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Original poster

To not tip the hairdresser?

301 replies

sunnygemini · 30/07/2021 20:05

I had a good wash, cut and blow dry today, a lot of length off so almost a restyle. The hairdresser got it just right and took almost double the amount of time for the appointment (time not an issue for me).
It cost £55 which is more than I usually pay but I needed to get it booked in so was ok with this.
I've come away wondering if I should have tipped as it took the extra time and the hairdresser seemed to put in the effort to get it just right but I felt a bit awkward, how much do people tip? Do you tip cash separately if you pay by card? Is it expected not to tip when its that price?

I know there are much better things to worry over but I want to go back to the same place and don't want to feel awkward next time!

OP posts:
PolkadotSkies · 31/07/2021 02:42

@BritWifeInUSA exactly. Plus hairdressing is a skill, a profession that requires talent to do it well. Comparing hairdressers to supermarket workers is disingenuous.

bookish83 · 31/07/2021 02:45

@ElaineMarieBenes

My first job was waitressing and I still recall the joy of a tip - as a result I ‘tip’ everyone (including my hairdresser and everyone else including nurses! I had a lot of treatment recently and so I took in a large selection of goodies for the team to share having requested from my favourite nurse what would be most welcome). I didn’t tip my doctors as such but did write them thank you notes, which they alderman seemed to appreciate?

I don’t consider myself a ‘mug’ because often I think the joy I get is the greater.

Exactly my approach and the reason why!
SunshineandDaisies · 31/07/2021 04:35

We just earn hourly basic min wage, no commission on clients x

PickleAF · 31/07/2021 05:03

@carrieeee

"No, cash tips are not taxed. If it went through the card machine then yes, it would be taxed as accounts for your earnings."

Cash tips should be declared and taxed! If you're self employed it should be included in your self assessment, if you don't then your employer gives HMRC an estimate they can use. If it's paid via card then they're taxed via PAYE / sometimes they have to pay NI too.

Kokeshi123 · 31/07/2021 05:09

I think hairdressing salons should pay their employees a living wage and charge sufficient prices to cover this.
I detest tipping. It is an awful, degrading custom that is full of class bullshit. And there is no evidence that it improves service standards.

avamiah · 31/07/2021 05:10

I’m in London and I always tip my hairdresser and the junior who washes my hair.
The same when I get my nails done .

I tip cash .

Kokeshi123 · 31/07/2021 05:13

You're meant to tip people who do a personal service for you

And yet we don't tip accountants, lawyers and people like that.
It's a class thing, and it goes back to the days of people paying "vails" to maids and footmen when you visited someone's house. It reinforces class divisions and it's awful.

In Japan, we do not pay tips to anyone, ever, and we expect to pay a little more for services in order to cover somewhat higher wages. I get perfectly good service here and it is so nice that life is kept simple and free from embarrassing, awkward moments. Pushing cash into someone's hand like an auntie giving a little kid a treat at Christmas--cringe!

avamiah · 31/07/2021 05:26

@Kokeshi123

You're meant to tip people who do a personal service for you

And yet we don't tip accountants, lawyers and people like that.
It's a class thing, and it goes back to the days of people paying "vails" to maids and footmen when you visited someone's house. It reinforces class divisions and it's awful.

In Japan, we do not pay tips to anyone, ever, and we expect to pay a little more for services in order to cover somewhat higher wages. I get perfectly good service here and it is so nice that life is kept simple and free from embarrassing, awkward moments. Pushing cash into someone's hand like an auntie giving a little kid a treat at Christmas--cringe!

That’s your choice but here in the UK we tip for a good service. Even if you book a Uber taxi you get a message afterwards asking you to rate your journey and give a tip on your card if you wish.

I have no problem pushing £5/£10 into my hairdressers hand and I’m not his AUNTIE and nobody is embarrassed or as you say “Cringe” as that’s life and let me assure you nobody refuses a CASH TIP,
Why would they ?

FrangipaniDeLaSqueegeeMop · 31/07/2021 05:33

@PolkadotSkies are you in America?
Never used a concierge in the U.K.
No o don't tip bar staff! Waiters - depends if they've done a good job.

The one time I tried to tip a hotel staff member was in Las Vegas and she handed the $20 back to me, she was completely bemused.

FrangipaniDeLaSqueegeeMop · 31/07/2021 05:35

@PolkadotSkies

This thread has really surprised me. I can't believe people don't tip these people in professions where it's factored into their salaries. How unkind.
Is it unkind to not tip nurses?

Let's use logic here - why is it unkind to not tip someone who earns £80k and drives a Porsche??

FrangipaniDeLaSqueegeeMop · 31/07/2021 05:35

@PolkadotSkies

Or leave money for housekeeping in your room when check out (if you've szayed more than a night or two)?!
Never done it.

This is not the US.

ThinWomansBrain · 31/07/2021 05:38

when I used to go to a "normal" hairdressers, I always used to tip £5 - and felt a bit mean as prices crept up from about £55 to £90 ish, as it was a smaller % - but £10 felt a bit ouch (i went for about 15+years).
I go to a social enterprise barbers now, you pay what you want for the service, so tipping's not really an option - I take a gift along at Christmas time, and have been paying more & crowd funding over the last year or so.

FrangipaniDeLaSqueegeeMop · 31/07/2021 05:38

People who work in lublic serving professions rely on tips to make their salaries up to an appropriate level in certain industries

In the US, yes this applies, to the point of of if you don't leave a waiter a tip he's actually out of pocket, not just down a little bit. It's woeful, but it is NOT like that in the U.K. in any profession. In the U.K. gratuities are a perk not an expectation.

FrangipaniDeLaSqueegeeMop · 31/07/2021 05:40

[quote PolkadotSkies]@BritWifeInUSA exactly. Plus hairdressing is a skill, a profession that requires talent to do it well. Comparing hairdressers to supermarket workers is disingenuous. [/quote]
where I love it's free to train to be a hairdresser and takes 2 years.

They hardly have £50k of student debt. I hope you tip your doctor?

FrangipaniDeLaSqueegeeMop · 31/07/2021 05:42

I have no problem pushing £5/£10 into my hairdressers hand and I’m not his AUNTIE and nobody is embarrassed or as you say “Cringe” as that’s life and let me assure you nobody refuses a CASH TIP,

This is fairly obvious but that poster was simply referring to how things are in Japan, not how they think things are in the U.K.

timetochangeagainforever · 31/07/2021 06:45

Yep. Had a restyle last week (central London) £80 - gave £90 as I was delighted with what he did and I know how he'd been struggling though the lock fiend and unable to work.
I would normally tip that much - usually a fiver.

CatM1nt · 31/07/2021 06:55

I’ve never tipped my hairdresser. It costs a fortune and they do my teens. There is no box anywhere. I haven’t seen anybody do it. If it’s expected the amount and how to do it needs to be advertised. That said I wouldn’t be able to pay more and would have to go elsewhere if they did.

UseOfWeapons · 31/07/2021 07:18

I never tip. Their pricing should include everything. Tipping ensures that low wages continue in the business, rather than payment for a job well done. I don’t tip my acupuncturist or my physio either.

lifehappened · 31/07/2021 07:21

Nope. Costs me 70 quid to get my hair done, I'm not paying extra. They get wages don't they? They probably earn more than me so not sure why I should pay extra

Aprilx · 31/07/2021 07:26

@Suspicioussam

I think it's a shame people think a £1 tip is insulting. Lots of people can't afford a big tip and surely those £1 tips will add up, it's better than nothing.
But the people saying £1 is insulting have actually said that not tipping is less than insulting, not that they should tip more.

I bet nobody would tip their male plumber, electrician or builder £1. But it is ok for a female worker because it adds up. It is insulting.

(And blah blah before somebody starts I know you can get female plumbers, builders etc. but traditionally and still in the majority these occupations are predominantly made up of a particular gender).

Vanilla1Cookies · 31/07/2021 07:37

@annacondom

I talked to my hairdresser once about this and she said it honestly didn't matter and wasn't expected. Hair appointments are expensive at the moment and if I have the change I give £1. No way would I give £5.
😂😂😂 £1
transformandriseup · 31/07/2021 07:41

I have stopped tipping mine since the price of my appointment has gone up to a round figure. I'm in a low paid job working very hard and no one ever tips our industry.

SixesAndEights · 31/07/2021 07:47

I bet nobody would tip their male plumber, electrician or builder £1

Tipping any of those is absolute madness!

IceCreamAndCandyfloss · 31/07/2021 07:51

I never tip my hairdresser, I pay for the service and it’s a good amount for a couple of hours work as know the wholesale price of the colour etc.
I prefer to gift those who go above and beyond, usually those in my children’s life.

User56439876 · 31/07/2021 07:51

Tipping used to be a thing before NMW, now everyone should get this so no need to tip hairdresser anymore than you would tip the cashier in a supermarket