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HOW MUCH DO YOU TIP YOUR HAIRDRESSER?

(93 Posts)
Outcast52 Fri 02-May-25 14:02:57

Two threads today about hairdressers reminds me that I keep meaning to ask on here about tipping. I always feel I should but am never sure how much. I never give less than £5 but if I've spent £80+ for colours etc, it makes it a very expensive visit. The salon is small and friendly and my usual hairdresser is lovely - good chat and useful advice. Do people have a set amount? Or work out a percentage as we sometimes do with restaurant bills? Or not at all? Or does it depend on how pleased you are with the result?!

eazybee Sun 04-May-25 08:28:54

You do realise that the minions of the Income Tax Collectors, who read the back pages of local newspapers for adverts about small businesses, will be reading this and calculating an average of tips to add to their demands from small businesses. So much easier than tackling the large conglomerations.

Catterygirl Sat 03-May-25 23:09:28

I have a hairdresser in central London. He lost his house and salon and now works in someone else’s salon so I gave him £10 tip and he seemed upset about it as we knew each other for 25 years and both lost our family home and business at the same time so he knew I couldn’t really afford it and seemed upset. Then COVID came along and I don’t know what to do now if I visit him.

sharon103 Sat 03-May-25 18:01:31

sodapop

Spot on Grannytomany I totally agree with you.

So do I agree.

GrannyIvy Sat 03-May-25 17:49:18

I don’t tip as my hairdresser owns the business and is expensive. However I do give him £10 extra at Christmas and ask him to get himself a bottle of wine

sodapop Sat 03-May-25 17:42:31

Spot on Grannytomany I totally agree with you.

Gin Sat 03-May-25 17:32:31

Gosh some of you have good deals. I have my haircut in a rural market town, a nice place but nothing special and for a wash, trim and blow-dry it is £50. The same stylist has cut my hair for 25 years and I tip her a fiver so I do not go very frequently as I could not afford it. I am confused as to why there is such a wide variation in prices across the country. My salon is owned by two Italian cousins, it is not a chain.

Grannytomany Sat 03-May-25 17:08:02

I’ve never tipped the hairdresser and can’t understand why people do this. It’s their job and they set the price so why should customers pay more?

I don’t routinely tip the window cleaner, gardener, cleaner or podiatrist so why is hairdressing special?

TwiceAsNice Sat 03-May-25 17:06:58

My hairdresser is lovely and cuts and colours my hair exactly as I like it. I go every 6 weeks for a cut which costs £36 and I give a £5 tip. Every 12 weeks it’s a cut and colour which costs £106 and I tip £10 . I also tip £10 and give a bottle of wine as a gift at Xmas

MaizieD Sat 03-May-25 17:04:06

I haven't tipped a hairdresser for decades. I give my current one something at Christmas.

Judy54 Sat 03-May-25 16:55:26

Yes I would say around 10%. I don't put it on a card, prefer to give tips in cash. As it is often difficult to find change I and some of my Hairdressers other Clients save up the tips throughout the Year and give it to him as part of his Christmas box. He is very happy with this.

Mollygo Sat 03-May-25 15:17:50

BlueBelle

Well I don’t agree with presents for teachers as the mothers all try to outdo one another and it become ps a horrible contest at the school gates
My daughter has nursed in the NHS for 40 years and I can count any presents on one hand !!

Even all teachers don't agree with presents, but telling parents that is a waste of time.
We have tried it, but then you get boxes or envelopes sneaked into the classroom, or parents accosting you in the playground saying things like, “I know we’re not supposed to but I just had to give you a little something to say thank you for what you’ve done for xxxx.”
You know you’ve got the sibling next year, so you don’t want to risk upsetting the parent and certainly not in a public place. So what do you do?

I don’t tip my hairdresser for the same reason as Ziplock.
Recently a small group of us went to a restaurant and I asked before ordering, if they automatically added a service charge of their choice to our meal.
When they said yes, we decided not to stay, and they decided not to charge, but we won’t go again.

dogsmother Sat 03-May-25 15:01:38

Can’t believe prices you are paying for a cut and blow dry, so envy this. My very short pixie style needs 6 weekly attention to stay in order at least and costs me £50+ no colouring ever. I wish a barber would do it.

Leopard79 Sat 03-May-25 14:54:51

I don't tip anyone.

The UK has minimum wage 🤷🏻‍♀️

Fluffyjumper Sat 03-May-25 14:12:38

My hairdresser charges me £28 for a wash, cut, and blow dry. I always give her £30. I sometimes nip into the salon in between cuts if my fringe needs a tidy up, and she never charges me, so I reckon the small tip is worth it!

Ziplok Sat 03-May-25 13:47:31

No, I don’t tip my hairdresser. She raises her prices annually, so I assume that covers her costs.

BlueBelle Sat 03-May-25 13:33:32

Well I don’t agree with presents for teachers as the mothers all try to outdo one another and it become ps a horrible contest at the school gates
My daughter has nursed in the NHS for 40 years and I can count any presents on one hand !!

keepingquiet Sat 03-May-25 12:57:03

Nurses get presents- so do teachers- they are not allowed to take cash because their wages are paid through our taxes, unlike hairdressers.

I don't tip much anymore- usually only for good service after a proper meal out.

BlueBelle Sat 03-May-25 12:53:33

I don’t tip either why should I tip a hairdresser but not a nurse
It doesn’t make sense it’s done to make you feel good well I d rather give to charity My hairdresser has much more money than me judging by her house and car I ll give her tip to my favourite charity instead

farmgran Sat 03-May-25 12:49:50

I'm so thankful we don't do tipping in NZ!

Jane43 Sat 03-May-25 11:56:52

My cut and blow dry is £26.50 so I give her £30 and tell her to keep the change, if I also have my eyebrows tinted it costs £12 and I give her an extra £2,

Ladyripple Sat 03-May-25 11:47:19

My hairdresser is expensive.I never tip.

Daddima Sat 03-May-25 11:38:48

Cabbie21

I was always taught that you don’t tip the owner of a business, so I don’t tip my hairdresser, except at Christmas.
I’ve just come back from a coach trip and tipped the driver/ tour leader, even though he owns the business. He worked incredibly hard, looking after all the arrangements as well as driving, and always putting our comfort as a high priority.

That’s what I thought, Cabbie21, but mobile hairdressers or ones who ‘rent’ chairs are a bit different, I think.
Funnily enough, we were at a function last week, and talking about tips for the waiting staff, and the lovely young man who served us was telling us ( after we had tipped him), that since Covid more people are paying their share of a bill by card, so their tips have gone down a good bit.
I’d always ask if tips added on to a card payment goes to the staff, but usually try to have coins for the junior hairdresser’s staff.

Oldbat1 Sat 03-May-25 11:31:15

I dont tip.

Mt61 Sat 03-May-25 11:28:41

Like my husband says, nobody ever tipped us at work.
I always tipped the builder- why? When he’s living in a big, fancy house.

Mt61 Sat 03-May-25 11:26:11

I do tip- but really, I think it’s expensive enough. My hairdresser has just bought a brand new EV, whilst I am running around in an eight year old car 🙄