Salon Ettiquette

[blaze2242]

I am going to a nice salon for a hair cut for the first time, I usually go more the 'super cuts' route or just trim it myself... Anyways, do I wash my hair before going to salon, or will the stylist do it for me? Will she charge me extra to do it? Should my hair be dry when I arrive at the salon if I wash it first? I am so clueless! Help please?!

Comments

[lux_roark]

Anytime I've gone to a salon I went with unwashed hair and it would be washed for me. I've never been charged extra for it, they just include it in the price of the haircut.

[lea724]

Don't wash your hair beforehand, they'll wash it for you.

If your stylist washes your hair, it won't cost extra, and then you tip her as you normally would when you pay, but if somebody else washes your hair, then you need to tip both that person and your stylist when you pay at the end.

The only exception to that rule would be if the person who washes or cuts your hair is the owner of the salon. Then you don't tip. (I know people vary on this topic of tipping the owner, but I've always been taught that you don't tip the owner)

[loolica]

I'm curious about this not tipping the owner bit. I know a few people who feel this way and I would LIKE to feel this way but I'm afraid to be in the minority! A friend and I go to the same stylist; she owns the salon and charges $20 more than the other stylists. Neither of us want to tip (because she's the owner and because she already charges more) but neither of us feel like it's appropriate not to. I'd love to know where the majority of people come down on this.

I hate tipping. It gives me so much anxiety! I wish people would just charge exactly how much they want and restaurants would pay their staff a living wage.

[mirhanda]

The reason you don't is that if you do you're basically telling the owner they are so bad at business they can't make a living from running their business so you're giving them a bit of charity to help them out. It's insulting!

[loolica]

Ah, interesting. The rationale I have heard is (a) they set their own prices and so can charge whatever they really want and (b) if it's a bigger place, they are also getting all the profits from the business.

[punk_is_so_dead]

The stylist usually washes it. It doesn't cost extra. If they blowdry it, it often does cost extra though.

[tisiphone]

Most nicer places do wash your hair for you, then dry and style it when you're done, so you don't need to wash your hair before you go. If you do decide to wash it first, it is best to blow dry it.

[loolica]

Most places will wash your hair for you. Most I've been to also dry it and it's all included in the price. The only places I've seen where they charge more for washing and drying is when it's a very cheap cut to begin with. However, I don't get a "blow out" (I think it's called?) where the stylists blows it dry and pulls it straight and does a whole thing that takes 15 minutes or more.

Having said that, I pretty much never leave the house without washing my hair, so I always show up with fresh washed hair, sometimes still damp, since I also don't blow dry. I always tell them it's freshly washed and they wash it anyway. The salon I go to is busy, and it seems to me like washing your hair is part of how they stay on schedule. The stylist is usually finishing up the person ahead of me while they are washing my hair.

[blaze2242]

I'm one of those 'wash every two or three days' types, normally, but today would be my 'wash' day if it were a normal day, hence the asking. The scheduling makes sense though, they probably program that in, and it would throw things off to have a blip in the rhythm.

[clynne]

Part of why they wash it is to get out any product or whatever you might have in your hair. Additionally, a lot of people don't really thoroughly rinse their hair, so there can be shampoo left behind. Washing your hair is the salon's way of ensuring that everyone's hair starts off the same.

But, OP, yes, a nice place will wash and blow dry your hair. They won't charge extra unless you're going in *just* for a wash/dry/blowout or whatever; after all, blowing dry is part of the style. If you're concerned, OP, however, you can call back and ask the receptionist. A reputable business will let you know what all their services are and whether they charge for them.

As for tipping, if you're concerned, just tip 15 - 20% on your way out. Or, again, ask the receptionist what the usual tip is. The thing is, it varies -- around here, you tip on the full service and any assistants/hair washers/etc get tipped out by the stylist, just like bartenders/bus persons in a restaurant.