Hairdressers- teach me how to tip

[Nishky]

This is something I always find awkward, I am quite socially awkward anyway but for some reason this reduces me to total panic and I don't do it at all, but then feel bad about it.

I have changed my hairdresser recently- I had it cut a few weeks ago and love it. Today I had it coloured by someone different and someone else, I think a trainee, blowdryed it. I love it and wanted to tip, but became all panicked and didn't.

So questions

1. How much
   
2. How to hand it over
   
3. I intend to stay with this salon - would it be odd to start tipping having not done it on first visit
   
4. I left a book there so have to go back this week to collect it, could I say 'oh I was so excited by my hair I forgot to leave my tip' and do it then. Or is that just odd and I should leave it until next time.

[MommyVan]

I just hand over a few quid and say "that's for yourself". I don't always have change so don't do it every time.

Can be difficult in a big salon if you're not paying the person who did your hair, in which case I'd say "that's for X, thanks"

I usually give £3-5, haircut and colour etc is normally £80.

[MrsGsnow18]

I would wait until next time now. I just either ask for no change if there is a little bit over e.g say hair cost 48 and I give them £50 or if it is a more exact amount I will then hand them £2 or £3 and say that's for you. They all have jars etc that they keep tips in and are always very happy to receive tips no matter how small. Sometimes if I trainee has washed my hair I will leave £1 or even £2 (if they made me tea or helped with something else) and I'll just give it to whoever is taking the money and say that it's for x.

[Nishky]

Ok, leave it until next time.

I am shocking with names though. In my old salon I actually booked an appointment with the wrong stylist as I forgot who did my hair. So saying 'this is for "insert name" would also fill me with fear in case I said the wrong name.

I usually pay by card which is part of the problem too.

[ProjectGainsborough]

Just make sure you have a bit of change. And you can always just say 'that's for the lady who did my hair' if you can't remember their name.

I know it's hard when you're anxious, but try not to overthink it! Unless you physically throw the money at their heads, it's just a moment in their day

[SmallTownTwirl]

I find it incredibly awkward as well. I earn less than most hairdressers too. I see payslips a lot in my job. I go for a couple of euro for the girl who washes it. nothing for the stylist as I'm as certain as I can be that she's earning more than i am. I don't get tips in my job. Its a ridiculous concept and I blame the Americans for paying some employees two dollars an hour. we end up earning 8.65 like the hairdressers and having to tip them, whilst not receiving a tip ourselves. Then, even if you can afford to tip them, they (the stylists) invariably end up with two tiers of customer! their wealthy customers and their ordinary customers.

The whole concept of tipping just ruins experience. for everybody.

[bojorojo]

People can tip if they want to but with the minimum wage this is not necessary. There are poorly paid people in shops and in the health service but no-one tips a helpful shop assistant or the ward cleaner in a hospital. In America tipping is huge and when there we really have to think about it because the norm is to double the tax - i.e. About 15-20% as the tip.

I don't tip my hairdresser. I pay at least £100 every 6 weeks. I have gone to them for 15 years and I am a good customer. They charge what they need to stay in buskness and pay staff appropriately. Just like every other business!

[N0tfinished]

I generally only tip the juniors- the ones doing washing etc. I'd walk over to them & hand it with a thanks. They get paid very little as I understand it.

[smurfest]

I pay the bill by card and then hand over a couple of quid and say something like 'thats the tip'. If I've not been happy with the service I don't tip.

But then I don't spend as much as bojorojo on my hair - I probably only go 3 or 4 times a year and my last cut cost £28

[RockyBird]

My last cut and colour was £48. I gave him the £50.

I used to tip my last stylist 10% until the salon owner took me aside and told me £1-2 was more than enough.

[FishChipsAndBeans]

I don't tip either. Like bojorojo, I have my hair cut and coloured every six weeks. I spend around £70 a time and I don't feel like I should tip on top of that. We have minimum wage in this country and I don't tip other industries such as shop workers or people who deliver parcels or bin men/women, so I don't see why hairdressers are any different.

[Leviticus]

I only have my hair done 4 times a year and it costs over £100. My hairdresser is literally the only person who can colour my hair properly- I like my highlights done really fine and there is a note on my record to say she needs extra time. I tip her a tenner each time because I know doing me is a ball ache for her and because I like her.

[neveradullmoment99]

I just dont tip. I just use my card and leave.

[itsbetterthanabox]

I tip 10%. I give it at the end after I pay. I hand it to my hairdresser and say it's for her. Or for her and the apprentice who washed my hair.
It wouldn't be strange to tip from now on. Don't worry.
If you'd like to tip when you go back just say oh I didn't have change the other day here's your tip now I loved the cut.

[itsbetterthanabox]

If she's not there for you to give the tip to then ask the receptionist who you saw as you as forgotten her name, they'll have it in their diary. Then ask the receptionist to pass the tip on to her plus your thanks.

[Ladyformation]

I tip a ridiculous amount because I'm only at the hairdresser 3/4 times per year and I like particular pain in the arse treatment.

I used to feel the same way as you until I realised, in the nicest possible way, that we're being really silly - the hairdresser would definitely prefer to get the cash than not because I feel awkward about it. So, I perfected the following method: take out enough cash to pay for the whole thing, including tip. When you get to the till, pull out cash, count to the total that you've just been told, then either add another note and say "and that makes [new total]" or else "no need for change", profuse thanks, big smile, leave quickly. This feels so so much less awkward to me than the card/cash combo, though I have no idea why....

[megletthesecond]

I just tip a quid to the person who washes my hair. And a quid to the hairdresser if they've done a good job or slotted me in at short notice, I only have a simple wash and cut though. Same for leg waxes.

[bojorojo]

I would love a cut and colour for £48!!! Where? Sometimes my bill is on excess of £100!

[puglife15]

Eek I tip £5 for cut, £10 for colour and cut to the stylist and hope they'll pass it on to anyone else who deserves it tbh. Although the stylist typically washes my hair too. My hair takes ages to do for some reason (last time was 5.5 hours) so I feel I should tip because of this.

[RockyBird]

Bojo it was a groupon deal, the price was actually £34 but I had a few highlights extra.

It was a new guy and I'll be more than happy to go back and pay full price.

[Nishky]

Thank you for all the replies, and thank you Project for being so kind about my anxiety!

There is a variety of opinions on tipping or not! I think I will start tipping next time. If I am brave I may do it when I collect the book.

[justwanttoweeinpeace]

I thought a blanket 10% to hairdressers / nail technicians etc etc. Am I doing it wrong?

[Joinourclub]

Where are the hairdressers? It's only customers commenting! I want to be able to tip the poorly paid junior who washes my hair, but the stylist takes the payment. It just feels too awkward to hand over a tip that isn't for her, so I end up tipping nothing!

[MistresssIggi]

I used to round up, but then the price went up to a round figure so now I sometimes just put £3 extra down (I have the right money with me) and sometimes I don't. I've started going more often and I think repeat custom is worth more than a tip! Plus my hairdresser has her own salon and I expect earns more than me.

[JanetStWalker]

I stick to 10% and with an extra couple of quid for the young hair washing kid.

It's something I've done for years without thinking about, sounds like tipping is becoming less common now?

[Ilovetorrentialrain]

And this is why my hair's a mess and not been cut for nearly a year! I find going to the hairdresser a real minefield (not just the cost, the tipping pantomime etc but actually how to get the cut and colour I'd like too).

Great thread OP, agree with PP it would be great to hear from a hair stylist.