Do you give tips to electrologists? If so, how much is appropriate?
Try these post threads:
19295
I can’t speak for the standard client since my budget is almost to-the-penny every month, but I hadn’t previously tipped my professional electrologist.
However, today I had student work done by one of the kindest ladies, and she is only a student so the school gets my money and she gets nada! I offered her what I could spare ($2 on a $35 bill, which is very low I know). She declined the tip, and said she understood my financial situation.
Honestly, I have no idea if I insulted her with such a low amount, or what the etiquette is, but I hope she understood that I was just trying to be thankful in the only way I could. I’m sad she’s about to graduate, she’s really terrific. 
If I had to bet, I would wager on the side that she was not offended, and was telling you the truth. She is glad that you offered, but did not want to drain your meager funds. Did your grandparents ever tell you the bible story of the widow’s two mites? The basic point was that the greatest donation of all was two mites given by the widowed woman (think two cents) as that was all she had to give.
Remember, it is about gratitude. If you feel grateful over and above the price that is charged, you open a dialogue about tipping with your practitioner. If you don’t feel grateful over and above the price previously negotiated, then you don’t tip.
There is no official expectation that anyone will tip, and there certainly should be no animosity if someone doesn’t.
I read some of the old posts from the threads you posted. I agree that it should be up to the client or professional to tip if they feel inclined to do so.
I asked because I realized that I never tipped my electrologist before. It just never ocurred to me to do so. Didn’t see electrology as a profession to tip, so I wondered if I did something wrong.
Usually, I hate to tip out of expectation especially since you don’t know how their service will turn out as you progress with their service.
Food service is something that you know based on how they delivered your food service the entire time. I have seen some bad attitude in the food industry when they see you do not order things like drinks that will bring up your bills for more tips. That is ethically rude.
Sometimes tipping out of expectation every time feels like the cost of the service is just more instead of a show of gratitude. For income tax purpose, tipping is more like your income to the IRS than gratuity anyway.
I agree with MagicalPrincessKitty, some of us are really squeezing into their budget to pay for electrolysis. Tipping just adds up whether or not it seems minimal to some people. It should be left to the client when and how much they will show gratuity not an expectation.
I am in agreement.
My electrologist is a sole proprietor and I do not tip on a per session basis. However, at year end, I have offered a relatively small (e.g. less than 1 hour cost) tip as a surprise. I felt good to make the offer, she was appreciative, and I think it was appropriate.
FWIW, I do not consider this to be the same as tipping my hair stylist (for example) as she is an employee and makes significantly less money. I tip her far more (in real dollars) as she has a greater need.
We’ve got like 10 threads on this subject. They should be consolidated and stickied.
Do me a favor Bryce. If you can find the tipping and gratuity threads, and post links to them here, I will see what I can do about a consolidation.
I think that I should also find some time, maybe on that vacation I sorely need, to start working on the long needed HairTell Electrolysis FAQ’s page.