in inches, or show where the ends should sit. Don't expect a celebrity's exact hair on your texture and starting color, don't hide box dye or past bleach, and don't save a big change, like bangs, until the cut is nearly done.

Why do hairdressers not do what you ask?

Usually a hairdresser changes a request because you pictured different things, or because your hair can't safely get there in one appointment. "Short" and "a few inches" mean different lengths to different people, curls shrink once cut, and taking dark or box-dyed hair to platinum in one sitting can break it. A good stylist explains the change first. If that never happened, say so and ask for a plan; wrong color is what color correction is for.

Why do some polite habits annoy a hairdresser?

Some polite habits annoy a hairdresser because they get in the way of precision. Turning your head to face the stylist while you chat shifts the line of a cut, and lifting your head at the shampoo bowl to help makes the rinse harder, not easier. The biggest is saying "it's fine" when you aren't happy, because a problem is far easier to fix in the chair than after you leave.

Is it rude to not talk to your barber?

No, it is not rude to stay quiet during a haircut, and most barbers and stylists are glad to follow your lead. A short, friendly answer, then closing your eyes or reading, tells them you'd like quiet. A still head even makes for a cleaner haircut. Do speak up about length, shape and anything uncomfortable.

To book, call (424) 204-9095, or text (323) 804-8011 for urgent hair needs. We're at 8912 W Olympic Blvd, open Tuesday to Saturday, 7am to 6pm. Book at OLLIN Beverly Hills →