Tips for Hair Sytlist

My first instinct is to say, yes, offer a small tip because that's what you do with hair stylists. But then, when you think about it, what constitutes a "service" employee. In response to Rae, it makes sense to tip those who offer a service. But there are a lot of other "service" people who do not get tipped. I'm a speech therapist--I don't get tipped. My cousin is a dental hygienist--she doesn't get tipped, and so forth. Why some professionals, and not others? I'm curious what others will have to say.

Tipping a business owner is probably more important. An employee who rents a station pays for that space and that is it. A salon owner pays for all the supplies, Insurance, Phone, her lease on the building, all the overhead, etc... The owner pays out way more than a hairstylist renting a single station and she should be compensated for sure! Just my thoughts. My hairstylist is hurting for money herself, owns the business in Los Gatos as well and I feel for her...she has a little daughter to feed and its my pleasure to make sure she's thanked for making me look like a million bucks so i can make money.

Your logic makes sense. The purpose of tips is to supplement the insufficient wages of service employees. Your stylist is not an employee, she is a business owner.
Of course, if you have the impression she is strapped for cash, it would be kind to be generous if you are able.
Many small business owners have been affected by the recession. But generally, a business owner is not tipped.

I would say yes, because you are tipping for the service. If she gave you a weird cut that looks awfully, dont tip. But if she did an excellent job the way you like it, tip. Because the next you go in there and you don't tip she might not do as good as a job you would like, or if you tip, she might go above and beyond to give you the most incredible hairstyle you ever seen. A tip is just your way of saying thank you for doing a great job