What Do Stylists Wish Clients Knew About Appointments?

Tip your stylist 15 to 20% based on service quality and tip assistants $1 to $7 depending on services performed, give 24 hours notice for cancellations to protect your stylist's income, communicate dissatisfaction calmly so your stylist can fix mistakes, avoid non-emergency phone calls during appointments, and be specific with service requests using photos rather than vague descriptions.

My name is Dory, and after years of doing hair at Dory's Designs Beauty Studio in Etobicoke, I've realized that most salon awkwardness comes from people not knowing what's expected. Last week, a new client apologized profusely for asking me to adjust her cut because she thought it would be rude. Another client felt terrible about canceling last-minute due to a family emergency and didn't know we have a 24-hour policy for exactly those situations.

The truth is, most salon etiquette is just common sense combined with clear communication. Let me walk you through the questions clients ask me most often so you never have to wonder if you're doing the right thing.

How Much Should You Tip Your Stylist?

Tip 15 to 20% of the total service cost based on quality. Give 15% for good service, 20% for exceptional service, and at least 20% for stylists who consistently exceed expectations. Tipping supplements stylist income significantly and is standard practice in the salon industry.

Tipping isn't optional in salons. It's how stylists make a significant portion of their income, similar to servers in restaurants. When you book services at Dory's Designs Beauty Studio, the service price covers the salon's costs and a base pay for the stylist. The tip is your direct appreciation for their skill and effort.

How to calculate the tip:

For a $100 color service with good results, tip $15 to $20.

If your stylist goes above and beyond, staying late to finish your color perfectly or fixing something from a previous salon for free, tip 20% or more.

If you're on an extremely tight budget, even $10 is better than nothing, but understand that tipping less than 15% signals you weren't satisfied with the service.

When to adjust your tip:

If you're genuinely unhappy with the service and the stylist can't or won't fix it, you can reduce or skip the tip. But give them a chance to make it right first. Most stylists will bend over backward to fix a mistake because they genuinely care about your satisfaction.

Should You Tip Salon Assistants?

Yes, tip assistants $1 to $3 for a simple wash and $5 to $7 for more extensive services like washing, drying, and styling. Assistants often work for minimum wage and depend on tips just like stylists do.

At Dory's Designs Beauty Studio, our assistants are learning their craft and working hard to make your experience comfortable. They're washing your hair, bringing you coffee, helping with color application, and making sure everything runs smoothly.

The tip amount depends on what they do. If they just wash your hair, $1 to $3 is appropriate. If they wash, dry, and style your hair or spend significant time assisting with your service, $5 to $7 shows real appreciation.

Even if you're on a tight budget, a couple dollars means a lot to someone making minimum wage. They'll remember clients who treat them well, and you're building a relationship with someone who might be your stylist in a few years.

What If You Don't Like Your Hair?

Tell your stylist calmly and specifically what you don't like, and give them the opportunity to fix it. Most stylists will correct the issue immediately or schedule a follow-up appointment, often for free. Mistakes usually result from miscommunication during consultation, and good stylists take errors personally and want to make things right.

This is the situation that makes clients most nervous, but it shouldn't. Professional stylists want you to love your hair. If you don't, we need to know so we can fix it.

How to communicate dissatisfaction:

Be specific. "I don't like it" doesn't help. "The layers are shorter than I wanted" or "It's more red than the brown we discussed" gives your stylist something to work with.

Stay calm. Getting emotional or angry makes the situation harder for everyone. A simple "This isn't quite what I was hoping for" opens the conversation.

Give examples. Show a photo of what you were expecting if you have one. Visual references eliminate confusion.

At Dory's Designs Beauty Studio, if a client isn't happy, we fix it. Period. That might mean adjusting the cut right then, scheduling you to come back in a few days, or in rare cases, offering a refund. What we won't do is send you out the door unhappy if there's any way to correct it.

The new stylist exception:

If you're seeing a very new stylist and something goes wrong, be gentle with your feedback. Building confidence takes time. You can address the issue without crushing someone who's still learning. Or you can request a more experienced stylist for the correction.

How Much Notice Do You Need to Cancel?

Give at least 24 hours notice for cancellations to protect your stylist's income. Stylists are typically paid only when clients are in their chair, so last-minute cancellations directly impact their earnings. Most salons now require deposits or charge fees for cancellations with less than 24 to 48 hours notice.

This is huge. When you book an appointment, your stylist has blocked that time specifically for you. They've turned down other clients to hold your slot. If you cancel last-minute or no-show, they lose that income with no way to recover it.

Cancellation guidelines:

Call or text as soon as you know you need to cancel. Don't wait until the day of if you already know the night before.

If you have a sudden emergency or illness, communicate honestly. We understand life happens. Just don't be a no-show. A quick text saying "I'm so sorry, I'm sick and can't make it" is basic respect.

Many salons, including ours, now take deposits for longer services because the no-show problem has gotten so bad. This isn't us being difficult. It's us protecting our income from people who don't respect our time.

If you're a chronic last-minute canceler, don't be surprised if salons start requiring deposits from you or declining to book you. Your pattern tells us you don't value our time.

Can You Be Specific About What You Want?

Yes, providing detailed instructions and inspiration photos is helpful, not rude. Stylists appreciate clarity and direction. However, don't micromanage technique by dictating exactly where to place highlights or demanding specific formulas. Consult, confirm feasibility and cost, then trust your stylist's professional expertise.

The worst thing you can tell a stylist is "I don't know, do whatever you want." That's not giving us creative freedom. That's setting us up to disappoint you because we're guessing at what you'll like.

What's helpful:

Bringing multiple photos showing the color, cut, or style you want from different angles.

Explaining your lifestyle. "I never blow dry my hair" or "I flat iron it every day" helps me recommend what will actually work for you.

Being honest about your hair history. If you've had box dye, chemical straightening, or a bad experience with bleach, I need to know before I start.

What's not helpful:

Telling me exactly how to do my job. "Put the highlight here, not there" or "Use this specific color formula" makes me feel like you don't trust my professional judgment.

Bringing a photo and expecting your completely different hair type and texture to look identical to it. I can adapt the concept to work for your hair, but I can't change your hair's fundamental nature.

At Dory's Designs Beauty Studio, we do thorough consultations before every service. We look at photos together, discuss what's realistic for your hair, and confirm the price before we start. This eliminates most miscommunication.

Should You Stay Quiet or Chat During Your Appointment?

You're not obligated to chat and have every right to a quiet, relaxing experience. Simply tell your stylist you'd like to relax or that you're tired. Many clients treat salon visits as personal spa time, and stylists completely understand and respect that preference.

Some clients love chatting. Others want silence. Both are completely fine.

How to set the tone:

If you want quiet, say something simple when you sit down. "I had such a long day, I'm just going to relax while you work." That's all you need. Any professional stylist will respect that.

If you bring headphones or start reading on your phone, that's a clear signal too.

If your stylist keeps trying to engage you in conversation after you've indicated you want quiet, it's okay to politely remind them. "I'm really enjoying just zoning out, thanks for understanding."

I personally love chatting with clients who want to talk, and I equally love providing a peaceful experience for clients who want silence. Your appointment, your preference.

What If You Like the Cut But Hate the Styling?

Give honest, specific feedback and ask to try something different. Show a photo of the finish you wanted. Stylists aren't mind readers and perform based on their current knowledge and skill. Be direct but kind, and most stylists will happily restyle your hair differently.

This happens all the time. I can't tell you how many clients have said "I always go home and rewash and restyle it myself before I know if I actually like the cut."

The problem is usually a mismatch between what you wanted and what the stylist thought you wanted. Maybe they gave you big, bouncy curls when you wanted sleek and straight. Maybe they added tons of volume when you prefer your hair flat and smooth.

How to handle it:

Speak up before you leave. "The cut looks great, but can we try styling it differently? I was thinking more like this." Show a photo.

Be specific. "Less volume" or "straighter" or "more texture" tells me what to do differently.

Remember that how I style your hair in the salon is often about showcasing the cut. You might style it completely differently at home, and that's fine.

Your Salon Etiquette Questions Answered

Can I switch stylists at your salon?

Yes, healthy salons encourage you to find the right fit even if that means switching stylists. Talk to the manager, and we'll facilitate a smooth transition. We'd rather keep you in our salon with a different stylist than lose you entirely.

What if my stylist is running late?

Your stylist or the front desk should inform you of delays and give you options to wait or reschedule. We respect your time and will always communicate if we're running behind schedule.

Is it rude to use my phone during my appointment?

Reserve phone use for emergencies only. Talking on the phone during your service is disrespectful to your stylist who's trying to focus on your hair. Texting or scrolling quietly while color processes is fine.

Should I tip the salon owner?

This is debated, but if the owner is performing your service, standard tipping guidelines apply. They're working behind the chair just like any stylist and rely on tips as income.

Experience Respectful, Professional Service

If you've had awkward salon experiences or you're looking for a place where communication is clear and expectations are straightforward, come see us at the studio. We believe in honest conversations, fair policies, and making sure every client leaves happy.

Book your appointment at Dory's Designs Beauty Studio, 850 Browns Line, Etobicoke, ON M8W 3W2, Canada. Call us at 416-816-3617 or schedule online. Let's build a great stylist-client relationship based on mutual respect.