Ladies: Do you give your hair stylist a holiday tip?

No because I tip her all year.

No. I tip every time I get some sort of service.

I’m no lady, but recently I encountered an unusual tip situation. I tried a new massage therapist, and he told me beforehand that I didn’t need to tip him because he doesn’t pay for his space at the yoga facility. I wound up tipping him anyway because he did such a good job and was so reasonably priced.

I tip mine every time I get the job done, but I was wondering if people give a larger “holiday” tip at holiday time.

I always did, usually separate from my last tab (plus customary tip) of the year. Usually I would send or hand-deliver a greeting card with a note of thanks and a pretty substantial bonus tip. One year I made an elaborate presentation of it, with a little stocking and candies and crisp cash rather than a check.

However, the year before last, he didn’t think to mention the Christmas tip until my first appointment of the new year, late in January (“Did I ever thank you for the check?”), and last year there was no acknowledgment at all, not a phone call or a note or a belated word or anything. He cashed the check fast enough, though.

So—no bonus tip this year.

I’ve been with this person for many years, and we have a warm relationship. I also try to remember not to antagonize someone who’s { holding the scalpel | drilling my teeth | cutting or coloring my hair | engaging in any other business that’s risky for me }. But I’m the customer. I gave him a gift. He didn’t value it enough to say a single word to me. I have other uses for the money.

Mine comes to my house. I buy her a present each year. Then I don’t tip her throughout the year. She wouldn’t accept it if I tried. So a lovely present says thank you to her for keeping me looking pretty.

On the news today, they are recommending the cost of the service as a holiday tip. For me, a $55 color would mean she gets a $55 holiday tip.

Holy crap. No. I’m annoyed the news put that out there.

Yeah it makes me glad my last appointment was Thanksgiving weekend and next appointment is after New Year’s.

I went in for color and a slight trim yesterday. I tipped the young person who does the shampoo, and I tipped the woman who sweeps the floor and runs the laundry, but I didn’t tip the stylist more than the usual 20%.

Now I have to go back because I see that my hair is at least an inch shorter on one side than the other. The shorter side is definitely cut and not just trimmed. This has never happened before, and it’s a big setback in the slow growing-out process because it takes me back a couple of years. It’s no longer on the short side of “long.” It’s back to being on the long side of “short.” I’m feeling very frustrated with that, and having to go through the awkward in-betweens all over again, but there’s no choice but to even it off.

This has no relevance to the tipping amount because (a) the deed was done before I paid the tab, and (b) he couldn’t know whether the card and check are still coming. But it does make me especially conscious of being at his mercy.

Yes, $50 every December. I give the same amount to my newspaper delivery guy, manicurist, postman, and animal sitter. I don’t think that $1 per week is excessive for saying, “I appreciate all that you do for me throughout the year. Thank you.”