Tipping my Hairdresser

Standingtall

So, I have just posted on a thread regarding tipping in restaurants. However, what really bugs me is whether or not I should tip my hairdresser? This has puzzled me for the last 30 years, lol:rotfl: My mum and my best mate tip their hairdresser - but why? At £40 for a cut and finish is this really necessary? Is there a difference according the type of salon; e.g. saks or Toni and Guy, versus a local salon not being a franchise.

Look forward to your responses.:j

Sugar_Coated_Owl

Last time I went to the hairdresser it cost over £100.00. I don't see why I should give a tip on top of that.

elsien

I don't use hairdressers but I have the same query about beauty treatments - massage etc. I don't tip because I'm paying for the service and I expect it to be good, but I'm aware that others do.

Nine_Lives

A lot of hairdressers are stupidly priced anyway. How do these people get off on charging so much? Then it's seen as "only right" that you tip them. Why?

They get paid an hourly rate. Why do they deserve a tip? I get paid an hourly rate for a building firm, nobody tips me.

When you go to hospital & get patched up by a nurse, who's done something much more important than cutting your hair, do you tip the nurse? Or if you have surgery, do you tip the surgeon for fixing you up? No.

So why do people like hairdressers & waitresses get all the tips? IMO, if anyone deserves tips, it's people like nurses.

Bogof_Babe

I think it stems from the premise that hairdressers and others in service type jobs weren't paid very much, but nowadays with minimum wage they are probably no different from most people who work in retail or entry level office jobs.

Wish I'd never started tipping mine, because if I stop now she'll think she's done something wrong. Then there's the obligatory extra 50p for the shampoo girl, it all adds quite a bit onto the price of a hairdo.

fatballs

I spend £40 for a cut and blow dry at the hairdresser and tip £10. I have very curly hair and she has a real job of having to cut it first while wet and then again when it's dry, and also blow dry and GHD it. Plus I only go every 6 months so it's not exactly a big splurge.

I don't tip other services (eyebrow threading, manicures) because I don't think they work as hard for the money, they don't make an effort to chat (and remember what we chatted about from half a year ago), or bring me cups of tea, and also it takes minutes rather than an hour and a half.

PasturesNew

I walk in with wet hair, get it cut, leave with it wet.... usually paying under £10 and tipping £1 or so.

Standingtall

Thanks for the responses everyone. Really appreciated. I think on balance I may not tip in future:)

Kazipoo

I don't think hairdressers expect the tip. In the salon I am at the only people that tip tend to be the older generation. I must admit though, they are very VERY generous, despite the service sometimes having cost upwards of £80.

w211

I use the same barber and I tip £1. If you're a regular customer and you tip, they will look after you.

Bogof_Babe

Kazipoo wrote: »

I don't think hairdressers expect the tip. In the salon I am at the only people that tip tend to be the older generation. I must admit though, they are very VERY generous, despite the service sometimes having cost upwards of £80.

The tipping "rule" is 10-15% of the cost of whatever you're paying, so someone having a £80 hairdo might feel obliged to tip £8.

Most of us can't afford to be that generous these days can we? I tip about 6%, which I think is quite enough on top of the £45 charge.