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Original poster

Do you tip your hairdresser if the rate is already high?

120 replies

Livida · 30/11/2023 18:46

I'm trying a new hairdresser and am going to be charged £45 for a wet cut. At my old place (moved house) they charged £30 and I gave a £5 tip and wine at Christmas. But I really don't want to pay more on top of £45 (still happy to do Christmas wine if I end up going back though!) Is this really mean of me? I wasn't going to get it cut at all but it really needs it so I can't put it off any longer.

OP posts:
BlueGrey1 · 30/11/2023 22:59

@Snowballs138

i make sure I have enough change / money on me that I can give them the exact amount and be on my merry way

FreshWinterMorning · 30/11/2023 23:05

I never tip no matter what the price. Tipping is antiquated and outdated. Many years ago - pre late 1990s, some people had very low pay - like waiters/waitresses, cleaners, and hairdressers, so people gave tips to bump up the wage.

Now we have the national minimum wage, there is no need to tip at ALL. Most people get an adequate wage ... Do you tip the checkout operator in the supermarket? Or the GP receptionist? Or the nurse in the hospital? Or the dentist? Or the man who comes to do the safety check up on the gas boiler? Or the woman running the fruit stall in the market? Of course not. So why tip the hairdresser? Confused

SlightlyJaded · 30/11/2023 23:07

My hair is £190 for cut/colour/blow dry. That is plenty. I've tried doing it a bit cheaper but she is brilliant and took me years to find. And tbh that is fairly standard where I am. It's the one thing, amongst many things I've cut back on, that I've hung on to. Plus she always gives me a bit of salon quality tint to keep my roots going in between visits - so this means I go 3 x a year max. I tried to tip her the first time I went and she told me not to be ridiculous - I'd just spent nearly £200.

So the people I tip are:

Waiting Staff - 15%
Food delivery people - £5
Cabs - 'keep the change' but not less than £3

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Brightonhome · 30/11/2023 23:11

I give my hairdresser £5 cash and the girl who washed my hair £5 too as she's paid a lot less. I only go once every ten weeks and it's a really nice treat for me. It costs around £90 for the cut and highlights, so topping it up to £100 doesn't seem overly excessive. I'd tip more than £10 if my meal in a restaurant was £90 as long as I was happy.

Livinginanotherworld · 30/11/2023 23:15

I usually have a style director cut and colour, it’s over £100 so I don’t feel the need to tip, however if the junior who washes my hair take the time for a good head massage rather than going through the motions I always tip them a fiver.

SheilaFentiman · 30/11/2023 23:17

I don’t tip, and my hairdresser washes my hair herself.

missushbbb · 30/11/2023 23:24

I'm so surprised with the amount of people who don't tip their hairdresser! I'd be so embarrassed not to tip.

peanutbuttertoasty · 30/11/2023 23:31

My hair now costs >£200 (London, cut and highlights) so no, I don’t tip. Whenever I have in the past I’ve found it an incredibly awkward transaction. What on earth do you say?

witchypaws · 30/11/2023 23:36

No, he's the owner (sole hairdresser)
Pay £85 for the full thing and £50 for a dry cut

ithinkthatmaybeimdreaming · 01/12/2023 00:07

missushbbb · 30/11/2023 23:24

I'm so surprised with the amount of people who don't tip their hairdresser! I'd be so embarrassed not to tip.

Why? Do you tip everyone else who performs a service for you?

I don't live in the UK, and thank goodness tipping has never been a thing here. Some cafes/restaurants have a tip jar on the counter, but it certainly isn't expected. I think a hairdresser here would be most surprised if anyone offered a tip.

Original poster
Livida · 01/12/2023 07:28

I wish a hairdresser would reply and put us out of our misery by telling us what they expect 😂

OP posts:
Neolara · 01/12/2023 07:34

I always tip in restaurants but I never tip my hairdresser.

WashItTomorrow · 01/12/2023 07:43

I never tip.

Chagallo · 01/12/2023 07:53

Always and I always have.

usernother · 01/12/2023 09:25

"Why? Do you tip everyone else who performs a service for you?"

Not everyone but I do tip lots of people. I tip the man who washes my car, our binmen and postman get tipped at Xmas, the woman who does my brows, my nail person, always in restaurants unless service is really bad. I tip in bars that provide table service. All these people are on low salaries and I've worked in restaurants, bars and hairdressers so I know how welcome the tips are.

Missushbb · 01/12/2023 09:35

Performs a service for you! Only mumsnet.

RudsyFarmer · 01/12/2023 09:36

This is the reason I cut my own hair now. I got so confused with hairdresser etiquette I couldn’t deal with it anymore. Why am I tipping hairdressers? I don’t get it.

SWSO · 01/12/2023 09:37

I did the other day because she was cheap £16 . She did exactly what I wanted and I was very pleased with the results.

RudsyFarmer · 01/12/2023 09:37

usernother · 01/12/2023 09:25

"Why? Do you tip everyone else who performs a service for you?"

Not everyone but I do tip lots of people. I tip the man who washes my car, our binmen and postman get tipped at Xmas, the woman who does my brows, my nail person, always in restaurants unless service is really bad. I tip in bars that provide table service. All these people are on low salaries and I've worked in restaurants, bars and hairdressers so I know how welcome the tips are.

How are you ‘tipping’ binmen and postmen? Chocolate, cash, flashing of tits on the way past?

Comedycook · 01/12/2023 09:38

usernother · 01/12/2023 09:25

"Why? Do you tip everyone else who performs a service for you?"

Not everyone but I do tip lots of people. I tip the man who washes my car, our binmen and postman get tipped at Xmas, the woman who does my brows, my nail person, always in restaurants unless service is really bad. I tip in bars that provide table service. All these people are on low salaries and I've worked in restaurants, bars and hairdressers so I know how welcome the tips are.

If you can afford it then good for you.

However a lot of people who use these services may also be on low wages, maybe even less than those who are performing the service.

RudsyFarmer · 01/12/2023 09:39

FreshWinterMorning · 30/11/2023 23:05

I never tip no matter what the price. Tipping is antiquated and outdated. Many years ago - pre late 1990s, some people had very low pay - like waiters/waitresses, cleaners, and hairdressers, so people gave tips to bump up the wage.

Now we have the national minimum wage, there is no need to tip at ALL. Most people get an adequate wage ... Do you tip the checkout operator in the supermarket? Or the GP receptionist? Or the nurse in the hospital? Or the dentist? Or the man who comes to do the safety check up on the gas boiler? Or the woman running the fruit stall in the market? Of course not. So why tip the hairdresser? Confused

This is the confusing bit! I earn NMW in a non-tipping profession. Why would I tip a cleaner who earns as much as £10 an hour more than me. That’s bonkers.

FreshWinterMorning · 01/12/2023 10:15

usernother · 01/12/2023 09:25

"Why? Do you tip everyone else who performs a service for you?"

Not everyone but I do tip lots of people. I tip the man who washes my car, our binmen and postman get tipped at Xmas, the woman who does my brows, my nail person, always in restaurants unless service is really bad. I tip in bars that provide table service. All these people are on low salaries and I've worked in restaurants, bars and hairdressers so I know how welcome the tips are.

@usernother

But they are NOT on 'low salaries.' They are on the national minimum wage - like the majority of workers in this country. (Some are on more.) Do you really think 'the binmen' are on a low wage?! 😆 They earn more than most 'non professionals.' They earn nearly £40K where I live. And my postie is on £37K. (Midlands.)

Why don't you tip the checkout operators in every store you go to, (every single time you go,) and the staff on the tills in the post office, or the chap who comes to look at your boiler to do a safety check, etc etc. I find tipping the postman and the binmen utterly bizarre. Confused I don't know a soul who does that in real life tbh.

Do some people really believe that serving staff, carers, hairdressers (and binmen and posties!) etc get 2 quid an hour or something? It's not 1993!

@RudsyFarmer

I earn NMW in a non-tipping profession. Why would I tip a cleaner who earns as much as £10 an hour more than me. That’s bonkers.

EXACTLY the point I was making.

I work hard for only about 7% above the national minimum wage (white collar job/admin) and no fcuker ever tips me Sad

JaniceJanice · 01/12/2023 10:20

FreshWinterMorning · 01/12/2023 10:15

@usernother

But they are NOT on 'low salaries.' They are on the national minimum wage - like the majority of workers in this country. (Some are on more.) Do you really think 'the binmen' are on a low wage?! 😆 They earn more than most 'non professionals.' They earn nearly £40K where I live. And my postie is on £37K. (Midlands.)

Why don't you tip the checkout operators in every store you go to, (every single time you go,) and the staff on the tills in the post office, or the chap who comes to look at your boiler to do a safety check, etc etc. I find tipping the postman and the binmen utterly bizarre. Confused I don't know a soul who does that in real life tbh.

Do some people really believe that serving staff, carers, hairdressers (and binmen and posties!) etc get 2 quid an hour or something? It's not 1993!

@RudsyFarmer

I earn NMW in a non-tipping profession. Why would I tip a cleaner who earns as much as £10 an hour more than me. That’s bonkers.

EXACTLY the point I was making.

I work hard for only about 7% above the national minimum wage (white collar job/admin) and no fcuker ever tips me Sad

Show quote history

I have the same attitude to teacher presents- they get paid to do their job, as do I. I also work in a highly stressful job, with children where the stakes are higher and the hours less sociable… no one would ever buy us presents. I only buy presents for teachers where I can see they have gone above and beyond or out of their way. Otherwise I send in a card saying thanks and merry Christmas.

RudsyFarmer · 01/12/2023 10:21

It’s a weird snobbishness that declares some people as lower working class because of their job title when they’re often on more than those with the more impressive job descriptions.

MsFogi · 01/12/2023 10:21

No, I don't tip anyone - I don't want to end up with the sort of set up they have in America. They set the price, I use them and I pay the price.