Private hairdressers - tip or not to tip?

jo1972

This should possibly go on the health & beauty board, but I wanted the opinions of DFW'ers as you know more about saving money than anyone! Plus I need a quick opinion as I'll be getting my hair cut this weekend!

I will be going to a new hairdresser this time who works from her own home. I just wondered what the etiquette is for tipping hairdressers that work privately from their own home. Do you still tip as you would in a salon or not at all? Obviously I realise they still have overheads like electric and water, but money's tight (obviously :rolleyes:) and although I'm not a scrooge, an extra £5 would feed my family for a day!

I'd be interested to hear what you would all do and if any of you do hairdressing privately, what do your clients tend to do and what would you expect?

Thanks

rayday2

I may not be popular here but I don't tip anyone. No one tips me for being a youth worker, you sign the contract for the wages you get if you are not happy with the basic wage don't take the job. As for self employed again you are choosing that and setting your rates, or take a place in a salon no one forces you so again no tips!

jo1972

Very good point Ray :think:

By the way, that doesn't make you unpopular! Thanks for your opinion

IWantToBeFree_2

I'm the same as Rayday2.... No one tips me if I do a good job, so why should I tip them?

(Land_of)_Maz

I would say you have agreed the fee for the service, so unless you love love love the cut, the head massage/wash was devine/the coffee was fab etc. i wouldn't bother....

In a shop I generally tip the hair washer rather than the stylist as they are on pittance wages....

yellowmonkey

I do tip when appropriate. If you have had a good service then I will tip. Funny thing tipping though. I dont tip the garage when they fix my car even though they have done a good job. It seems to be certain industrys where tipping is expected.

If you have a good haircut why not tip. I would. If it was a bad one though, sue them :rotfl:

ym

jo1972

Maz, I think you're right, I'm used to tipping the youngster that washes. In the salon where I used to go, all the hairdressers, no matter how qualified they were, had a money box for their tips which made you feel you had to iykwim. I wouldn't mind, the salon was a more upmarket price range too :eek:

I think this private hairdresser charges £20 for a cut and blow dry so that's not too bad. I know I could go to salon and be a guinnea pig for the trainees and get it for a fraction of the cost, but this hairdresser cut my hair years and years ago and I trust her. I'd rather pay £20 (plus tip if necessary) and be happy with my hair, rather than pay a fiver in total and become a hermit for 3-4 weeks :rotfl:

IWantToBeFree_2

Y'see I just expect a good haircut, good service etc etc, its all part of what I am paying for. I think far too much pressure is put on people to tip, it should be up to the paying customer, not the establishment. It drives me crazy when resturants automatically add 10% to the bill if there is over so many people in the party despite the fact that you may have received poor service

Horace

The only time I will give someone a tip is in a restaurant and then I make sure that I give the money direct to the waiter/waitress so then I know that they have got it.

I never ever tip hairdressers because they charge enough as it is. Bear in mind that when a hairdresser works from home he/she factors in the cost of the business in her home into the bill that he/she gives you. So don't pay it.

peachyprice

I actually asked my working from home hairdresser this, his reply was that some of his clients to, some don't, either way he's not offended. I usually do because it's such a rarity that I can actually afford to have my hair cut that the hour or so pampering I get is wonderful.

embarrassed_about_my_debt

I dont tip my barber!

I pay by debit card aswell so I dont feel guilty like I would when im getting the change :rotfl:

Personally i would rather not tip and take them in a box of sweets/bottle of wine etc at xmas.

Restaurants - I always ask them to remove the optional tip they add to the bill. I HATE being told what i should tip :mad: and 9 times out of ten what i leave is more than what it says but its just the principal of it, a tip is descretionary so dont tell me im leaving one!