I visited the Neil George Salon yesterday for some much needed hair time with co-owners Neil Weisberg and Amanda George.  Because I have more strands of hair than there are actresses in LA, it took over 3 hours for Amanda to get my shade juuuust so: she started with a base color, then added both foil and balayage painted highlights to achieve the awesome results above.  I couldn’t be happier!  What do you think?

A couple of weeks ago, I wrote a post about salon tipping etiquette where I mentioned that it’s customary not to tip salon owners.  In reply, a salon owner wrote the following comment:

I’m an owner of a salon. I never understand why people think its etiquette to not tip the owner. I think years ago this was acceptable because salons were a cash business. And the owner was able to skim some of the profits and pocket some cash. Or the owner just plain charged more than everyone else. These days everyone charges their services on credit cards which costs the salon owner money to maintain the machine, pin pad lease and then the 3% that amex or other cards take as their cut. This is why the salon doesn’t want you to tip on credit….because the stylist wont get all the tip you leave, they get the tip minus the processing fees of 3%. When a client tips me, I think it reflects that I’ve done a good job. Not to mention my prices are not exhorbitant. My haircuts are $45. And I am currently getting a few new clients referred to me who are not tipping. My thought process is that all non tipping clients will be getting a price increase notice of 20% on their next visit.

So what’s the deal?  Are we supposed to tip owners, or is it considered an insult?  For an answer, I went to one of LA’s most famous celebrity colorists: Amanda George, co-owner of Neil George Salon in Beverly Hills.  Her answer:

“A tip is always at the discretion of the client–however now it seems to be more of the norm to tip owners. Most do tip me, even though I am part owner of Neil George. Naturally, we would never want anyone to feel forced. It is always greatly appreciated, but it is never required. In tipping someone for your hair services or anything else, we do not consider credit card fees as being part of the reason why someone should or should not tip. A tip is simply a nice gesture that is welcomed but not necessary.”

Li’l Jolie is turning into Plus-Sized Jolie; the metabolism which served me so well in my early twenties is sputtering out, aided by a steady comfort diet of pasta and mucho less exercise then I normally get.  (It’s winter!  It’s cold!  What do you want from me?)  Jolie has never been the skinniest filly in the stable, but what she lacked in svelteness, she more than made up for in good hair and smokey eyes.  Alas, I’m hoping that viewpoint will carry me through the next few months, as I try to right myself–please do cut me a little slack, men of Los Angeles; I’ve just been through a major life trauma–and make the most of this wonderful, healthy body that I do so appreciate.  (Not looking to be anorexic, just want to be truly healthy!)

Here’s the latest photo of moi, gorgeously tressed courtesy of the divine Neil Weisberg and Amanda George, co-owners of Neil George Salon.  I saw them this weekend and was absolutely blown away.  You’ll know them from, oh, every starlet in Hollywood (Reese Witherspoon, Ashley Olsen, Lindsay Lohan, Christina Applegate, Cameron Diaz…the list goes on), and let me tell you, a cut and color with them is worth every second, and every dime.  Check out their brand-new, buzzed about, color-friendly line here.

I will be returning to Neil George in precisely one month, on Saturday February 21st, for my book party at Fred Segal Studio in Santa Monica.  LA-dwellers, it’s the day before the Oscars, at 2pm–cocktails, nibbles, a book signing, and makeup from Laura Mercier, Smashbox, Stila and Dianne Brill.  Please mark your calendars, tell your friends, and come for an afternoon of fun!