I've been going to the same hairdresser since she got out of school (about 20 years). She and my DS were friends in school. If I go to her in Dec I take her a gift. But I also give her things all year. She has 4 children. We are in a co-op and can't eat all the stuff we get so I pass it on to her. I'm sure she'd rather get things for her children than for her self.
Do what your heart tells you and you can't go wrong.