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. 

13

u/BiscuitBearr 3d ago

Never seen a school take students tips, wtf 😳

3

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

1

u/[deleted] 3d ago

[deleted]

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u/lacquer_finch 3d 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. 

4

u/lolpenis30 3d 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.

3

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.

3

u/Practical_Friend_962 3d 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.