Tipping Hairdressers?

Mine's_a_guinness

I don't tip either, mainly because I find it embarrassing. Who do I give it to?I have my hair cut by the salon owner and don't feel the need to give him any more than he charges (which is quite enough!!) I don't want to have to go and find the junior who shampooed my hair when I'm paying as its a large salon and I'd feel a plonker. I don't want to give it to the receptionist to pass on as it seems unfair that the receptionist doesn't get tips. Instead I take in a large tin of choccies at christmas time for everyone to share and buy my stylist a bottle of wine.

brokeinwales

I have to confess until about a year ago the idea of tipping a hairdresser didn't ever occur to me. I'd only ever tipped waiting staff (and only then if I thought they did something over and above their job - I spent a year as a waitress myself, and I know it's not that difficult to not drop things or muddle the orders up. It annoys me when you get sulky miserable service and then they seem annoyed that you haven't left them anything.)
Then one day I was talking to a friend who expressed absolute horror that I never tipped hairdressers - I just never realised it was the done thing to be honest (How is one supposed to know who you tip and who you don't? Is there a list of etiquette rules about this somewhere?)
These days I do generally leave the change from £40 (my cuts generally cost about £36) on the understanding the tip is for the apprentice who washes my hair - he always looks after me really well, gives me coffee and biscuits and a nice scalp massage (he's also a bit good looking, but obviously that's nothing to do with it...). My OH gets a basic No. 2 cut at the barbers for £7 taking about 10 minutes - I'd be surprised if he ever left a tip, as there's not really much to tip for is there?

foxxymynx

I don't go to posh hairdressers, it's very rare that I'm happy with what I get in a posh hairdressers. I'd prefer to get someone to dye my hair at home for me (like SIL) cause they're alot more understanding of how my disability affects me, but even before I was disabled I'd still rather DIY hair colour (I prefer mono hair colour).

The hairdressers I used from being about 6 to 22 cost £6 for a cut and blow dry and £18 for a spiral perm. I used to tip them and they'd put it in their oney boxes, 1 box was for telephone use (people would call for a taxi etc) and the other was tips to get shared out equally at the end of the onth or whatever.

When I moved away, I went to a couple of hairdressers but didn't really like them - well the first one was good but they closed down not long after. I've found one that's ok, and pay £15 for a cut and blow dry.

The only hairdressers that I have ever tipped at was the one I used when I was growing up, - they went beyond the calls of duty time and time again.

judderman62

Yup I pay £10 wash, cut n blow dry - done by the joint owner who has become alsmost a friend he's been cutting my hair so long now.

brokeinwales

I dunno - a good hairdresser who'll take the time to listen to you and do what you want them to do is like gold dust - if you can find one near you for £10 that's amazing (I did used to go to an excellent hairdresser near my old hometown who only cost £15) - but if the best one you can find costs closer to £40-50 then I think it's worth it. I found mine after going to a student night - the student who was going to cut it was off sick so I ended up getting a senior stylist for the same price. Liked what she did so much that I booked her at full price next time. Mind you, I only go four or five times a year, and I do my own colour, so I don't consider it a huge expense for something that makes me feel a lot better about myself (I also find getting a good cut in the first place reduces the need for expensive styling products).
I honestly doubt I'd pay £100 + for a hair cut, however good it was - but if I earned more, then I might.

Although if you're a bloke, or generally just have the split ends tidied up and aren't that "into" your hair, it probably makes sense just to get a friend to do it. Like anything else, you prioritise - People tell me I spend a lot of money on beauty/ hair treatments and clothes - but then, I don't own a car, which is a much greater expense.

geri1965_2

judderman62 wrote: »

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 ....

Not stockbrokers - women!

I used to go to a barber when I had very short hair and it would cost about a fiver (going back a few years now) for a quick going over with the clippers!

Now my hair is longer and I want it cut properly, I pay around £30 for a cut and blow dry. I don't have it coloured as it is naturally blonde, so that saves quite a lot of money. I usually give a few pounds as a tip.

Jennifer_Jane

Hi - I get a company discount (10%, I think) on my hairdresser, total cost is about £32 inc. VAT. I don't tip, although very generously gave £5 into their Christmas box on Saturday. :A

Yes, I do realise I'm a meany, but there we go. They are absolutely lovely to me and do a super job.

Jen
x

nearlyrich

I have used the same hairdresser for about 10 years, I give her £20 tip at Christmas rather than £1 or £2 each visit. I just had my eyebrows waxed at the salon I have been using for a few months it cost £5 so I tipped the beautician £2 which seemed fair, she wasn't expecting it.

I have been known to delete service charges from restaurant bills, I only tip for good or excellent service.

judderman62

geri1965 wrote: »

Not stockbrokers - women!

aye that'd be it :whistle:

SailorSam

I'm sitting here open mouthed at some of the prices people for a hairdresser. Lady that cuts mine is semi retired but will still do people at her house, just phone a day or two before you want to go. I pay £4, 10 minute cut.
About a year ago i was walking through the local shopping centre and there were few girls approaching men, obviosly trying to sell something, so i was getting ready to say no, when they got to me they were trainee hairdressers trying to get customers for a free cut, i'd planned to go that week, my hair was a mess but i kept saying no because i felt i owed the other woman my custom.
Eventually coaxed to go to a shop around the corner, there was about 10 trainees and one instructor checking and showing them what to do. They did i good job and as i said it was free. I gave the girl £2 half what i normally paid, she made a big fuss of it because no one else had given anything even though they had a free cut. The girls were just glad to have someone to practise on and were saying, we are here every Monday, come back.
Maybe i'm not dead mean, i've left the free one and continued to pay £4. I've known her for years.