January 10, 2001

It's a Female Thing
   by stacy <pfftnet@stacy.pfft.net>

Why is it so hard to find a good place to get a haircut? I have tried 3 different salons in my area, and I have not been satisfied with any of them (although one of them did get a little repeat business). The stylist is either an idiot who can't follow directions, or they have really inconvenient hours, or they charge too darn much for just a haircut. This one place I went to expected me to put on a tip. They said, "So how much do you want me to add to this for a tip?" Tips are fine in restaurants where waiters don't even receive minimum wage because they're supposed to make up for it in tips, but in a beauty salon, it's just ridiculous. I know the money I'm paying is going to those stylists paychecks, so why should I add to it with a tip? It's most insulting when they make you do it, though. And if it's a substandard haircut, I don't think giving a tip is appropriate.

The thing that makes this really irritating is that there are dozens of places around here that advertise being a beauty salon, but so many of them seem to have stuck a stylist chair in as an afterthought. They're really spas, where you get your feet scrubbed, or nail boutiques. Some specialize in doing your makeup for you, or helping you buy beauty products. They're not really salons. Then there are all the places with names like "Hair Setters" or "Classic Cuts" that are really just for men, but they don't say that. So you get an appointment a few days in advance, then walk in and see 3 guys sitting waiting for a haircut. If you ask those people to dry your hair, they look at you like you're nuts. And you are, for going in there.

It's hard to be a woman. Men don't understand these things, and rich women don't understand these things. They can go to the ultra-chic salons where guys named Renaldo and Cristophe do the hair "art" and charge you like it's the real deal. But even Renaldo probably doesn't ask for a tip!

Published: January 10, 2001
Editor: stacy