Do you tip the hairdresser?

i_love_it

I go to the same hairdresser as I've had for around 5 yrs, visits have got more regular and my style doesnt change much, it is more maintenance that treat or wow factor.
It's quite a swanky salon as has escalated to this over the years.
I pay 70.00 every 5 weeks for roots colour trim and blow dry, i do it often when i'm staying in cos i hate the staining from the colour that thy never ever get out.
I don't tip, the stylist has a superior air though i like her very much, it's inkeeping with the salon! I see it as expensive maintenance (like a household bill, ha ha) and not a treat.
But , I go another less swanky salon for a wash and dry for a night out, 11.00 usually a teenager stylish, i give 2 quid and she seems happy, I'm happy with result and think its cheap but wouldn't go there for colour and cut.
I buy my regular hairdresser bottle of champ for christmas or a voucher if we've been chatting about an interest of hers, usually spend 20 quid, much less than than if i tipped her each time.......
there is no way i'd leave 7 quid upward every 5 weeks for a tip

Birdie85

I've never tipped but now I feel a bit mean! I don't really like paying the £30+ it costs to get my hair cut, I can't really afford to give them any more money on top! I don't like going to the hairdresser and only go when my hair gets to that stage where it needs cutting (you know, one day it is fine, the next it is just too long and too big!), I can't get out quickly enough so I don't want to tip for something I don't enjoy doing!

Stephb1986_2

we have a hair dresser that comes to our house we always tip her she's lovely

Steph xx

whatatwit

So, how many hairdressers tip other 'service' industries.
I work in a launderette and we do the towels for a couple of salons.
They usually want the towels back ASAP and want them folding in a particular way to fit their shelves.

Guess how much they leave?

Yep, nothing.....not even 10p at Christmas.

Stephb1986_2

I run a ironing service with my mum its rare we get tipped

if we do its only the odd 20p here and £1 there

most of the time the stuff is just thrown in the bag and we're expected to work miracles on the stuff!

Steph x

steviewander

I'm not going to get into the virtues of tipping particular professions, but all I can say from a hairdressers perspective, we spend at least 45 mins directly in close contact with the client. This can go up to anything up to 3 hours if they're having a full head of highlights and a cut. When you spend that amount of time with someone, it is easier for both you and the client to develop some sort of a rapport with them. I cannot think of any other profession where you would regularly spend that amount of time with your paying client in such close proximity to them.

It is not beyond the realms of imagination that the hairdresser and the client will develop some sort of friendly relationship whereby the client will often feel like they want to tip you, not necessarily just for the good work, but just also for making the whole timely experience so much better for them. Lord knows they don't want to spend hours with a hairdresser with a face like a wet fish staring at them in the mirror. Tipping is their way of showing their appreciation. I like to think that it is more of personal thing rather than anything to do with custom.

auntypog

I used to work in a salon. There's no need to tip the owner and up to you if you tip the staff. Lots do if they think they've done a good job. One way round this is not to tip week by week but be lavish at Christmas. This still shows your appreciation.

flugellover

This is an interesting thread - i found myself slipping from feeling very guilty about not tipping my hairdresser, to being reassured that a lot of people don't tip. I pay around £28 per cut, every 6-8 weeks. Although I don't tip the hairdresser, I do always give her something at christmas - this past year £30 of vouchers. I figure works out as a reasonable tip per cut. I prefer doing it this way as I, like other posters, feel awkward about the actual 'giving' of the tip - how to do it, where, and when....etc. Feel a bit silly about it now though after reading all the other posts! - but I know I am not alone

Merlot

kellyt1981 wrote: »

I feel such a meanie but no, I don't tip the hairdresser. They are getting paid already, if they feel they don't earn enough then they can find another job.

I don't tip taxi drivers or waiting staff either. I can't afford to leave money left, right and centre.

The same as me, hairdressers are possibly on the same wage as those at Tesco/Asda etc and they don't get tipped, if you feel underpaid get another job, I have never tipped anyone including waiters.

I expect good service because I am paying for it in the price of a cut and blow, and as for these silly "creative director" job titles, its complete nonense, and really, people on MSE should know better, get a £20 cut and blow and you'll be just as happy with it, I have never walked down the street and thought "gosh that's a good cut, she must have paid a fortune for it, as my father says "you can't tell after two weeks if you have had a cr*p cut or not":rotfl:

Merlot.x.

Merlot

steviewander wrote: »

I've heard about the comparisons between shelf stackers and cashiers at supermarkets not expecting tips even though they are on comparable wages. I would argue that the nature of the service you get from hairdressers and supermarket checkout staff are fundamentally different. A *quality* hairdresser should have spent years training to qualify in their trade (longer than plasters/tilers/plumbers) and is spending at least 45 mins with you (if you go to a decent salon). Not so in the case of a supermarket checkout clerk. The difference in experience AND result can vary dramatically from a stylist who really cares about their work & their clients to a stylist who 'can't be bovvered'. At the supermarket, there is not much scope for checkout staff to make such a massive difference in your 'experience' which is virtually always a simple transaction done in a few minutes.

In the 3 years I've worked in this industry, I have been amazed by the indifference some stylists have towards their clientele. A good stylist will make your experience at least pleasant, if not wonderful, as well as giving you fabulous new hair. Only then would I say that you should consider giving a tip. No hairdresser should ever make you feel bad for not tipping. It should be totally at the discretion of the client. Certainly a few pounds is enough and I would consider £5 as being particularly generous. If you cannot afford it, a simple thank you with a smile is much appreciated!

Its only a hair cut for goodness sake...its not a experience, its an essential , lets get back to the real issues in life and stop faffing about with "experiences".

Sorry, hairdressers are no more deserving of tips than any checkout girl/boy at Tesco or shelfstaker, they work just as hard as you do and quite often under tough conditions.

A smile makes all the difference whether you are a cleaner, bin man or the dinner lady and all that is needed..no tips, just a smile.



Merlot.x.