Arizona bartender wears 2 braids during her shift. Then she sees what happens to her tips
An Arizona bartender wore two braids in her hair during one of her shifts. Then she noticed an immediate pay increase in tips.
TikToker Elizabeth Thorne (@elizabeththorne_) dubbed it the “braid effect” in a video with over 6,888 views. The phenomenon is apparently so common that other viewers have noticed it, too. According to Thorne, the way she wears her hair is directly correlated with the amount of tips she receives.
“The braid effect is real, it really brings out people’s generosity,” she said. So, she recommends other bartenders and service industry professionals to do the same.
Do attractive waitresses get bigger tips?
There’s a large amount of evidence that concludes that a server’s physical appearance directly correlates to the amount of tips they receive. Generally, more attractive servers receive bigger paychecks, especially if they are women.
A study conducted by the Journal of Economic Psychology found that attractive servers made up to $1,261 more than unattractive ones. The journal further concluded that the difference between an attractive female server’s payout varied more between an unattractive counterpart than between men. Customers, then, discriminate based on looks and the way their server presents themselves on a day-to-day basis.
Further research from Cornell presents similar findings, although the research only held up for evening tips, not for lunch shifts. Cornell’s study adds that women get higher sales-adjusted tips if they are “high-monitors” and better service providers. Other studies, too, add that women get more tips at work when they wear makeup or facial cosmetics.
How does the ‘braid effect’ play into that research?
So, how do braids play a role in that research? It’s possible that by putting her hair up and out of the way, Thorne drew more attention toward her face, getting her more tips overall. Having a twin braid hairstyle means that Thorne’s hair is out of the way and not blocking her face in any way. Not only is that a desirable quality for those who don’t want hair in their food, but it also puts more emphasis on Thorne’s pre-existing features.
It’s also possible that in the current zeitgeist, more customers are interested in their servers wearing twin braids. Twin braids are considered a younger hairstyle by many, which may have made Thorne look and seem younger than she actually is. For many customers, being younger directly correlates to being more attractive, thus making her look more attractive in general and adding to her “attractiveness” premium.
Commenters weigh in
Some commenters noticed the exact same thing, regardless of hair length.
“I have a bob and if I wear my hair in piggy tails I make more,” one commenter added.
Another chimed in, saying, “Thank you for the tip. Imma go get it,” seemingly taking the advice for future shifts.
Ultimately, the ‘braid effect’ that Thorne describes is just a theory and doesn’t have any empirical evidence to back it up. But, anecdotally, many servers seemingly have noticed different tip amounts depending on their hairdo and the service they provide.
@elizabeththorne_ The braid effect is real, it really brings out peoples generosity #arizona #fyp #bartender #bar #server ♬ original sound – elizabeththorne_
We’ve reached out to Thorne via TikTok direct message for comment.
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