Hair color and wages: Waitresses with blond hair have more fun

an article by Nicolas Guéguen (Université de Bretagne-Sud, France) published in The Journal of Socio-Economics Volume 41 Issue 4 (August 2012)

Abstract

The effect of employees’ hair colour on wages was experimentally tested in a tipping context. Waitresses in several restaurants were instructed to wear blond, red, brown or dark colored wigs. The effect of hair colour on tipping according to patron’s gender was measured. It was found that waitresses wearing blond wigs received more tips but only with male patrons. Waitresses’ hair colour had no effect on females’ tipping behaviour.

JEL classification J300

Hazel’s comment:
In terms of career somewhat frivolous – or is it? There are many occupations where appearance has a profound effect on the interaction with customers.
It is one of the reasons why people with physical disabilities have difficulty in obtaining work in customer-facing roles.
Wrong? Of course it is but it happens and in a recession it happens a lot more.

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