What is correct etiquette at a hairdressers?

it is awkward to switch to another stylist at the same salon and you have to recognize that if you plan to do it. I think you just have to be upfront but tactful with “Liz” and say I want to see what “X” will do for my hair so I am planning to try her. In the States, it is customary to tip your stylist unless they own the salon, usually about $10 I would say, although that may vary.

I tip my hair stylist around 17–20%, but also add a dollar for washing my hair if they don ,t have a separate person doing the washing. If a separate person does it I give her a couple dollars. For example if my cut is $40 and she washes my hair I give $8—$9 usually.

Switching hairdressers in the same salon can be difficult. I did it once. I always tried to come when I knew the other was not working. My first one only worked part time so it wasn’t very difficult. One day when I showed up for my appointment the first one was there on her day off cutting the hair of her relatives. Oops. I was caught. It was a little uncomfortable for sure. She still was cutting my husband’s hair.

I think we should be able to request any stylist we want. When we first come into a salon we have no idea really what their area of expertize is (each stylist). I suppose doing it diplomatically is the way to go.

I’m sure you will be able to, it’s just whether or not they make you comfortable doing it. Here we call it cheating on our hairdresser when we go somewhere else and we had been seeing the same hairdresser for a long time. It’s said with sarcasm, but there is some truth to how the whole thing feels when you do it.

If they genuinely care about you as a client then they will want you to have a stylist that matches you best. Different stylists have different strengths. As long as you are nice and confident then making the swap shouldn’t be an issue. I would probably go about it in a passive way if it were me. Do you know Liz’s days off? Schedule a cut with the other stylist on her day off. If you like the cut then call or go by and speak to Liz. Acknowledge it’s awkward, but you feel the other stylist is a great choice for your hair type. Thank her for doing a great job and recommend her to a friend.
Stylists understand that women are very loyal to one they like. If you aren’t loyal, she isn’t the right one.

My friend goes to a salon where she, her sister, and their mother were all seeing the owner. I went there a few times and she talked me into going short and I hated it and never went back. My friend recognized that the owner pushes the short hair styles, so she switched to another stylist in the shop when she decided she wanted to go longer again. Sure, it may have hurt the owner’s feelings, but as paying customers, we have the right to choose which service and provider that we want.

A friend of mine recently posted an article about tipping that said that it is old-school to not tip the salon owner anymore, which was a custom that I was always wondering about. I’ve been salon hopping since I moved, as I find it hard to pay $40 plus tax and tip for a mediocre haircut because I have long layers. I’d willingly pay that much or a little more if the cut were exceptional, but the last couple times I’ve done it myself and it looks about the same as I was paying big bucks for.

Maybe this is a bit sneaky, just schedule your next appointment with the new hairdresser on a day that your current hairdresser has the day off. There’s nothing to feel bad in switching your hair stylist because it’s your right to be completely satisfied with a service. Hair appointments are so expensive nowadays so you must get value for your money. Regarding Tipping custom, I tend to tip closer to 10% and that works for me.

@hearkat I also have tipped a little lower the last few haircuts, because I wasn’t thrilled with the job they did. The last time I had highlights done and a cut. I told her to add chunky blond. She added wispy slightly lighter than my natural brown. It’s a good job if I had wanted my hair to look a little kissed by the sun, but I want to really blond it up. Frustrating. When it was done I told her it isn’t very chunky blond, and she pulled me by the arm outside and said come look at it in the sun. Seriously? I’m old, you can’t talk me into what color my hair is and that I should be happy when it isn’t what I asked for. I paid, gave a mediocre tip and left. I’m sure she would have redone it if I went back, but I didn’t bother. The cut was decent at least.

To my mind if you are paying you get to choose, you have every right to ask to see the stylist you want, yes you might feel somewhat uncomfortable but don’t let that stop you.