New to states. Tipping is confusing? Just had a good haircut cost $50 should I have tipped? Whats expected?

Question

Australian guy now living in Chicago. Wanting to do the right thing. Just confused.

Answer 1

In the US, only employees - never business owners - are entitled to tips. If the salon owner cut your hair, no tip was necessary. If it’s just a random chair renter (employee of the salon), then you should tip. That renter doesn’t make much of the $50 you paid, so they’re relying on that tip to get by.

Tipping is something you’ll usually only do in a restaurant. There’s a debate about tipping a bartender, but I find that once you tip them for your first drink, you get better service after.

10% tip sends the message that you weren’t impressed with your service.
15% tip means their work was adequate, but not above & beyond.
20% tip says that you were extremely pleased with the service.

I have never left a restaurant without tipping, but some will if they’re incredibly dissatisfied.

Answer 2

If you are happy with the service then 20% is normal here is the USA. I did see a guy pay for a $70 haircut and pay that with his card then hand the stylist a $1 tip. He looked great but I bet he won't look so good if he goes back to her.
I usually tip a little more at this time of year as it is Christmas after all.
I'm British and still getting used to the tip thing here too. I'm just glad my American husband explained the situation to me.

Answer 3

Tip however much you feel.

The "norm" is 20%, but if the service sucks you can tip less or not at all. If the service is great, tip accordingly.

IMO no matter what my haircut cost, I'd tip $2-3 average. Sometimes more, sometimes less.

Answer 4

Answers above are correct. Tip about 20% for someone who did you a service (the person who cut your hair, brought you food/drink, parked car, etc).

However, I have refused to tip people if their service was really bad or if they were rude or something. But only in extreme cases, which is rare.

Answer 5

Tipping is usually between 15% to 20%, or higher if you are very generous.

Here's how: Take $50.00. Move the decimal point over to the left one place: $5.00. This is 10% of $50.00.

Now if you would like to tip 15%, then divide $5.00 in half to get $2.50. Add $5.00 and $2.50 to get $7.50. (10% plus 5%)

If you would like to tip 20%, then double the $5.00 to make $10.00.

There, that's your math lesson for today. Class is dismissed!