Rethinking Tipping in Haircare
A conversation for clients and stylists
Let’s talk about tipping. Why is Frenchie’s a non-tipping salon? What does it mean for you as a client—and for stylists?
From the beginning, Frenchie’s was created with two core goals:
To offer hairstylists a stronger, more sustainable career path.
To elevate the client experience to a new standard.
Every decision we make—from pricing to service systems—is rooted in these goals, not just for today but for long-term relationships and business sustainability.
Tipping Today: Generosity or Guilt Trip?
When we asked potential clients about their experiences around pricing and service, one topic kept coming up: tipping. For many, tipping felt awkward, confusing, or even pressure-driven.
This led us to ask:
Are clients tipping out of habit, obligation, or true appreciation?
Does tipping actually support stylist growth and career development?
What we found was eye-opening—many clients view tipping as a source of anxiety rather than gratitude, and its impact on stylists’ long-term success is minimal at best.
A Brief History of Tipping
To understand tipping better, we explored where it came from. Here's a quick snapshot:
17th-century England: Tipping began as a way for the wealthy to bribe servants for better treatment (Segrave, 1998).
Post-slavery U.S.: Employers used tipping to justify not paying newly freed Black workers fair wages (Sallet, 1926).
Canada: Adopted tipping culture from the U.S., unlike countries such as Japan, Australia, and many in Europe, where tipping is rare or even discouraged.
Today: Research shows tipping is more about social norms than service quality (Lynn, 2018).
What is always a part of the Frenchie’s Experience?
At Frenchie’s, professional pricing is designed to reflect the full value of a stylist’s work. No hidden costs. No guilt tips.
Here’s what’s included in every visit:
Customized consultations
High-level technical skill
Scalp and hair health analysis
Personalized care and long-term style planning
Homecare coaching and maintenance scheduling
You're not tipping for extra effort—it’s already built into the quality of service and pricing
The $10 Tip Trap
Let’s break it down:
If you tip $10 every 6 weeks, that’s roughly $90–$100 a year. Even if that money goes into savings, the average Canadian interest rate (~1.5%) doesn't keep up with Canada’s 3% inflation rate (Ratehub, 2025; Bank of Canada, 2025).
So not only does that money lose value over time, but it also doesn't meaningfully support your stylist’s growth.
Instead of tipping out of tradition, ask:
“How can I best invest this $10 in my hair’s journey?”
Smart Spending > Social Pressure
Imagine using that $10 to:
Upgrade to professional homecare that protects your color and strengthens your strands
Come in more frequently for trims or scalp therapy
Add a treatment that supports your long-term goals
The result:
Healthier hair, better results, and a stronger client-stylist partnership. You become your own walking advertisement—and your stylist grows because you’re investing in real, lasting outcomes.
Mutual Growth: You & Your Stylist
Your hair results are about 60% what we do in the salon and 40% how you care for it at home and return for maintenance. When you invest in both, you help your stylist deliver the best results possible. You both win.
And if you truly love your stylist/salon?
💛 Shout about them.
Tell everyone, maximize our referral program for your benefit and your friends and families.
($25 towards your first cut or color service; and $25 towards to your next service. It banks up!)
Leave a Google review.
Tag your salon/stylist when you are having a great hair day in your selfie.
This Is Bigger Than Tipping
This is about redefining value. It’s about trust, care, and long-term results—on both sides of the chair
References
Bank of Canada. (2025). Inflation Calculator and Current Rate Trends. https://www.bankofcanada.ca
Lynn, M. (2018). Gratuities and tipping: A guide to the research. Handbook of Hospitality Marketing Management, 517–534. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315675213-34
Lynn, M. (2018). How motivations for tipping vary with occupational differences in descriptive tipping norms. Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics, 77, 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socec.2018.08.001
Ratehub. (2025). Best High Interest Savings Accounts in Canada. https://www.ratehub.ca
Sallet, R. T. (1926). Tipping: An American social history. The Century Co.
Segrave, K. (1998). Tipping: An American social history of gratuities. McFarland & Company