A friend told me about an uncomfortable situation that she encountered.  When she went to her nail salon, she ended up having two different manicurists work on her, as well as a pedicurist. She gave three $5.00 tips that day, instead of her usual two.  My friend then returned two weeks later to the salon, and the same thing happened.  This time she gave just two tips, instead of three.  After relaying the story to me to get my opinion, I told her that I think the whole incident was unusual, and two tips were fine.

            We often encounter uncomfortable situations like this where a service is involved.  If you are ever unsure of what to do, then feel free to discreetly ask someone when you check out at the front desk, or even the person giving the service.  For example, a nurse practitioner at my dermatologist once told me that you should not tip at a doctor’s office, so I was not leaving a tip at my chiropractor for my massage therapist.  My husband goes to the same chiropractor, and one day on his way to get a massage, he asked me if I had a $20.00 to give as a tip to the massage therapist.  When I questioned him, he told me his friend who goes there gives one too.  I ended up getting friendly with the massage therapist, and just outright asked her.  She said that people do tip her, but was very gracious about it, and said it was not necessary. 

            I have been asked the questions before if you should tip a Sommelier (wine steward), or a server in training at a restaurant.  (The answer is you should leave an appropriate tip with the bill, and the main server divides the tip accordingly with anyone else who serves your table.) In the case of a restaurant, the hostess would be a good person to ask this question to, or even your server in private, if possible. 

            People in any service industry are typically very honest and gracious about tipping situations.  If is typically uncomfortable or inappropriate to directly ask the person who is working with you, so discreetly ask a cashier or manager the appropriate amount to tip when in doubt.  The business will be grateful that you want to tip at all.