Tipping Hairdressers?

marksandsparksgal

A cut and blow dry where I visit costs £32, and I usually give the hairdresser £35, and the boy that washes my hair £1.50-£2. As others have said, only tip if you're happy, it shouldn't be a right. However, the way I look at it is that it's not something I get done all the time, and £4 more in the grand scheme of things is not that big a deal. But everyone is different!

TomsMom

steviewander wrote: »

In my experience of working in 3 salons, it is usually the case that the owner makes way, *WAY* more than any of his/her stylists. Hence I suppose they don't need the extra money.... or at least they shouldn't need the money if they knew how to run their business properly!

I suppose then it depends where you live and what salons are available.

I live in a fairly rural area, a tiny little town in Wales with (amazingly) 4 salons. They are not cutting edge/big name/national salons. Two are owner run along with one family member and two, including the salon I use, are run by the owner only, no other staff. If their clients didn't tip the owner then basically they'd get no tips at all.

I suppose they're cheap compared to prices quoted on this thread, the most expensive charging £20 for a cut and finish. My hairdresser charges me £13.90 for a cut and finish, it seems to be £14.90 for other people. The £1 difference may be because I'm a long established client or the fact that she realises that I've now passed my 60th birthday and it's a senior's discount. Oh, and I do tip, she does my hair the best out of all 4 salons here.

missbargain

Hi Carlamagee,

Why am I on MSE?

Well, I can't pretend that I am on the breadline, or to have debts, but I am not rich, just comfortable. I love MSE because I am one of those people that don't mind spending on some things, but I LOVE finding bargains on others.
For example, I get the real kick out of saving £1 on cat medicine if I buy online vs. the vet, or buying something on BOGOF promotion, or finding an ebay bargain. You can't even imagine my joy when I get a free sample of something, even if I don't really use it. But I will always buy good quality jeans, jumper (no acrylic, has to be wool or at least the wool mix, etc), shoes, cosmetics, that will cost certain amount of money, as the quality usually does.
Also, I don't drink (at all) or smoke, so I work out that money saved on these, more than amply pays for my hairdressing.

But, the major part of the reason that I spend that much money on "hairdo" is that I really, really don't have a choice in Central London, not for highlights and a cut. I would love to spend £50 (or less) on the same thing, but salons like that simply don't exist where I live. Their rents are enormous (on average 50 000 pounds p/a, sometimes more + overheads) and it is us, the customers, who are paying for it. Otherwise, they wouldn't exist. The same is with vets, shoe repair places, drycleaners etc (you should just see the price of drycleaning in my area, a real daylight robbery!)
I wish I had a cousin or a friend who was a hairdresser, that would be awsome!
And also, I think these forums are great, and I love picking up (and hopefully, giving) some good advice.

moneysaver12

I don't tip, i don't like tipping and to be honest i don't see why i should. Im a student and am trying to save my money. I get my hair cut and highlighted by a trainee who has just qualifed for 25 pounds.

98jdougl

janey_uk wrote: »

I don't tip my plumber or car mechanic as they are seen as well paid already.

car mechanic's, unless elf employed make next to nothing. My BIL 2b is a car mechanic and until last year was having to live in a rented caravan until my mum took him in as a lodger. He has been given backing to start his own place now and he will finally start to earn some money which means at the ripe age of 27 he will be able to afford to rent a flat in a couple of years etc etc. I always thoguht they got paid a mint too, the rates that get paid on the repairs you would have thought the mechanics would get a decent cut lol

missbargain

Elf employed? I would love to have an elf as the boss, that would be fabulous!


Just joking, I know that it is a spelling error, it just sounded funny to me

Kirri

carlamagee wrote: »

im flabbergasted that someone pays 150 for a hiarcut/style - whatever it may be!!! why are you on mse!???? hehe
i get my ahir done by a friend of my sisters - i usually get a colour and a cut, i wash my own hair etc, and she usually asks for about 25 - i give her 30. but this is because i know it would cost me about 75 (at least) to go to her salon to have it done - hence the reason why i dont go to the salon!!

Try finding someone in London that is cheap and knows what they are doing!

I live very frugally apart from two things, waxing and hair colouring/cutting which I personally class as essential and also I can't do it myself. In a suburban salon I paid just over £150 recently for a colour and cut but that is actually cheap compared to most central London places.

I don't tip, I can't really afford to be paying that for the colour/cut in the first place as it is a lot of money.. I save by only having it cut 3 times a year.

FairyShazza

If I am happy with the service they have provided I will give a tip. If I’ve had a wash, cut, blow dry which costs me about £20 then I’ll leave about £1.50 if I’ve had a colour, wash, cut and blow dry then I’ll leave about £3.

Where I go you have the same person to wash as well as do the cut etc so I only have to give one tip.

If I’m not happy with what they’ve done then I don’t tip.

judderman62

just_thrifty wrote: »

I'm probably a real scrooge!!!, but I rarely tip at the hairdresser's or in restaurants etc. Spent years working as a waitress at school/uni and I always felt that, if I'd done something extra for a customer, it was lovely if they left a tip. It's part of your job to be friendly and helpful and you shouldn't assume you will get a tip for it. There are lots of people in poorly paid jobs who don't get tipped- don't think hairdresser's etc have the right to make you feel guilty when you're already paying for the service you're getting....

I don't tip either, oh and is everyone on here a stock broker or something £45-50 for a hair cut :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: what the ....

debtdesperado

I never tip - £60 for a haircut is a pretty good hourly rate. I hate all the fake surprise and gratitude they put on when you give them a tip.

However, I do find that the next time I go, the price mysteriously jumps by the price of a tip! But I don't mind so much as I would rather just pay a flat price... plus I had a home colouring disaster and my hairdresser was a superstar and has earnt my eternal gratitude!