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Tip your barber?

Not to derail, but the food service industry is trying to push the 20% standard. Sorry, if the minimum tip expected is 20%, with good service going higher, I just won't eat out.

Different strokes for different folks.
My brother has worked in the restaurant biz his whole working career. So, I've been taught to always tip 20%.
Regarding the article: Its true, I feel embarrassed to leave a 10% tip, but definitely obligated to tip something no matter how crappy the service is. Usually I reserve a 10% tip for crappy service.
 
Do you tip your barber in the USA?
Wanted to get people's take on the matter. Do you settle your bill and hand over more money for a tip?

I've tipped at large shops where the person cutting my hair was not the owner/operator.
I have and haven't tipped at small shops where the owner cut my hair; it depends on whether I'm coming back or not.
I tip at the place I'm currently going to because I feel he doesn't charge enough for a haircut given the location.

How much do you usually tip if any?

I live in NYC, rent is high and its a tough business. I always tip my barber. and bartender. I lived in Spain for 2 years and was amazed at how they never tip their bartenders. anyhow, my haircut runs $15. I pay $20. My barber knows me and takes the time to detail my cut and create a great experience. He knows I walk in there stressed and I want to leave unstressed and feeling clean, smooth, good and peaceful. He knows I value my cut. he does a quick pass with his wahl electric razor to shave me, uses quality aftershave and has frequent moments of great conversation. what more could you want?
 
I always tip at least $3.00, $4.00 or S5.00 if I tell him I am going somewhere important (he does a fine job anyway) $5.00 at holidays.
 
I do miss my old barber place growing up.
Friday nite and all the guys are ready to hit the clubs or bars. All the barbershops are packed. my old local place, owned by an old friend from highschool, had a play station hooked up for basketball games, an ipod for song requests, a lounge area witha small pool table. Johnnie Walker Red flowing on a Friday nite. It was an awesome place. only in Queens, NYC, lol.
 
I go to two different barbers. One I tip one I don't. The one I don't is because I clean up and hone razors for him in exchange for a hair cut.
 
I always tip at least $3.00, $4.00 or S5.00 if I tell him I am going somewhere important (he does a fine job anyway) $5.00 at holidays.
My barbers have a funny saying when folks come in and say "make me look good, I have a big meeting today"
My guys usually respond with something like "You know what? I'll make you look just as good as if you were going to your own funeral. I give every client my best haircut."
 

Toothpick

Needs milk and a bidet!
Different strokes for different folks.
My brother has worked in the restaurant biz his whole working career. So, I've been taught to always tip 20%.
Regarding the article: Its true, I feel embarrassed to leave a 10% tip, but definitely obligated to tip something no matter how crappy the service is. Usually I reserve a 10% tip for crappy service.
I had 2 tall Coors at BWW last night, total was $7 and change, I tipped $5. If i would have ordered food i would have stuck with the 20% but I felt like I had to give a good tip to make it worth while for the server and myself.
 
The last time I went to a barbershop was five years ago before I "semi-retired" (now my hair is shorter and my wife cuts it with clippers and it looks fine). I went to this particular lady barber for 10+ years and I always tipped around 25% of the total. At Christmas, she got a $25 Starbucks card from me. She always took her time with me and made sure everything was just so and I never left the shop feeling any less than great. I hated to stop patronizing her, but retirement means compromises in lifestyle and she fully understood. After my last haircut from her, I have her a $20 and a big hug and we both were a little teary eyed.

If I went to one of those 15 minute fast cut places where you never see the same barber twice, I would probably tip a couple of bucks just to keep them from stabbing me with the scissors on the way out the door.
 
My barber charges $15 and I pay $20. He takes his time...does a good job....and lines me up with a straight razor.
 
Blimey, I'm coming to the US for a haircut. Mine is SGD26 a time and I give her an extra SGD2 from the change (so almost USD23)...
 
I always give him a extra 5 .. It's a real barbershop and if he is not busy I hang around for a extra 10 minutes and shoot the bull.
 
Barbers in my area charge $13 for a haircut, I usually give them $15.

Same here. There is a good bit of variety in haircut methods depending on whether I go to a more traditional barber or something closer to a supercuts (I don't recall the actual name). Where some mostly cut with electric clippers and others mostly cut with scissors. There is one guy who uses something like Parker SR1 to sculpt the hair but he is always busy with customers, so I rarely see him. I think my tip should be different depending on the effort and outcome but sadly I usually give 2-4 extra regardless of time spent cutting my hair or the outcome.
 
The Barbers I go to charge $14 for long hair (I only got once every 4-6 months). I give $20, and even if I do go often enough so that it is $12, I will give $20. I want them to know I appreciate it. The place doesn't smell, they don't chat me up non-stop, they are sometimes super fast and still give awesome quality. Also, I figure they might be slightly less likely to Sweeney Todd me if they are having a bad day.

Even when I made the 45 minute long journey each way to get my hair cut at my childhood barbers (original owner was dead, it was bought by the two girls who worked for him), I gave them decent tips until they started to turn salon-ish.

Ah, when I went to Super-cuts or Fantastic Sams, I didn't give tips. I usually walked out bleeding slightly, or with horrible hair and I don't pay for pain. The one time I went to a salon with my sister, it cost me $30 for a standard males haircut, and I walked out feeling sick from the smell of chemicals. No tip for them.
 
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I had a haircut at Supercuts once. I didn't feel a tip should be given. It would be like tipping at a supermarket. Just the way the setup made me feel.
 
I've been going to the same place for twenty years. Nice bunch of old school barbers. In fact, they're a dying breed. Two have passed away in that time. I've been going so long, I'm not even sure what they charge. I think maybe $13-14? I give him $25 and feel good about supporting a local business.

The conversation is good, he never rushes the job, he always fits me in and straight shaves the back of my neck. I always walk out feeling a little better about humanity.
 
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