How Much Do You Tip Stylist's Assistant?

Serial Kisser

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I recently switched hair stylists. My new stylist has her own suite in one of those groups of salon suites. She has her own assistant who washed my hair, helped prep highlight foils, and helped with the coloring process.
I have no clue how much to tip the assistant. Let's say my hair was $200. Normally I'd tip my stylist $40. But now that she has an assistant, does the stylist still get the $40 and then I have to tip the assistant additionally? Or would I give the stylist $30 and the assistant $10?

Thanks in advance ladies.
 
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LaFemme

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Well, I’m pretty unaccustomed to stylists with assistants! I live deep in “the neighbourhood”. Lol! My stylist washes my hair himself.

My understanding is that most stylists share their tips with their assistants. Assistant usually get paid a daily rate, while the stylist rents the chair. In big salons, you could have a bunch of people helping with your hair - tipping all of them could be prohibitive. But if you want, a five dollar or so tip would probably be welcome. They are likely working for minimum wage. Extra cash is good. At least, that’s what I understand from my stylist friends. Could be different in your area. Tipping is pretty different in different countries.
 

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Despite working in a couple places with cosmetologists, I have no clue how that works.

but I kinda of know how the salon suite works.
Is it like Phenix suites? Where the stylist rents a room?
If so, I hold that owners charge what they are worth. Employees cannot. (And ICs like myself live in a twilight hell).
So, with an owner in normal times, I would have a minimal tip.
Now? I’m tipping 25 percent or more. But I’m only at a restaurant occasionally.
 

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I'm from the UK and tipping isn't really a thing like it is over there, that said if someone has gone out of their way to be helpful or exceeded my expectations then I'll probably tip them. There's no particular rule for tipping but over here a hairdressers assistant depending on age is probably being paid £9 or £10 an hour, if we got on really well etc I'd probably slip her a fiver which would pay for a drink when she's out.
 
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I'm from the UK and tipping isn't really a thing like it is over there, that said if someone has gone out of their way to be helpful or exceeded my expectations then I'll probably tip them. There's no particular rule for tipping but over here a hairdressers assistant depending on age is probably being paid £9 or £10 an hour, if we got on really well etc I'd probably slip her a fiver which would pay for a drink when she's out.
Omg the UK is the WORST. When I trained, many many many moons ago, you got about £400 a month, you defo did not get £10 an hour! You live on tips and as it’s the UK... no one tips!! Haha, hairdressing is probably the least paid profession out there.
 

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Omg the UK is the WORST. When I trained, many many many moons ago, you got about £400 a month, you defo did not get £10 an hour! You live on tips and as it’s the UK... no one tips!! Haha, hairdressing is probably the least paid profession out there.

Hiya @cherryboom66 :)
Are you still here in the UK hunni?
The national minimum wage here is almost £9 per hour these days unless you're under 18 or something xx
 

cherryboom66

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Hiya @cherryboom66 :)
Are you still here in the UK hunni?
The national minimum wage here is almost £9 per hour these days unless you're under 18 or something xx
Hiya :) I am, hairdressers don’t care about the minimum wage lol. When you’re an assistant you are an apprentice, no matter what your age is and the wage reflects your role x
 

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Hiya :) I am, hairdressers don’t care about the minimum wage lol. When you’re an assistant you are an apprentice, no matter what your age is and the wage reflects your role x
Oh ok, surely staff get at least minimum wage tho hunni as that's the law. Or do you mean working for less and getting cash in hand or something? X
 
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Oh ok, surely staff get at least minimum wage tho hunni as that's the law. Or do you mean working for less and getting cash in hand or something? X

£4.15/hour for apprentices.

*If* the salon keeps it legal.

Apprenticeships = slave labour for unscrupulous employers.

A nearby Subway is advertising for "Apprentice Sandwich Artists" so they can pay someone £4.15 an hour.
 

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Oh ok, surely staff get at least minimum wage tho hunni as that's the law. Or do you mean working for less and getting cash in hand or something? X
@BacknForth explained it perfectly! It’s insane x
 

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Despite working in a couple places with cosmetologists, I have no clue how that works.

but I kinda of know how the salon suite works.
Is it like Phenix suites? Where the stylist rents a room?
If so, I hold that owners charge what they are worth. Employees cannot. (And ICs like myself live in a twilight hell).
So, with an owner in normal times, I would have a minimal tip.
Now? I’m tipping 25 percent or more. But I’m only at a restaurant occasionally.

Yeah, I think it was Phenix suites.
I was only going to tip my stylist, but there was a sign that said if you need to split tips on the credit card, let them know ahead of time? I would assume that the stylist would tip out the assistant, but that sign made me think differently. I did some googling, and it should be a couple of bucks. But I know that my friend who did my hair and her assistant were out of work, so I wanted to support them. I just can't tip like that all the time.
 

Scarletbegonia

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£4.15/hour for apprentices.

*If* the salon keeps it legal.

Apprenticeships = slave labour for unscrupulous employers.

A nearby Subway is advertising for "Apprentice Sandwich Artists" so they can pay someone £4.15 an hour.
That needs to be addressed.
 

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Yeah, I think it was Phenix suites.
I was only going to tip my stylist, but there was a sign that said if you need to split tips on the credit card, let them know ahead of time? I would assume that the stylist would tip out the assistant, but that sign made me think differently. I did some googling, and it should be a couple of bucks. But I know that my friend who did my hair and her assistant were out of work, so I wanted to support them. I just can't tip like that all the time.


Wow, that sign would have made me think differently, too. What's the etiquette in this case, tip 20% of the total to stylist and 20% to assistant?? That seems excessive. And geez, I'd kinda feel like a dick giving 15% to stylist and 5% to assistant.
 
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Yeah, I think it was Phenix suites.
I was only going to tip my stylist, but there was a sign that said if you need to split tips on the credit card, let them know ahead of time? I would assume that the stylist would tip out the assistant, but that sign made me think differently. I did some googling, and it should be a couple of bucks. But I know that my friend who did my hair and her assistant were out of work, so I wanted to support them. I just can't tip like that all the time.
Ok, that looks like they each charge, or if not specified, tips are 50/50, or the percentage on the value of their service (like a facial and a mani/pedi, the tip is percentage of each service)

@TnJ,
Anytime I give in to “someone who isn’t me” holding scissors, I lose at least seven inches of hair.
 

MickeyLee

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Meself and my friends kinda do each others hairs. Most tips are food or craft related. Garden veg and eggs are the top exchange these days.

My Mom always told me at least 5 bucks to the assistant, that's just for the hair wash. If the assistant helps with the cut/dye job the tip goes up. 20 percent to the stylist.

Keep in mind my Mom tips the front desk lady too. We are a tipping people cuz damn the slave wage.
 

MickeyLee

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Ok, that looks like they each charge, or if not specified, tips are 50/50, or the percentage on the value of their service (like a facial and a mani/pedi, the tip is percentage of each service)

@TnJ,
Anytime I give in to “someone who isn’t me” holding scissors, I lose at least seven inches of hair.

This is why my friends cut my hair. Scissor madness!
 
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