Salon ettiquite (Tipping)

20 years ago

I recently received a $250 gift certificate from my husband for the Red Door Salon at Elizabeth Arden in New York. I plan on using it for a package spa day with a facial, massage, pedicure, manicue, and a haircut, style and blow dry as well as a spa lunch (a day of Beauty, Yeah!) Does anyone know what a tipping schedule would be for all the people involed? I don't want to look like a cheapskate but I have no clue as to what would would be reasonable for a place like that. Please help and advise. Thanks Karen Johnson (the gift certificate was from John-yeah!)

Comments (6)

dedtired
20 years ago
I figure 20 percent of the bill and then divide it among everyone as I think it needs to be. Maybe you can just give 20 percent in one lump sum, but I don't know who you would hand that to.

20 percent is the max for tips and you could probably get away with a bit less.
mitchdesj
20 years ago
Karen, the way I would do it is to evaluate at the end of the day how many services you had and how long the technician was with you..... if you had 4 equal services and had $50 to divy up, then approx. 12$ each would apply.....
Related Discussions
Tipping the Hairdresser who does hair in her home
Q
Comments (9)
She did your hair as a stylist and tipping isnt generally decided by who owns the business but by percentage or appreciation. Ive never understood that whole take on not tipping the owner. i jist always tip whoever provided the service. as far as it being from her home. I can see thr point that her overhead is cheaper but does that mean that in a retail space if the landlord gave her a break on the rent that the customers should also see that break in their cost? if the work is good and thats what you are paying for it doesnt seem fair to me to not tip for any reason except not being satisfied and if the work she does is good and how you like it who is anyone to say what she can charge? she can charge what she feels like her work is worth and what her clients think its worth . 🤷‍♀️. just my thoughts. i can totally see both sides of the coin
...See More
Yet another tipping question
Q
Comments (9)
I once was told by a salon owner to not tip him. I guess because all of what the owner charges goes to that person (even though they have expenses), but with someone working for the owner - a portion of their income goes to the owner. I tip 20% to my hairstylist and also the massage therapist I go to. I recently went to a new massage therapist and did not have much cash with me that day and I always use my card. I should clarify that both my hairstylist and the massage therapist have card thingies set up in their name - it does not go through the shop. My hairstylist knows to let me add tip to the charge, but the therapist didn't. So on my first visit, she didn't get a tip. I didn't have the correct amount to tip her in cash, and she didn't have change (LOL!!). So, Pesky, the next time I saw her, I simply doubled the tip to make up for the previous visit. She does a fabulous job, works me in, and has done wonders for a shoulder/muscle problem I was having. I usually use my card, unless I know they would prefer cash, but that's simply for my own convenience. tina
...See More
Tip Salon Owner?
Q
Comments (17)
I tip the person that does my hair. The main reason I don't cut hair for a living is because you can't make any money at it in the area I live and I'm not willing to move. My loss. You would fall over if I told you what a cut costs. No, actually you'd want to move near me. :) Failed to really think of that before school. I'd feel like I was ripping them off without a decent tip! If they charged what I thought was outrageous I might not be so quick to do so. "I just wish all tipping would be eliminated everywhere; establish a fair wage for work and charge me for it. No tipping, no bartering, no negotiating, no sales, make life simpler................. how much is this, thank you, goodbye." I agree! When we were on our honeymoon all tips were included in the prices (and for the cost, it darn well should've been) but we felt funny/rude not tipping. We didn't the entire time but most of it. The people were very nice and nobody held a gun to our head but it would be so much easier if there were a set price period. Ha, as I just read over this I guess I don't fully agree with my last paragraph. If I were told I wasn't allowed to tip and I really wanted to because that person was wonderful I would be annoyed. Ah, well. Hopefully someone can make sense of that.
...See More
Speaking of tips - who do you tip at Christmas?
Q
Comments (20)
I won't be tipping anyone this year for Christmas 1. POSTAL Carrier: I did gift something special to Donna who was our only carrier for 20 years. Since she retired last year the rural route I live on now has at least 4 different carriers each week and the mail is delivered more often wrong than right. Tip? I don't think so! 2. TRASH: can pickup man makes $5.35 per hr more and the driver of the truck makes $9.50 more per hr. than I. They also have better benefits. Often I have to chase down the rd for my trash can because it has been tossed down and rolls away down the hill. Tip? I don't think so! 3. HOUSE STAFF/Helpers: YES How much depends on what I can afford a Christmas bonus and a B-day gift. These are people who have been my extra hands for years. 4. STYLIST/manicurist: I tipped each service, so No to holiday tip. I don't have salon services often. My hair nails and such I do myself or we friends and daughters have "gals night" where we help each other, have snacks & drinks and talk, watch movies or whatever. More fun than a night at a bar or the movies. 5. PAPER DELIVERY PERSON: Yes I had a young man for years who delivered regular and everyday. I gave him a nice gift of cash $20-$25 for the Holidays. He had the paper to my front door everyday on time and made sure it would be dry if it rained. When he graduated and moved on a man and wife took over. I got tired of paying for a newspaper and not getting it delivered or wet, tattered, having to search the bushes for it when it was. So now when I want one I go to the store and pick one up. Tip? I don't think so! When someone does regular services for me or goes beyond the expected I try to gift as generously as possible. For many of us the budget this year is slim to say the least. debby_ab said she tipped "because I feel guilted into it." I can understand that sentiment. I have tipped a bad server because I felt guilted into it by the folks I was with. NO MORE, NEVER AGAIN The next time I got a bad server the tip consisted of a pamphlet of "hints and tips" How to Serve Better & Receive a Generous Tip from a Past Server. When you feel that the person deserves a bit of extra, you have the funds available and it feels good to give then by all means do. In these harder times right now don't feel you have to "Holiday tip" because it is customary or others do. Happy Holidays LIL
...See More
nhsuzanne
18 years ago
I just went to a Red Door Salon in Providence, RI and they tacked 20% on to my bill which I thought was kind of inappropriate but what could I do? I would assume that is a policy country wide with Red Door. The services were exceptional so I guess it was worth it!!
danihoney
18 years ago
I realize this is WAY too late but, if this should come up for someone else... check with the salon before you go in (they don't have to know you are the one with the gift certificate) usually when someone buys a package like that the salon adds the tip into the purchase so that the person receiving the services doesn't have to worry about it.

Have fun!
mitchdesj
18 years ago
dani, excellent point. My niece who worked in a salon , told me that people with gift certificates would not tip , they thought it was included so that may be why salons have incorporated the tip in the certificates.
kbucchino
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
The issue with tipping at red door is that the services are so expensive i.e. Just shy of $300 for a 1 hour facial that to add on 20% to that makes it prohibitive to go back - the aesthetician was truly wonderful however and of course I had to tip her because she was great and it's not her fault red door has a poor policy for her salary but for the amount red door charges the customer the tip should already be included. I have been to wonderful spas around the country where an 18% gratuity is included with the cost per service ( and the service costs were actually less then red door pricing ) It was a real turn off when I was asked at my red door check out if I will be using my "card to pay for the tip " For the prices charged the wonderful aestheticians should be paid better by red door spa so they would not need to rely on overcharged customers gratuities for their salary . I will be getting my facials at my dermatogist for now on . And by the way - my family living in Europe laugh at how Americans tip - from taxi drivers to bar tenders to salon services - they are paid a salary and tips are not automatically expected - in Italy you give the taxi driver a " round up " tip" leaving a $10 for a $9.60 fare . Because you already paid for the service as charged . - just saying

Salon ettiquite (Tipping)

Comments (6)

dedtired

mitchdesj

Related Discussions

nhsuzanne

danihoney

mitchdesj

kbucchino

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US