Hi Susan,
This has been brought up a few times in the past.. There are a lot of misconceptions when it comes to the beauty industry and the salon world..
There are many situations in the salon.. some owners give themselves a salary (often modest) and then put every extra penny into the salon to make it grow.. MANY salons struggle to get by for years before they accomplish any kinds of real profits.
Many salons have self employed stylists, meaning they are most likely in the same situation as the owner: working for themselves with the same costs (only the owner actually has to pay the electricity, gas, receptionists, retail, equiptment and any other ammenities that the stylists do not contribute for.
I have known salon owners that drive hoop d's so that they can help their stylists get ahead and make their business grow.
A lot of people seem to think that beauty professionals are rollin in the dough, but we're not

We actually have probably one of the most inconsistant careers in the world. Never knowing if we're going to make money when we go in to work.. if we have a couple clients that do not show up or cancel on us.. we don't get paid for it.
But we're all equal in the salon, we have the same bills and many of us make the same money whether we're the owner, employee or independent.
So... I'd say probably tip the owner, even if it's modest. Honestly :::blush::: we take it a little perosnal if we don't get tips. I have to say that many stylist have gotten snobby about it, mostly because if we get paychecks every week (or bi-weekly for many in the industry) then (cash) tips help us get thorugh the week (gas, lunch etc), since many paychecks are inconsistent.
PLUS for stylists that are employes's, usually make vary modest pay with salons the first several years (this is especially true for chains).
I personally understand that European people's do not tip much and do not always expect it from students or those that i know are tight on money either.. when I was a teen I didn't even KNOW that it was customary to tip! I felt awful when I found out here Im getting my roots and hightlights done every 4 weeks with a color and I felt like a heel. Oh well, it happens.
How on earth are we supossed to keep track of everyone we have to tip and who not to these days? Do we tip our mechanices? A lot of coffee shops have tip jars in them now.. I go in everyweek and get a to-go contianer of Domincan slop and I still haven't figured out if Im supposed to tip the girl that helps me..
I think if you're tight budget it's good to drop the hint so that no one feels offended, like you didn't like what they did to your hair.. unless you didn't hehe

Anyways, putting my fat opinion in as this is something I know a lot about, I like to try to clear up any misconceptions and grievances that I know are big in the fahsion/beauty industry..
Sorry for ranting
