Her ‘tails are turning heads.
Hannah Pemberton, 26, from Ohio, spoke with Business Insider about adopting the popular “pigtail theory” — a TikTok trend that highlights female servers styling their hair in two youthful ponytails in an effort to earn more tips.
“If you think I’m playing the men who tip me, then I’ll say this: I am playing them, and I love it,” she told the outlet in an interview published Thursday. “I’ve spent my life under the male gaze, and now I’m making it work for me. It’s empowering, and I’m glad to do it.”
In August, Pemberton posted a TikTok from the bathroom of her unidentified eatery, walking women through adjustments she makes to her appearance to “get that bag.”
“We have the pigtail braids. We have lightened makeup to accentuate my features, so that way I look more attractive. We have slight cleavage, just enough to keep the men staring, but not enough to make their wives concerned,” she explained.
“We also have little sexy tattoo peeking out and cherry earrings,” Pemberton added, tugging at her black V-neck shirt to show off a floral shoulder tat.
Finally, she revealed that she ties her apron higher to “cinch the waist” to achieve peak attractiveness.
“It might be creepy, it might be misogynistic, but you know what, it doesn’t matter,” Pemberton stated.
It seems to pay off. Pemberton told Business Insider that she’s even received vacation offers from customers who like her “innocent and young, almost childish” hairstyle.
“One night, for example, I got $100 from a guy that I wasn’t even serving,” she said. “He was flirting with me and offering to take me on a cruise, and I said I couldn’t because I needed to work to make money, so he handed me a $100 bill. It was crazy.”
Pemberton acknowledges that men falling for this money-making method is “pretty disgusting,” but she does have rent to pay, after all.
“I should be tipped because I’m a great server, but that’s not how it is. It’s about appearance, so I’ll keep doing my hair in pigtail braids and telling other women to do the same,” she told the outlet.
The Post has contacted Pemberton for comment.
The hashtag #PigtailTheory has over 19 million views on TikTok.
Server Bella Woodard, 21, reflected on her success with the “pigtail theory” last year, claiming all of Pemberton’s advice — plus speaking in a southern accent — earned her a $135 tip from one male customer alone.
“It’s weird and gross, but I’m down for more tips, so it doesn’t matter,” Woodard said in her own TikTok.
“Wear pigtails to work. I’m bound to be doing this every day.”