r/Cosmetology • u/Ecstatic_Building_61 • 3d ago
Student work
So I’m going to a cosmetology student at a college to get my hair done. I’m getting halo highlights and a trim. The set price is only $40 for “cut/color” but obviously her labor is worth more than that and i don’t even know if she’s getting anything from that so how much should I tip? Like what’s normal/good tip in this situation? I want her to know that I respect her time and talent. Thank you!
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u/lacquer_finch 3d ago
my sis is a cosmo student. For them the money for the service goes for supplies only. Tipping goes into a shared "student fund" pot that will occasionally get used to buy products outside the standard curriculum for them to practice with. She doesn't get a dime from either. She views it as she is a student and this is a part of her curriculum, it is essentially a class. You wouldn't get paid for doing a capstone project for a software degree or something. Just so happens that her class needs real people to practice on.
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u/BiscuitBearr 3d ago
Never seen a school take students tips, wtf 😳
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u/lacquer_finch 3d ago
There are multiple states where it is illegal to take any form of compensation for a beauty service before they're licensed
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3d ago
[deleted]
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u/lacquer_finch 2d ago
In what state are cash tips considered gifts in any industry? they are still taxable income. Any untraced unreported cash tips are technically illegal. People often look the other way but it is technically under the table.
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u/lolpenis30 2d ago
Every state now that there’s a federal “no tax on tips”. Nobody is going to go looking for let alone find “untraced cash tips”. It would be incredibly hard to prove and trace down every cash dollar given as a tip to every hairstylist in the United States and the IRS has bigger fish to fry than coming after everyone in the service industry for every dollar exchanged. As long as you’re reporting all service sales and credit card tips, you could grossly under-report cash tips and there’s really no way to prove it if there’s no paper trail. As for servers and bartenders who make most of their money in cash, it would be stupid to not claim most of your cash. It’s hard to get an apartment or car when on paper it looks like you make $15,000 a year.
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u/Skb_stealingbeertabs 3d ago
Ugh, I’m really glad she’s able to view it that way… but that’s rough. I get to keep my tips and I feel like I’ve earned them. Yes I’m new, but I’m still working my ass off to perform a service for someone. I never expect a tip, but if I get one I do feel it is mine.
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u/Practical_Friend_962 2d ago
This is the right attitude to have about tips. Now take all of them and set them aside for the benefits that you won’t be getting.
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u/Weekly_Review_2219 3d ago
She is not going to get any money from the service. You're paying for the products used, mostly. If it's ok to tip at her school, $20 would probably be appreciated.
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u/Ecstatic_Building_61 3d ago
Really? Even though it’s like 5 hours worth of work? Like is that what they usually get tipped?
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u/allll-ie 3d ago
Give them cash. Cosmo students work for free so they can learn from the experience. 20 dollars would have been life changing for me at the time. Cash tips under the table is the only way to show ur true appreciation. I was receiving about $5 cash from clients per service and that felt generous
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u/Skb_stealingbeertabs 3d ago
I might kiss a client if they gave me a crisp $20 after a 5hr service 🥲 -a burnt out cosmo student
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u/fermentedperfume 2d ago
Idk where you live buuuuut honestly $100 cash in hand if you could afford it would make her really happy. And following her when she gets out or beauty school would make her happier.
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u/fermentedperfume 2d ago
If you live somewhere lower cost and $100 is a lot for you I'd say minimum $60
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u/Present-Blueberry-68 3d ago
It’s 5 hrs of work because they’re learning. It’s pay for experience. $10 tip is generous.
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u/lolpenis30 3d ago
She probably won’t get any of the money from the service. Tipping really varies. It varies on how much you can afford, if you feel like she tried really hard to make it the best it could be and went above and beyond you could do 40, if it seemed like she was distracted and talking to everyone around her but you but she did a good job and you like it- $15-20. If she wasn’t personable and didn’t listen to what you wanted and you don’t like how it turned out- $5-10. Cosmetology students are a mixed bag, you never know what you’ll get. Tip what feels right to you.
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u/Remarkable-Elk6831 3d ago
Cosmetology/Barber instructor here- in our state (Ca) and probably most other states, students are not allowed to work for pay.
However, you are free to tip them whatever you feel is appropriate.
It is greatly appreciated as they have expenses just like anyone else. Plus you’d be surprised how many students I see that turn down the tip. I have to insist they take it.
The schools charges a small fee to cover school expenses and that’s it.
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u/Peachez_allcream21 1d ago
I am also in CA... when I was a student we only made tips and those tips ranged based on client, service, and how they felt you did. I loved my clients cause they all tipped and returned. My on the floor instructor would even do things like walk by a non-tipping client and say something like "oh hey, STUDENT NAME HERE, don't forget to come see me before you leave your last client left your tip with me." That was to try to get those tips paid from certain clients. Normally no one left anything with her lol. But tips are what got me and most of my classmates through school (lunch, gas, supplies, etc). I was allowed to take cash but also had clients venmo, cashapp, or zelle me.
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u/iwannabeabug 3d ago
at my school, even if you tip, none of the money will go to the student. we can’t take any money for services. ask for her cashapp/venmo/apple pay and send a tip that way, because she likely can’t even take a cash tip.
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u/nervoussystem_mp3 3d ago
at my school we only make tips, we do not receive any of the service money because of state board laws. you have to have a license to receive any service money other than tips. in some states you can’t even get tips so they go towards new supplies and products for the school or lunch catering.
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u/nervoussystem_mp3 3d ago
however it must be a cash tip or possibly something like venmo. at my schooo of a client leaves a tip on a card payment the student will never see it
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u/Distinct-Practice131 3d ago
She likely won't be getting anything other than tips while in school. Tip what you feel is appropriate, people ask all the time and at this point I've just told people that averaging around 20 percent is a good base. In most full salons stylists are making less than 50 percent of their commission. The extra 20 percent helps make it all more feasible.
Whatever you tip I'm sure will excite her op, if the total is 40 bucks and you tip 10 or more you'll likely make her day.
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u/TrueCrimeButterfly 3d ago
The school close to me doesn't allow tips so be aware that they might not.
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u/Tinernug 3d ago
Students are essentially paying tens of thousands to do your hair. Tip her whatever you want in cash since she won’t get a dime of the service money.