Do you tip the hairdressers?

No I never tip. I'd feel like I was being patronising if I did. I think it's awful in this day and age to expect a tip - just charge what they feel the job is worth.

I used to many years ago when there'd be a box with different sections with each member of staff's name on, but I'd feel so awkward never knowing what was 'enough'.

There is a much cheaper way to get cut/colour/finish: If you have time try your local college that does courses for hairdressing. Apprentices are there under instruction and there are normally two tutors on each session keeping a close eye on the students. It does take much longer and it is only during term time.

I have been to three colleges: Peterborough, Bournemouth and Strode (in Street). A lot of colleges have a Barbering course and are very short of men wanting their hair cut. Some do beauty, waxing, nails, massage etc.

I don't, I find it hard enough to save up the money to go on the occasional visit. I'm in a similar self-employed trade and I don't expect tips, I just price fairly to be paid enough from the bill

I usually tip £5 - £10 depending what I've had done.
But if I was having to pay £290 I wouldn't give a tip. That's really expensive 😕

My sister does my hair so I don’t, but her clients often do tip. She never expects it, but if a client is really pleased with their experience and tips her she always is grateful. It’s a low paid profession for the years of training they have… not just cutting, but they need to know how to colour and the reactions that happen as well as how to undo those reactions safely if they are correcting a home hair or another salons mistakes. My sister trained for 2 years to become a competent stylist. She worked for a few years as a junior stylists before getting her senior stylist role and is now training to become a qualified trichologist. The majority of the payment at a salon goes to the salon for electric,water, consumables etc. the stylist get little more than minimum wage, so tips are very much appreciated!

Of course you don’t need to tip when you’re paying almost £300. Where is this salon?

I had that with the hairdresser who was quite surly suddenly being chatty with me after she had finished while I got my purse out.

I didn’t even clock that was the reason for the mood change 😂 until after I paid (no tip) and she reverted to being unfriendly again.

Never went back to that hairdresser again.

Presumably the salon is in a high-rent area. You can’t possibly speculate on what an individual hairdresser is earning, based on the price of a cut and colour. Unless it’s the salon owner they’ll just be paid a salary. Average salaries for hairdressers are £20-30,000 - well below the median wage.

I'm aware of the overheads, but that is still FAR more than any of those highly trained professionals working in incredibly stressful jobs are earning.

I suspect she will be earning a LOT more than £29 of a £290 bill. Or how are all the other normal priced hairdressers making a living ?

I give the usually much younger trainee around £3-5 for washing my hair and tip the stylist around 10%-12%.

I tip for all my hair and beauty appointments, they work hard and charge well but it's just to show my appreciation and it usually means they go above and beyond because they know I tip! I also bring coffee and pastries, but it's not necessary. I have an appointment at least every week so I like to build relationships with them.

But the hairdresser isn't taking home £290 on a £290 haircut. Her hourly rate is probably less than a tenth of that.

I’m £30 for half hour of a cut and blow. Easy to layer and trim. I do t tend to tip tbh. I sometimes give her the £5 for my fringe (£3) and a bit extra at Christmas.

I would not be tipping at those prices! I’ll stick to my small northern town salon

I do , usually £5 , £10 in December , but I pay about £30 for a cut and that’s it ! At almost £300 I’m not sure I would!

It really, really is.

Read the examples of prices other people pay.

Have a look at what Doctors earn per hour perhaps, or paramedics, or police officers, or social workers, or indeed carers who do such vital work in society, and think about how that compares.

Why ?
That makes no sense to me at all.

I do not tip hairdresser or nails (same place) however I do go regularly and they run a loyalty card scheme but they hold on to the cards. Don’t know what mine is at but I never pursue it. They have a price list. I pay that. No to tipping but equally no need to give me ‘bonus’ amounts off.

I’d never pay £290 for my hair!

When a student is at university they pay for materials and equipment. Don’t see why apprentices cannot? They will have their scissors for decades if they look after them. At least they are earning money.

Nope, never. They set the prices and should charge what they need/want.
On the whole though, I don't 'get' tipping. Especially now that the UK has a minimum wage, it's not like in the US or in previous generations in the UK where tipping would have been something the 'better offs' did to 'help' the service classes. Now there are fixed prices for those services and they should be set for sustainability of the business and to pay staff appropriately. I know, in reality, there are many people working full time who are struggling financially. But, do we start tipping the shelf stackers in Asda if they help us find the eggs? It's too tricky to work out who might need the extra help just based on industries, or individual companies these days

Why? Those are crazy prices.

That's not the fault of paying customers though.

I always tip and if I’m paying as much as £290 then I’d be even more likely to tip.