Should you tip hairdressers?

KiKi

Hi all

New to this part of the forum...did a search but couldn't find the answer! I was just wondering: should you tip your hairdresser?

My mum does tip her hairdresser, but she's a friend who offers very cheap haircuts which she does on top of her part time job. Other friends of mine wouldn't dream of tipping their hairdresser; they're already paying a fee for the service. And when I was living in Australia, I asked about tipping over there and they all laughed - it's unheard of!

But I had my hair cut this morning and the lady who cut my hair seemed to be waiting for a tip after I'd paid her, and I wasn't sure what the appropriate thing to do is!

Is it like taxi drivers and waitresses - 10% is just expected if you had good service, or is it up to you to make a choice? What is the accepted practice, and what do people on here do?

Thanks
KiKi

lostinrates

KiKi wrote: »

Is it like taxi drivers and waitresses - 10% is just expected if you had good service, or is it up to you to make a choice? What is the accepted practice, and what do people on here do?

Thanks
KiKi

If the hairdresser is the boss/its their business, its not ''correct form'' to tip, as I understand it, but if the hairdresser is an employee and has does a job with which you are satisfied, yes.

BitterAndTwisted

Accepted practice says yes, you do need to tip your hairdresser. I tip the junior who washes my hair a fiver as well.

Amanita_2

I don't but my hairdresser is joint owner of the salon and they do everything including washing.

If they did have a junior to do the hair washing I would tip him/her.

SUESMITH_2

i used to but not anymore, where i go it isnt the norm - i do however buy them a gift at christmas

mazza111

I do if they do a good job. My hair isn't very hard to do, I keep it long and all it needs is thinned out. My son however always gets some sort of pattern shaved into his hair, sometimes quite intricate. If it's done good, I always leave a couple of quid.

atwitsend_2

I had a mobile hairdresser come round from a friends recommendation last time and she was really nice and I tipped her a tenner, my theory was that next time I need her she will remember this and fit me in :rotfl:

Jadek

When I was young and my mum used to take me to the hairdressers she would always tip them a few quid so to me it seems the norm. However, until I moved out of home a couple of months ago I lived in an area where all the hairdressers were VERY expensive, even the independent ones had upped their prices a lot over the last few years and were charging around £40 (or more!) for a basic cut and blow dry, so I didn't tip them as I could just about afford the haircut let alone any extras!

I haven't had my hair cut since I moved (although it's in desperate need of it haha) but down the highstreet near me there is a small place charging £25 for a cut and blow dry, so if they're good I will probably tip them. This place is an independent place but they still have a tier system like those big chains such as Toni & Guy where there are stylists, then senior stylists, then style experts or whatever and the price goes up depending on who you see, which quite suprised me as if I decided to see a higher level cutter it would be very expensive again.

KiKi

Thank you for your replies, everyone, that's really helpful.

I'll be finding myself a new hairdresser for next time, as the place has changed hands and I didn't like the new atmosphere at all. But it's good to know what the standard practice is.

Cheers
KiKi

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

I tip the kid who washes my hair/sweeps up. The stylist makes enough IMO from the cut itself.

But having worked as a waitress many moons ago, I can confirm that not only are Australians never going to tip, they will treat you like a piece of dirt in the process and usually complain over the size of the bill.

Pity really, Kiwis have always been nice, so it's not just backpackers generally.

missm29

i never tip, think the prices have shot up where i go, i pay £43 for a cut, its a very good cut and very good service, which is why i haven't changed salons.

I usually pay by card when eating out which means i don't have to wait for change, have you noticed how some restaurants take forever to bring the change assuming its theirs, can't stand that. We will only tip if the service was excellent.