To leave a tip at the hairdresser's?

Once my hairdresser has paid her rent, the loan interest for buying the business, maintenance on the salon, business rates, etc., I very much doubt she earns much more than the average wage.

But that would be the case for so many businesses, it's such an odd train of thought "aww you probably don't earn enough, here is some more of my money, but you'd better prioritise me when I need an apt moved", it just all feels a bit gross don't you think? It's a business, they should set the price at what it needs to be to to earn the living they want/need, and amend their business model if it's not working.

Once my hairdresser has paid her rent, the loan interest for buying the business, maintenance on the salon, business rates, etc., I very much doubt she earns much more than the average wage.

My dentist charges three or four times more than my hairdresser bit again has very high overheads, not least professional indemnity insurance. Mind you, he drives a pretty new and swanky car whereas my hairdresser drives a 15 year old mini that she can barely afford to run.

They are both longstanding and I like and respect them equally. I think my hairdresser works harder and has slightly less mental/professional stress. I think both jobs are pretty physical and I couldn't do them now I am in my 60s. Hats off.

My balayage cut and blow dry every three months costs £200! So no tip from me.

If you tip to get priority booking etc, do you not tip other minimum wage earners (such as staff working in supermarkets etc) because there's no advantage in doing so? E.g tipping the member of staff on a checkout isn't going to get you through the checkout faster on another day or be more friendly to you than another customer so no need to tip.

If salons offered a members fee that would get you the perks would you pay that rather than tip? It seems like there is a market for salons to offer a dual level service to cater for both the people who want a basic level of service (good cut etc with polite staff) and those who appreciate priority booking and lots of personal attention/exclusive deals.

Would you tip a private physiotherapist or dentist?
My hairdresser is clear about their rates and effectively changes £100ph. I do not tip.
Whereas people who wait tables tend to earn £8.60-10ph. Always tip for decent service in cash 10-20%

Better examples thank you! I work in customer service and earn £1 above minimum wage we get we get a few boxes of chocolates at Christmas which is lovely wouldn't be allowed to accept cash anyway

No, I pay what they've asked for for the service. Same as I do with other services. If they charged more, I'd pay more.

I used to be a hairdresser, so I’ve always tipped.

You never put a pound in the charity tin then? Or buy just a packet of mints for 80p or bung a fiver in the food bank tin?

No, never. Charities take cards now you know, and I can buy a pack of 80p mints with my phone. I barely even take my wallet out these days. The only thing I need a rogue £1 for, is non school uniform days, those are the buggers that catch me out!

@RosesAndHellebores I don't really know what you mean. I get my nails done every 2 weeks, hair done every 8, I book my appointments in advance and have had appointments moved with ease when required. I get the service to the standard I want, they're always friendly and chatty, I don't really know what more I should be expecting that I would need to patronise them with a tip?

You never put a pound in the charity tin then? Or buy just a packet of mints for 80p or bung a fiver in the food bank tin?

@tyish, how often do you consider that you get really good service where the provider has gone above and beyond for you?

are you not capable of withdrawing some when you pass a cash machine?

Not really, why would I when I have no reason to use it? It wouldn't get broken down, I never go to our high street (hair dressers isn't on a high street). Literally no reason for me to take cash out.

I tip about a tenner every 3 visits, I go every 6 weeks though and pay about £100.

I'm a nail tech at a hairdressers. A tip is a lovely way to say thank you, I enjoyed my time here and think you've done a great job. Regular tippers are the ones that will be first in line for the last minute appointments or get the bigger smiles/ better service. If you can, you should always tip even a little bit if you plan on returning regularly :)

This so so tacky. You sound like a prostitute, you seriously "smile more" if someone tips you, does that not make you feel cheap? You need to reflect your service in your prices, if you're worth what you set, people will pay it.

All the posters who don't tip because they don't carry cash (the late Queen didn't either so you must all be very regal and important), are you not capable of withdrawing some when you pass a cash machine?

ETA. She rents the chair which increases yearly and products have increased a lot after the lurgy C.

I feel a sense that I’m patronising if I tip. Wiered I know but it does have a sense of ‘There you are poor urchin, scraping out a living. Be grateful for people like me coming your way.’ I think if they set a price there should be no need for tips.

I dont tip i use an expensive hairdresser and a senior stylist. It's in the hundred each time I go. I dont tip on top of that.

I uses to tip ds barbar but he charged £8.50 for a cut

I love my hairdresser. She's transformed me from frumpy to fabulous. So if my colour for eg is £82.00 then I give £90. Haircut £32 she gets £40.

The price my hair has now increased to I absolutely do not tip
It's no longer a benefit for the person who washes your hair, it's now washed by my hairdresser and they keep putting their prices up so no they aren't getting an extra tenner

Oh , so you need to be bribed to do your job correctly.

this is absolute BS . You’ve asked for a price for a service and that’s the amount you should expect.

offering a better service because someone tips is terrible behaviour

@autisticbookworm

True, and we certainly don't tip shop works, factory line workers etc all earnunv minimum wage, I earn £2 over minimum wage and at most I've had a bottle of plonk (regifted i suspect) or been brought a slice of cake

I don’t tip, I pay by card and there’s no option to tip electronically and I never have cash these days. I pay a fair amount for my cut, I’m hoping my hairdresser feels it’s fair. I find tipping at hairdressers so awkward and wish they would just charge me a fair price.

I tip the barber when I take my son, but he costs a fraction of my hairdresser!

£10 tip for cut £20 for colour. @20%. North West. She does a great job.