Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not tip my hairdresser?

97 replies

Itsallaboutme3 · 27/12/2015 15:42

Had my hair cut and coloured recently. Really pleased with it and limed the lady who done it. Was i being unreasonable for not leaving a tip. I felt it was expensive enough (£85) but have been thinking since was i being mean?

So do you tip your dresser and if so, how much?

OP posts:
90sforever · 27/12/2015 20:40

I used to be a junior too! It was hard work but that lovely physical work where at the end of the day you'd be aching in a "I've done a proper days work" way. The way a labourer feels. The pay was crap but it was easy and you didn't need any qualifications or anything so you can't expect much can you?

Hatethis22 · 27/12/2015 20:44

£5 for up to £50, 10% for more.

Boosiehs · 27/12/2015 20:54

I got paid less then min wage working at McDonald's back in the day and I certainly didn't get tips.

I don't tip my hairdresser as I pay a ridiculous amount for the cut and colour. Per hour about £50. If that can't pay a reasonable wage and the overheads and make a profit then God knows what can.

Also they charge me 50 for a simple cut. I have no layers, just a trim round, takes about 10 mins. If not less.

itsbetterthanabox · 27/12/2015 20:58

Those saying they pay too much to start with.
A. Why do you go to such expensive hairdressers if you can't afford it? If you can afford it stop complaining!
B. In what world do you think the person actually doing the work and washing, styling, cutting and colouring the hair ie the hairdresser actually gets that money? Hairdressers are mostly on minimum wage.

90sforever · 27/12/2015 21:01

The people who own the salon cut hair too Grin

I have plenty of hairdresser friends. They earn ok wages. no not great, but then plenty of jobs are the same. Certainly not feel sorry for them
Low though.

SawdustInMyHair · 27/12/2015 21:04

I tip normally, but not my hairdresser as she's a one-woman band so I assume if she needs extra she'll charge it!

unimaginativename13 · 27/12/2015 21:10

If you don't think £50 is worth it then go find someone who charges £10. You see to think your haircut is basis and easy so you could even do it yourself!

unimaginativename13 · 27/12/2015 21:11

Did you attend college for 3 years to be able to put together a Big Mac and fries artistically?

Should hairdresser get paid the same as someone who works in McDonald's?

90sforever · 27/12/2015 21:17

A hairdresser doesn't get paid the same as someone in McDonald's but I don't think hairdresser training is particularly strenuous. C'mon Hmm it's hardly medical school.

I'm happy to pay for my cut, but it costs so much I don't want to tip on top. Don't see what's wrong with that.

unimaginativename13 · 27/12/2015 21:20

OMG

Have you done the training?

And it's take a lot of hard work to be a GOOD hairdresser.

unimaginativename13 · 27/12/2015 21:21

And no they probably get paid less or the same......

Hairdresser apprentices start at £2.79 per hour

90sforever · 27/12/2015 21:26

Sort of- I worked at hairdressers from 14-19 and left to go to uni. I'd started, but not finished training. And no, it wasn't hard. I've done many harder jobs.

We're not talking about apprentices, we're talking about the hairdressers you pay to cut or colour your hair (although I've worked at plenty of places who would chuck an apprentice out to do that, cheeky buggers)

unimaginativename13 · 27/12/2015 21:29

You would be surprised the amount of apprentices that are running columns.

90sforever · 27/12/2015 21:34

Well that's not right and doesn't mean you need to tip them

Merguez · 27/12/2015 21:43

Always tip the person who washes my hair - and there are tip boxes out at the cash desk, so clearly it's encouraged.

Never tip the stylist who has a share in the salon and gets my money directly (cheque is made out to him, not to "ABC hair salon".

unimaginativename13 · 27/12/2015 21:43

Tipping is if you are pleased with your service. To show gratitude. The stylist or the apprentice. Nothing to do with if it £50 or £500.

As said before if you begrudge paying the price you pay. Look elsewhere. The service should excel your expectations.

LynetteScavo · 28/12/2015 11:30

I think one of the reasons I don't tip the hairdresser is because I see it was a professional service.

Like a plumber, or electrician. I wouldn't tip them either.

VelvetSpoon · 28/12/2015 11:41

I rarely go to the hairdressers (twice in the last 10 years, as I have long hair and colour it myself). The last time I went, a couple of years ago, I was only charged £15 for a wash, cut and blow dry (tiny salon, same girl washed, cut and dried my hair) -.I was so happy with the result I tipped her a fiver, as she'd done a brilliant job and it still seemed cheap at £20!

I'm not sure how a £50+ cut/colour could similarly exceed expectations so I think at that level I'd be unlikely to tip.

Janeymoo50 · 28/12/2015 11:42

I tip hairdressers, taxi drivers and restaurant staff. Always have, but think I get the first two from my mum as she always did. Had a cut and blow dry last week, £35 and added £4 to the card payment.

EverybodyHatesATourist · 28/12/2015 11:51

I'm letting them loose on my head with chemicals, sharp implements and red-hot tools, so personally do think it's a little more complicated than flipping burgers.
(and yes I tip)

Katedotness1963 · 28/12/2015 11:51

I get a cut, colour and blow dry for £40. I tip a tenner.

Imissmy0ldusername · 28/12/2015 12:05

I tip my hairdresser and nail people as & when I've got the spare cash. I tip more if it's been one of those visits where they've been talking me through life events, or if they need to go out for a bucket of wine after a crappy life event themselves. I've known my crew for 5 years or so, I see the hairdressers every 4 to 8 weeks, and they give me beer (yes, beer!), and the nail people I see less now that I've got less disposable income, but over the couple of hours I spend with them, we have a great time. It's odd. I'm naturally an introvert, but they bring out the chatty person in me. I really look forward to an afternoon spent with both sets of salons, it's my time for me, and it's great fun.
When I was younger, I never used to enjoy the company of other women, and I resented paying £20 a hair cut, but these days (pushing 40), I see both things as an investment in myself. Perhaps it's because I see both crews as being a huge pile of younger sisters that I never had. I know I feel better when my hair is in it's nice, low maintenance phase. And the nails I get done stay done for months. It's brilliant.
So to summarise, yep, I tip. The amount depends on what I've got available in my pocket (never put it on cards, the business will need to pay tax on it, and the person I want to have the tip will have to share it out with people who weren't directly involved in making me feel great for the afternoon), but it's not generally less than a fiver.

PrimalLass · 28/12/2015 13:02

I too always tip £5. I'm very surprised that it wouldn't occur to people to tip hairdressers as it's very much the norm, same as it is to leave a tip for good service in a restaurant.

I don't, because my hairdresser clearly earns far more than me (very successful family business).

PrimalLass · 28/12/2015 13:09

As said before if you begrudge paying the price you pay. Look elsewhere.

I don't begrudge it at all, but my hairdresser is a professional and a business owner. As am I, and I don't get any tips. Plus her hourly rate is twice what I get. I would feel very wrong giving her a tip - it isn't that sort of relationship.

unimaginativename13 · 28/12/2015 14:35

A haircut is defo not an hourly rate.

Buying a £30 steak is not a rate for 15mins of a chefs time.

Tips are not relative to what someone earns, they are to show gratitude.