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Style & beauty

Why should we tip the hairdresser?

(103 Posts)
carol58 Tue 06-Mar-18 14:38:27

I've used the same hairdresser for years. She knows my hair well and doesn't even have to think about what she's doing, it's just autopilot. She gets paid for her services so why should I tip her as well? I wouldn't dream of tipping a plumber, the local grocer, the decorator etc.! If she's not earning enough then she should put up her prices or see more clients! I do buy her a Xmas pressie every year BTW...

Teetime Tue 06-Mar-18 14:45:55

We have discussed this several times before and people seem to differ widely in their approach. I have a nice hairdresser she goes out of her way to do my hair as I want it and regularly offers changes I might like. She charges me £60 approx. but I wouldn't think much of that actually ends up in her pocket. I tip her £5 my daughter tells me it should be quite a bit more. I'm happy with £5 and so is she so we shall carryon as we are.

carol58 Tue 06-Mar-18 14:52:40

I couldn't afford to pay that amount to have mine done, let alone tip an extra fiver!

MaizieD Tue 06-Mar-18 15:05:20

My hairdresser is self employed. I expect her pricing to be worked out to cover her costs and make enough profit to provide her with an income. I've been going to her for several years now; I've never considered tipping her.

Perhaps I'll ask her what she thinks about tipping next time I see her..

Nanawind Tue 06-Mar-18 15:42:46

As it happens I've had my hair cut and coloured this morning £45 and I've tipped £2, she seems happy and so am i, my hair is short and I go every 5-6 weeks always on a Tuesday as that is discount day for over 55's. I have been to her for over 15 years so she must be good for me.
But I have seen others tip £10 and some nothing at all. I think you should give what your comfortable with.

silverlining48 Tue 06-Mar-18 16:04:20

My hairdresser is self employed and comes to my house so what I lose by having to stick my head over the sink and get wet and a backache, i gain as the price is lower than if I go to a salon.
I always tip her, often round up to the next tenner. She is always happy with whatever I give.

lemongrove Tue 06-Mar-18 16:13:19

When I have my hair trimmed I tip about £2 but when I have highlights/lowlights ( costs about £60) then I add £10.
More than ten per cent tip, but she does it well, and listens to how I say I want her to do it.
I only have this done about 2/3 times a year anyway.

carol58 Tue 06-Mar-18 16:24:05

Well there seem to be mixed opinions but mostly on the side of tipping. I must just bes tight! I do wonder, however, if people tip because it is 'expected' or because they think she's gone above & beyond? I am shocked by how much some of you pay. How on earth do you afford it?

Oopsadaisy12 Tue 06-Mar-18 16:35:04

I used to go to a salon to have my hair done, my hairdresser was self employed and I tipped her, I also tipped the girl that washed my hair and I also gave a tip to the colourist, it cost me a fortune! Now I go to a salon where one girl does the lot and I give her £5.00 she seems very happy with it.

sodapop Tue 06-Mar-18 17:33:29

We have been down this road several times. Tips should only be given if a service is provided over and above what is necessary. Why are hairdressers considered worthy of tips when so many other workers are not. Are we scared of what they may do to our hair ?

Charleygirl Tue 06-Mar-18 17:39:14

On the whole they are paid badly and do not forget that the Inland Revenue take into consideration that these folk receive tips.

My wash, cut and blow dry costs me around £23 and I tip £2. I would never consider tipping a tenner or even a fiver.

sodapop Tue 06-Mar-18 19:11:43

Many other workers are not well paid but we don't feel its necessary to tip them. Shop workers, refuse disposal, hospital staff to name but a few. I just wonder why hairdressers are so needy.

MawBroon Tue 06-Mar-18 19:19:22

I don’t.

suzied Tue 06-Mar-18 19:24:27

I do tip the hairdresser, nail girl, waiter but since Uber - not the taxi driver! My Italian sister iL tells me not to tip waiters!

Cherrytree59 Tue 06-Mar-18 19:25:56

I pay my hairdresser what she asks for doing my hair.
Unless its Xmas I do not tip.
My lovely hairdresser works for herself, she drives a brand new car and has her own accountant.
I'm fairly sure she doesn't tip her accountant.hmm

Eloethan Tue 06-Mar-18 19:30:11

I don't tip my hairdresser because she is the owner. I do tip people who wash my hair, make me a cup of tea, etc. because they don't earn that much.

You don't have to tip - customers can do what they want to do.

Bridgeit Tue 06-Mar-18 19:46:07

I find the whole tipping thing stressful, makes me feel uncomfortable (Lady of the Manor sort of thing) & mean if I don’t. But I have just found a really nice young lady in a new salon, decided not to start it & I always pay by card so that makes me feel less pressure.

Janki Tue 06-Mar-18 20:12:59

My daughter is a hairdresser and I can tell you that the only rich hairdressers are those with their own salons. Any one employed on a traditional contract will never become rich. Having said that I don't tip hairdressers, I don't tip at all. Nobody ever tipped me every time they read my work.

carol58 Tue 06-Mar-18 23:16:47

Ahh*sodapop*, it seems I'm not the only one to wonder why hairdressers are so needy! Glad to see others think tipping is a ridiculous notion too.

lemongrove Tue 06-Mar-18 23:32:03

I don’t see them as needy, but unless they are the salon owners or co owners, hairdressers don’t earn a fortune.
They are also doing a very personal job for you, and you build up a rapport with them over time.If they go the extra mile for you, e.g. listen to what you want and do their best to achieve it for you, fetch magazines and coffee, and even having a dry trim, put a bit of styling into it, then that is worth a tip ( in my book).

cornergran Tue 06-Mar-18 23:34:43

I’m another one who doesn’t tip her hairdresser. She was the owner of the salon but now chooses to work part time and is self employed. Goodness charley I think you get a bargain. I pay £32 in deepest, darkest Somerset. Just a little envious.

mumofmadboys Tue 06-Mar-18 23:41:49

I go to the hairdressers with washed wet hair. It is four minutes walk from home. A cut and blow dry costs £17.50 and I tip a pound each time. I don't colour my hair.

MissAdventure Tue 06-Mar-18 23:44:05

I tip my hairdresser, but then she has charged me the same price for around 15 years!
I think she is her own worse enemy in terms of feeling sorry for people and giving them reduced rates and so on.

Synonymous Wed 07-Mar-18 00:39:26

I have never tipped and am amazed at the fact that so many do so as well as paying a hefty price. I pay £24 for a cut and blow dry and think that is quite enough! confused

Grannyguitar Wed 07-Mar-18 08:50:54

I pay £9 for just a cut or £12 wet cut, in a local salon.
Usually tip about £1-2. Sadly, they are retiring soon.