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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Not to tip spa/hairdresser?

163 replies

becsparkel · 08/06/2012 22:01

Went to my local spa/salon the other day as a treat (have a 7.5 mo, so this has been a long time coming). Had a lovely relaxing massage & haircut, which was brilliant. The whole thing was pretty expensive and they charged me an extra £10 because I was having a restyle. I don't usually tip spa's as I think they already charge extortionate amounts anyway but I might have tipped the hairdresser if they hadn't charged me an extra tenner.

What's the etiquette and AIBU not to tip the spa therapist and/or hairdresser? The receptionist gave me a dirty look when she saw I hadn't added anything, which makes me wonder if people generally do tip.

Hit me with it!

OP posts:

Original poster

becsparkel · 08/06/2012 22:33

oh, good mixed responses, thanks!

Passme - love the idea of walking into Toni & Guy with veggies.

humpf, well the salon/spa are owned by the same person, so I doubt they're losing money that way. The guy that did my hair is a graduate stylist, which made me think perhaps I should have. It was a very good cut. Also I paid for everything together, so would have been difficult separating the treatments for tipping.

I do tip in restaurants & usually cabs too but I resent tipping for expensive spa/salon treatments. On this occasion though, I think I probably should have tipped the hairdresser because the haircut was so good...

OP posts:

Trioofprinces · 08/06/2012 22:37

Novack - putting change in a charity jar is NOT tipping!!!

I tipped the hairdresser in a salon but din't now as I go to a lady who has a home salon so gets all the money anyway.

Massages and facials I tend to tip about £5 if I've enjoyed it and felt pampered.

Meals - minimum of 10% unless it is shit.

overthehillmum · 08/06/2012 22:39

The owner of the hairdressers does my hair but i always give a tip for the junior trainee that washes my hair, i actually said to my hairdresser on the second visit about it, that as she was the owner i felt a bit weird about tipping, she said the tips went straight to the trainee and it was totally optional, always leave the wee girl a couple of pounds now.

ChitChatFlyingby · 08/06/2012 22:39

I don't tip at the hairdressers, costs over £100 and I pay by card so no real opportunity.

How do you know the haircut was really good? I think a hairdresser's styling can often make a haircut look wonderful, but the real proof is how your hair cooperates when you have to do it yourself!

Just5minspeace · 08/06/2012 22:41

I always pay by card to avoid the problem. However as a rule I have never tipped the beautician or the hairdresser and am still offered tea etc. I just make sure I am polite and pleasant unlike some of those who then tip!

NovackNGood · 08/06/2012 22:42

Trio.. I know. I wouldn't tip at all since I've paid the going rate for the service or food. If they want more cash put the price up then the can see if I still go there as it's good value or I could go somewhere else. but expecting money for nothing as a tip is american nonsense. The restaurant has already charged for the service and a corkage fee and they won´t let me go to the kitchen to collect my order even when I'm at the chef's table so they an take hike if they think they deserve a second cash in hand service fee.

MarySA · 08/06/2012 22:44

If I was having my hair done then I would give a tip. But if it was part of a spa package type deal then I wouldn't as it is expensive enough.

Christelle2207 · 08/06/2012 22:46

I never tip a hairdresser. I used to live in Tokyo, the most expensive city in the world and there they'd charge about 40%less than in London which is extortionate. The price of getting your hair cut here has got silly, like weddings. If you pay a reasonable amount, they should do your hair well, regardless of whether you tip.
I do however tip my spa lady because even considering a tip she is cheaper than the competition. She runs her own shop and can't be raking it in given her prices so I know that she doesn't take the piss and that every quid counts.

Spuddybean · 08/06/2012 22:46

i read it's supposed to be 10% for the hairdresser and about £5 for the person who washed your hair

So my 3 times a year treat would cost an extra £20 odd quid! Bollocks to that.

Just got back from Canada and everything gets 20% tax on at the end and they expect a 20% tip. So what starts off reasonable ends up wiping you out.

I tip 10% in a restaurant here unless the service is very good or very bad

OutragedAtThePriceOfFreddos · 08/06/2012 22:47

It is the done thing to tip hairdressers, but I don't know why certain jobs come with the perk of tips just because they are customer facing and it pisses me off that there is an expectation.

Tips should be something that means the customer has had an above average experience of whatever it is, it should not mean that the customer is a tight arse for not paying extra for no reason. Attitudes to tipping need to change.

Spuddybean · 08/06/2012 22:48

oh and i never tip the waxer either. £50 for 30 mins is quite enough i think.

threetequilafloor · 08/06/2012 22:50

I always tip in restaurants and hairdressers except for Chef and Brewer as a friend works there and the staff don't see any of the tips!!!

averageyorkshiremum · 08/06/2012 22:56

I don't tip anymore, I used to but simply can't afford to on the rare occasion i eat out since having Ds. Having said that i work in the service industry now and am on a very low wage myself and wouldn't expect anyone to tip me either for doing my job(I'm nice too, not rubbish!), although most of my colleagues don't feel this way even when they don't make much of an effort with the customer. It may sound harsh but It's all become a bit too expected for doing the minimum required-there are loads of people in minimum wage jobs that don't get tips.

tkband3 · 08/06/2012 22:57

I almost always tip in restaurants (unless the service has been awful) and always tip cab drivers too. I do tip when I get my legs waxed or eyebrows done but I don't tip the hairdressers any more - like others, I pay a fortune to have my hair coloured and cut and there are always little extras they sneak in like 'oh are you having a treatment today?' or 'and we'll put a toner on to bring the colour out'...I've learnt my lesson now and ask exactly how much all the extras cost before agreeing to anything!

trice · 08/06/2012 23:06

I can't afford to tip. It is a stretch to afford the haircut in the first place.

HexagonalQueenOfTheSummer · 08/06/2012 23:09

I never tip hairdressers; all the ones I know seem to live in the lap of luxury and certainly don't need a £3 tip. One friend is self employed in a salon and earns £200 per day after paying for chair rental, materials AND her DD's nursery fees for the day! All the hairdressers I know drive sports cars, have exotic holidays and spend a fortune in top shop! Save your tip money for waiting staff on minimum wage!

Spuddybean · 08/06/2012 23:13

tkband i've got wise to that too after the 'shall we put some conditioning treatment on your hair?' which i said okay to thinking they just meant conditioner, then they added an extra tenner on my bill.

HelenBaaBaaBlackSheep · 08/06/2012 23:18

tipping is for 'above and beyond' service, not obligatory

Agreed - if it's standard, I'd probably show appreciation by going again. If it's below standard I'll go somewhere else. If it's really good I'll tip.

Original poster

becsparkel · 08/06/2012 23:45

meant to say, I paid by card but got the opportunity to add a gratuity - which I declined. There was also a big box marked "tips" on the desk; subtle hint?!

OP posts:

igggi · 09/06/2012 00:02

Having read the thread I'm now worrying I've been insulting my hairdresser (who I assume is the owner - the salon is named after her) by giving her a tip. I don't do it because I think she's underpaid, I do it because she does a great job, is very pleasant to me, and has really low prices compared to what I've paid in the past. Hopefully she doesn't slag me off when I leave!

breadandbutterfly · 09/06/2012 00:10

Can't believe the number of people on this thread who pay £100 for a haircut!!!

what do they do, dye it with pure gold?!

Nanny0gg · 09/06/2012 00:52

ShadowsCollideWithPeople · 09/06/2012 04:25

I must be a compulsive tipper - I generally tip about £20 when I get my hair done (DP tips about £10 for a £30 haircut), £3 - 5 to a taxi driver, and about 20 - 30% for a meal out. Do some people really not tip for good service?

LST · 09/06/2012 05:52

I never really tip anyone. They get paid to do a job. Sorry

saintmerryweather · 09/06/2012 07:09

ive never tipped a hairdresser, tge haircut normally costs enough as it is

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