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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be slightly cross at my hairdresser

103 replies

Lieveke77 · 25/10/2014 13:24

So i had the full works done at a new hairdresser £60, and i bought some products. Total was £95. I paid with a card and gave him £10 cash as a tip as he had done a splendid head massage while washing. He wasn't pleased... Am i out the loop here because it wasn't enough or should you not tip a hairdresser anymore???

OP posts:
PrimalLass · 25/10/2014 23:26

I don't tip even though my hairdresser is fantastic. It is her families business (third generation) and she has vastly more money than I do.

bette06 · 25/10/2014 23:27

Besides the actual amounts you tip, I'm not sure of the whole etiquette in tipping in hairdressers. Are you supposed to tip the person who washes your hair and how much? In some places, I've been intending to tip the hairdresser and then they've gone off to their next client and the receptionist or another member of staff has processed the payment - so can I give them the tip? In another place, I paid by credit card and expected there to be a tip option on the card machine but there wasn't. Unless I can just say 'keep the change', I feel really awkward giving someone money as a tip - especially if it's only a few quid. Is it just me?

Tbh, I feel quite anxious going to the hairdressers anyway (give me the dentist over a hair appointment any day!) and this is just one of the aspects that I feel uncomfortable and awkward about...

thursday · 25/10/2014 23:28

I don't tip. I pay the price as chosen by them, if they think it's not high enough, charge more and I'll go somewhere else rude of him.

wildfig · 25/10/2014 23:44

That's very ungracious - even if he did think it was 'below him' to accept a tip as the owner, he could have smiled, and said, that's very kind of you, I'll pop that in the tips jar'. My hairdresser owns the salon and gives his tips to the juniors, or to the charity the salon supports.

CromerSutra · 25/10/2014 23:55

I don't tip and I have a really lovely hairdresser. She charges me £35 and does a lovely cut but it takes perhaps 50 mins so I think that is more than enough for less than an hour's work!

steff13 · 26/10/2014 00:11

You're not meant to tip the owner of the salon, so he should be happy he got anything. Maybe he felt awkward, and you misinterpreted his reaction? Even so, that can't be the first time it's happened, so he could have reacted better.

To whoever asked, here in the US you are supposed to tip the shampoo person, too, but my stylist shampoos me, so I don't have to worry about that. I also tip the lady who cuts my dog's hair, even though I'm not sure what the etiquette on that. I still only give her $10, but my dog's haircuts cost A LOT more than mine.

oldgrandmama · 26/10/2014 00:45

Yes, I understood it wasn't 'done' to tip the owner ... but having said that, the owner of the well known salon I go to who usually cuts my hair, is always pleased to receive his tip!

Riverland · 26/10/2014 00:55

My haircut costs £75. I tip £10. It's his salon, he's top dog, he's a very good haircutter. London.

He always looks very pleased and says OH THANKYOU!

kali110 · 26/10/2014 01:53

God i only tip £2 ?? when i have my hair done, its all i can afford. My hairdresser is always smiley and thankful!
I don't think it should be stamped out.i like to tip mine.
Think it depends what they do.
Sometimes ill have a cut or ill go whole hog and have my roots, highlights and cut and blowdry! She deserves a tip!
I trained 3years in hairdressing years ago, before i got ill and was always told it was how hairdressers make their money. After doing it i always tip when i have my hair done, its knakering!

Woodenheart · 26/10/2014 02:06

Did he say thank you?

Did the owner wash your hair? Or a junior?

BOFster · 26/10/2014 02:33

I don't tip professionals who charge me for their services: it's patronising. I might bung a junior two quid or whatever, but I would consider it insulting to treat the skilled service-provider as though they needed extra pocket money.

LoveBeingGetAGrip · 26/10/2014 04:12

Another who does not tip. How did you know he wasn't happy?

Original poster
Lieveke77 · 26/10/2014 07:47

The owner washed my hair. There are two owners (a couple) and a senior stylist. No he did not say thank you...
I think he felt it was below him now that I have read your answers. As in I'm too senior now to receive tips?! Their salon is new.

OP posts:
CaptainAnkles · 26/10/2014 07:51

I know a few hairdressers and there's no way on earth any of them would pay two hundred quid for a pair of scissors Grin

LovleyRitaMeterMaid · 26/10/2014 08:06

Most do pay top money for their scissors, decent tools of any trade are worth paying for.

londonrach · 26/10/2014 08:10

You tip a hairdresser. Why? £10 tip thats more than my haircut! (£9.50 in local village in somerset, bern going for years) Is he your normal hairdresser.

SuperFlyHigh · 26/10/2014 08:31

I tip if I'm happy and if I have the money but if I don't then I don't tip...

I'd consider changing hairdresser if he's so graspy about 10 measly quid.

ConcreteElephant · 26/10/2014 08:34

Their salon is new

...and destined to be a short-lived enterprise if they are going to be so rude to their customers!

vitabrits · 26/10/2014 09:46

That's so interesting. I've never heard of tipping a hairdresser. But I left uk as a child. I'm not sure if it's not done here or if I've just not realised it's done.

effinandjeffin · 26/10/2014 09:50

Hate tipping. Just charge more for your services instead of this fannying around trying to work out 10-20%, who we should be tippping etc. I don't think we do tipping very well in this country anyway especially since we now have the minimum wage.

I don't tip my hairdresser (who I see every six weeks) as I'd find it patronising. And if she's not earning enough without tips, I'd be quite ok with her putting her prices up.

londonrach · 26/10/2014 09:53

Agree concrete. Will be short lived if rude to customers. The hairdressers i go to is always busy and been there 20 plus years with mostly the same staff. Everyone knows everyone so its like gossip centre. All for £9.50. The £9.50 if just for a wet cut. They very good. Its £6 on a monday for 60 plus....

DaisyFlowerChain · 26/10/2014 10:03

I don't tip either. A cut and colour is about £60 for two hours work and inbetween she does other customers. Thats a good salary per hour even after buying products and paying rent etc.

Tipping when a person is being paid to do the job does seem daft. I prefer to save for volunteers, teachers etc who go above and beyond their normal duties so I do buy gifts of appreciation.

mummytowillow · 26/10/2014 10:21

I tip £2 for a cut and blow, I presume they talk about me after I've gone then! Blush

ImperialBlether · 26/10/2014 10:22

It is odd that we tip someone on a salary but don't tip someone eg in the PTA or the lady running the tea trolley in the hospital, who's come out of their house to do a job with no payment at all.

KoalaDownUnder · 26/10/2014 13:10

I don't tip hairdressers at all (Australia).

Haircuts are bloody extortionate here, and while I know that the money is mostly going to the owner, the hairdressers get at least minimum wage. If they're not getting enough, that's something to be sorted out within the industry. As a customer who is already paying a fortune, I don't feel obliged to add on more to subsidise someone's wages.

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