Do you give Christmas gifts to your hair dresser?

[Ima Facultiwyfe]

We recently had a "tipping" thread. But, this has never been covered. I'd like your opinions. Am I all wet here?

Every Christmas or on each of their birthdays, clients flock into the salon where I have my hair done and giddily shower the manicurists and hair dressers with gifts. They just pile their loot up behind their chairs , I think for "show" so everyone will know it's a birthday and feel guilty if they don't fall in line. They smile sweetly and say thank you. Not a single "Oh you shouldn't have," even. Like they expect presents just because.

I've been going to the same place for fifteen or twenty years. Never have I ever been "worked in" or given any special treatment, even in an "emergency". I always tip generously whether it's the owner or not. I imagine most of the clients there do the same. On one or two occasions over time if I have missed an appointment, I paid them for their time anyway since I know they lose when there are "no shows". My question is why do people think they should give gifts to these people they already tip all year long? They do a good job and we pay for it. It's not like they are friends or anything.

One year the gas station where we always go sent us a small poinsettia, thanking us for doing business with them. I can understand businesses doing something to show appreciation of their loyal clientele. After all, we don't have to go there in the first place. But what do we OWE these people because we give them our business? What am I missing here? Am I a Scrooge? This year I think I'll give donations to Habitat in their names. Bet they'll love that! Bless their hearts.
Love, Ima (Andy Rooney) Facultiwyfe

[CathyCA]

I may have covered this in the tipping thread, or not. . .

I do not tip my hairdresser throughout the year. In November of each year, I add an extra $100 to my check to her as an annual tip. She can then take that extra money and enjoy some Christmas shopping. If I'd spread the tip out over the year, she wouldn't even notice it, but doing one big tip right before Thanksgiving makes a difference, and she notices it.

Giving her ridiculous little gifts for her birthday and Christmas? I'll do that for her when she does that for me! My loyal business and my referrals ought to be enough to make her happy.

[windsor]

I tip well every 6 weeks. I think I should be the one getting the Xmas gift, not Daniel

My mother happens to use the same guy...she usually brings him cookies ...she lives alone but still feels the need to make 50 or 60 dozen cookies at a minimum every year so she has cookies to spare.

When I was invited to the commitment cermony between he and his partner I brought a small gift because that was outsidet he scope of our business relationship.

[IowaDevil]

I am so grateful to my hairdresser for saving the world from my "real" hair color that I tip and give gifts at every opportunity! She is a magician for sure!

[windsor]

I am so grateful to my hairdresser for saving the world from my "real" hair color that I tip and give gifts at every opportunity! She is a magician for sure!

I no longer know/remember what my REAL hair color is.

[Very Duke Blue]

I used to own a beauty hair salon. I treated my customers like each one was special when at all possible. I donn't think your gal deserves a present. GMO.

[TillyGalore]

I love my hairdresser, and tip her well throughout the year. I actually tip her the rate for a new customer, even though she doesn't charge me that price. I don't give her presents for Christmas or her birthday.

[Devil in the Blue Dress]

I went to the same hair stylist in Durham for 25+ years. We became good friends and I followed him to each location as he moved about in his career. He also did my sister's hair when she lived there and now does my niece's hair..... he was the first one to cut her hair when she was itty bitty.

I gave him generous tips when he did my hair. Once in a while we'd set up my appointment just before or after his lunchtime and I'd take a picnic lunch as a special treat ..... that was after I retired and had time to do it. But we never got into gift giving for holidays or birthdays.... didn't need to!

Where I live now, I've had three hair stylists in less than 10 years. I give generous tips, but no gifts.

[CameronBornAndBred]

I always give the person cutting my hair $5, but since it's rarely the same person every time then it would be goofy to give them a present.

Quick question to Cathy...I see where you are coming from with the $100, and I think that's a cool idea, but what if you get hit by a meteor in November? Then she's outta luck. (Please don't get hit by any meteors.)

[Ima Facultiwyfe]

OK. So the consensus seems to be that unless you and your hairdresser consider yourselves "friends" and he/she reciprocates in kind, a gift is not necessarily in order. As Trump would say, "It's not personal. It's just business." I'm not gonna feel guilty anymore.
Love, Ima

[CathyCA]

I always give the person cutting my hair $5, but since it's rarely the same person every time then it would be goofy to give them a present.

Quick question to Cathy...I see where you are coming from with the $100, and I think that's a cool idea, but what if you get hit by a meteor in November? Then she's outta luck. (Please don't get hit by any meteors.)

She'll just have to be satisfied with the $95 I pay her every 6 weeks. And I guess she won't send flowers to my funeral.

[captmojo]

No. My Mom was my hairdresser up until the time she just said, "That's it! I've had enough. Besides, all my customers are dying off." The First Mate does it now, but for several months it appears as though nobody does it anymore.
Mom used to put out 'customer favors' in her shop. These were cheap trinkets (brushes, hair sprays, combs, etc) she bought wholesale in bulk for this purpose. I can honestly say she never expected anything in return, with the exception of loyalty from her customers. They were. Besides, it's too hard to get accustomed to a new circle of gossip girls. So they got a refresher of their personal 'Helmethead', paid for the service and drove away happy. See'ya next week.
Can you tell I grew up in that shop?
I'm not

Speaking for Mom, no gifts or tips were ever expected.

[DevilWearsPrada2.0]

I always give the person cutting my hair $5, but since it's rarely the same person every time then it would be goofy to give them a present.

Quick question to Cathy...I see where you are coming from with the $100, and I think that's a cool idea, but what if you get hit by a meteor in November? Then she's outta luck. (Please don't get hit by any meteors.)

She'll just have to be satisfied with the $95 I pay her every 6 weeks. And I guess she won't send flowers to my funeral.

I always TIP service people. They work long hours, evenings and weekends. Not all hairdressers make a good income. The chain salons like Super Cuts or Sprots Cuts are NOT the high End AVEDA salons or privately owned salons. If you go to the same HairDresser all year, a nice Christmas gift card or Baked goods are always welcome! Generally, at most salons, the Hairdressers leave the GOODIES brought to them, out for all the clients to enjoy.

$95 every 6 weeks! Depends what Salon you go to. That could be a wash, cut and blow dry. Other salons, that might simply be a Highlight retouch on short hair (No Cut). And if the $95, is inclusive of Highlight color, wash, cut, blow dry and style........ Thats a Bargain at a good salon.

TIP after every service, no matter how large or small. So many Service people are on a "Weekly Rental" vs Employee Commission basis. They are self employed (1099) with No guarantee or benefits.

Please TIP your BARTENDER and SERVER well!!!

[CathyCA]

I contend that every service person should be tipped handsomely. Especially lawyers.

[Very Duke Blue]

I contend that every service person should be tipped handsomely. Especially lawyers.

[Ima Facultiwyfe]

......and housewives. Yeah. Especially housewives.

Love, Ima

[lawgrad91]

I contend that every service person should be tipped handsomely. Especially lawyers.

[devildeac]

I think I have received 2 tips in my professional career (outside of don't take any wooden nickels or don't eat the yellow snow): 1. $100 from an elderly gentleman a couple years ago for an extraordinarily long explanation of his abnormal heart rhythm. 2. $0.25 x4 from another elderly gentleman so I could afford a Mc Donald's coffee (any size!) after he found out about my 2nd daughter's wedding in October and I showed him my empty pockets during one of his recent office visits .

Of course, we get an occasional plant, baked good or fancy candy assortment for our contiued outstanding care .