To tip or not to tip...

[ButterflySally]

...the hairdresser?

What do people normally do? I'm not from England originally and currently live in London - I'm wondering what the 'done' thing is...

TIA

[Bishoplyn]

I normally tip my hairdresser - a cut and colour costs me £40 (Northern Ireland) and I give her £3-5. She does a good job and tends to fit me in at short notice.

[willowstar]

I don't tip my hair dresser. I get my hair cut by the salon owner and I can only just about afford it by not going very often. I figure he probably has a reasonable income and certainly has a far higher standard of living than me...I know because of all the lovely holidays and cars he has, designer clothes etc...he's lovely and we get on well, I have been going to him for years.

however I do tip the girls who wash my hair, seems reasonable to me.

[HelenBa]

I don't, I only see the point of tipping if it's a way of saying thank you to someone for doing a particularly good job / going beyond what is required and sadly I haven't found a hairdresser that good yet...

[miche8]

i don't tip anymore, everything is too expensive, a thankyou and a big smile is fine if you are happy.

[moragbellingham]

I tipped my colourist and cutter this time as I saved a fortune on a special offer. Sometimes I tip neither and tip the girl who washes (I think this is the usual thing when you have 3 people doing your hair as they earn the least).

I always tip for the girl that cuts my DCs as one of them is usually screaming and running for the door constantly (DCs - that is).

[mum295]

I do tip my hairdresser...she does colour, cut and wash herself. I try to give 10% because she does a good job and I am loyal to her. Would be different if I went to see someone as a one-off.

Other than salon owners and top hairdressers in central London, I don't think they earn much.

[HollyBollyBooBoo]

I don't tip every time I go but will buy her a little pressie at xmas time (nice chocs or a DVD of a film she's been talking about) and I bought her a bottle of champagne before she went off to get married/honeymoon.

[peasandlove]

I used to stress over this too, but found now I pay the hairdresser with a card, they dont seem to expect anything extra as a tip. I dont think many people do it in London.
I once tipped the director of a salon £5 after he gave me a fab cut and he seemed quite surprised.

[Bunbaker]

I don't any more. The salon owner does my hair and at £47 a visit it would make my hairdresser trips just too expensive.

[Meggles76]

Same - no tip from me. I get a cut and highlights every 6-8 weeks and it costs me £95. I can just about afford that but not a tip as well.

[starfishmummy]

I use a mobile hairdresser and just tip her at xnas.