What do you give your hairdresser for Christmas?

Huh, for real? My hairdresser is also a good friend, so I buy her a small gift, but if that wasn't the case I wouldn't buy anything. I honestly had no clue it was the done thing.

I think the tipping thing is way out of control. That being said at Christmas I give my hairdresser and the dogs groomer $50.00 and a bag of homemade caramels. I love my hairdresser, but I don't think I should be expected to give her the amount of a regular service. My husband is a mechanic and he doesn't get tips at Christmas. I don't understand why we should feel like we have to give everyone a tip just because it's Christmas.

My hairdresser also happens to be my cousin's daughter, so I give her a bigger tip (about 40%) and a gift. She loves to travel so this year, I got her this awesome world scratch map

ETA: My typical service is $170 before tip. She's a great hairdresser, but I'd never buy one of my other cousins a $170 gift, so no way am I giving her that much, no matter how much I like her both professionally and personally.

I tipped double (40% instead of 20%) at my hair appointment a week ago. But, I have been seeing this guy for over a year and a half now, I usually haven't found someone I liked that much. He is always on time, easy to make an appointment with, and does a good job. I have never given extra during December before, but it felt right that particular appointment and it was really just a token of appreciation, not a major amount of money. I can't see myself giving the cost of a regular appointment, unless maybe I went monthly and had built more of a personal relationship.

I am debating what to give our house cleaners though. Only been using them since September, but probably will do the value of a cleaning there. It is always the owner and one of her regular employees (only been 2 different ladies), and it does feel like something of a personal relationship ship. I work from home and the owner likes to chat, it is super hard to find someone good and reliable, and I just really appreciate them.

Erm...nothing. She cuts my hair, I pay her, end of relationship.

My business?

I tip 20% year round, my hair requires that I go every 4 weeks for color so I spend a ton of money already. Quite frankly I don't understand why we tip hair dressers at all but I do because that's what is expected. I pay $110 for services that take less than 90 minutes, even if half of that goes to the salon, her hourly rate is still pretty darn good before tip. Her schedule is always full, I sometimes have trouble getting an appointment 4 weeks out.

I think I got a little off track - I don't do any sort of gift for my hairdresser.

I really love my hairdresser and I've been her client for about 6 years. She has gone from owning a salon to renting a booth and I followed her to the new salon. She has become a dear friend even though I am much older (15 years) than she is. I tip her very well at each visit and for Christmas I give her cash in the amount of a full visit - color, cut, and style. I don't feel I have to do it, I just want to do it. She always gives me a product I've wanted to try or something she thinks I could use.

I think gifting is all about what you are comfortable with and what you can afford. Tipping is expected (and should be) but a holiday gift is your option.

Jo

I see mine maybe three times a year. I tip 20% at that time. I give a Christmas bonus to the newspaper boy because it is the only time to tip him and that guy is up before the butt back crack of dawn. I think tipping can get out of control. And if lots of people are living on minimum wage or close to that, tipping for them must be difficult.

I'm on a friend basis with my stylist, we go out for dinner and drinks every month. So I still tip my usually 20% but I'm giving her assortment of treats I've been making along with a coffee mug stuffed with packets of hot cocoa, apple cider and a couple of mini booze bottles.

I normally tip her $20-$30 depending on what services I'm getting, and at Christmas I've always given an extra $25 on top of the regular tip. So I guess I'm doubling her tip, more or less. She does a great job and she's a longtime friend ... not a close friend but a friendly acquaintance for 25 years at least. Her husband, who was a friend of my late DH, had a liver and (edited to say kidney? I think. not lung, sorry) transplant and she's the main breadwinner these days. I'd give her more if I felt a little richer.

My stylist is the salon owner and I do not tip. She sets the prices. I had a business for years and she was one of my customers. She never tipped me for my work; she paid what I quoted. I used to give her a gift at Christmas as one of my customers but now that I'm not in business, I do not give her a gift. She recently started giving her clients a small bag with samples in it.

An extra $160?!?!?!   Not F&%#$ing likely!! 

I always have my hair done just before Christmas, this year my appointment is on Saturday 19th. I have never bought my hairdresser (who is also the owner of the salon) a gift for Christmas. And nor will I be starting this year!  

ETA: Oh, and we don't tip here either.

This.
Never even considered getting him a gift.
I think gift giving in the USA (based on what I read here) is way out of control.
They provide a service and I'm a customer that already pays for that service, I don't understand the concept of giving them gifts for any other reason. While they seem like nice people and they do a good job (and they get very well paid for...I certainly don't earn $160 for 1.5hrs work!) and he isn't my 'friend' as such.
Plus he and his new wife just brought a $1.25M home, I really don't think he needs another $100 from me...if we are talking wage inequality, he should be buying me something!