I need some advice. I have been going to the same hair stylist for over 20 years. She is very good and my hair always looks fabulous when she cuts it. I don't go to her as often as I should because her haircuts are about $55 (which is a lot of money for me every 6 weeks). I think she's totally worth it, I just can't afford it as much as I would like. In addition to cutting hair at a salon, she recently started cutting hair in her home. I am going to see her at her house soon and she told me at my last appointment at the salon she charges $35 for an in-home cut. In the past, I would pay $55 for a cut and then give her a $10 tip. Again I think she's worth every penny, but what I'm wondering is when I get my hair cut at her house and I give the $35 right to her, how much am I expected to tip? Can I just do $5? I'm assuming almost all of the $35 will go right to her, whereas some of the money from the $55 cut at the salon probably goes to rental fees and other salon expenses. I don't want to seem like a cheapskate, but it would be nice to save a little money.
You are already saving twenty dollars, so if you don't tip her the same, I think it would offend her. The ten dollar tip was for her "good work" and now anything less would seem to be saying "you are worth less now". She will still be doing the same good quality work for you.
I always cut my own hair (all one length), so I am definitely not an expert in this field. I am only looking at it from a relationship viewpoint.
I would recommend at least 20%
Don't cheap out on your tip, she is already giving you a deal.
First off a stylist that you know and like is a hard thing to come by and when you find one you truly have to value them. With that said....
The question is, does she have a licensed salon in her home or just doing it on the side? If it is a licensed salon meaning she has a individual salon license as well as a cosmetologist license then yeah I would probably say keep your tip the same. If she is just doing it on the side for extra cash and does not have an in home licensed salon then techniqually one is not able to really state a price (by law) however I know that doing hair on the side is extremely common for stylists. Typically whatever they quote as a price is what they are expecting. Tipping does show that you do in deed value her so I think you could totally start tipping $5 and be just fine. Keep in mind at the salon her profit is not 100% in home it is. I have experience with this because I get my hair done at home by a stylist and am a stylist myself.
I think it would be appropriate to cut your tip a little, but not in half. Although you are right about where the money goes to (not all to her), she is doing a service by allowing you to come into her home. Even if you tipped her the entire $10 still, you are still saving $20/cut. That is a huge difference! You want her to keep doing a great job with your hair and you have a lot of history with her. $5 to me isn't worth messing that up.
I would suggest you continue to pay the same $10 tip. Even if she's cutting at home and getting more of the money for herself (hence the lowered cost of a cut) she still has some overhead. The tip is a gift to show your thanks; cutting it in half, I think, would indicate you are less grateful and might lead her to believe you are not satisfied with her service.
If you truly appreciate her, show her, and be grateful for getting the cut for $20 less. You're still saving money.
