Tipping hairdresser after an expensive treatment.

[Bubblegum22]

I’m getting hair extensions which will cost £550, Aibu to not tip or should I be tipping 10%, which seems to be standard? Or whats an acceptable amount in your opinion?

Maintenance is circa £200 every 2 months so tips will add up over the year (if I decide to keep them in that is).

I’m not sure what the protocol is these days with more expensive treatments so would appreciate some info on other people’s tipping etiquette/or not at the hairdressers, particularly for more expensive services.
Would be great if any hairdressers here could offer some guidance on what they’d expect.

Thank you.

Really? So you’d go to that trouble to pay extra on top of a fortune when i come out looking like i just got out the shower after a wet cut?

I always tip - £10 each time. on £120 treatment.

My salon hairdresser told me she is on minimum wage. I tip her £10/20 now and the hair washer £2-5.

Yes I go to that trouble. It’s not hard to get cash out of a cash point or from the supermarket when you pay your bill 🤷🏼‍♀️
You seem to be angry about your “wet cut” but that is presumably what you ask for?

If I’m very happy I tip 15%

I honestly don't know anyone who ever routinely tips anyone (UK).

Here to say this.

I’m guessing you live North.

I’m guessing you live North

No, as South as actually, why?

I don't tip, feels awkward because my hairdressers are actually my friends, and I go every 4 weeks.
But I tip £25 ish at Christmas, and the occasional can of G&T in between 😊

Because I can and because I love her.

Because I’m South and everyone I know does tip.

I'm going to be totally honest here but my DD is now 17 and pays for her own treatments etc. I've never told her about tipping because I don't want her to get into the habit of doing so.

I tip every single time because I feel I have to but absolutely resent it 🤦🏻‍♀️. In countries where minimum wage or hourly rates aren't a thing and tips make up the wages I can see why they're needed. In the UK however I do it purely because I always have done, which is totally on me I know!

absolutely resent it

Break free!

Im also in Ireland and it's fairly common to tip hairdressers here. I usually do give a decent tip tbf but I didn't once when I had had a more expensive treatment that ended up costing more than I thought and didn't have cash on me, I paid said thank you and as I was leaving I heard the girl who had done my hair say to another girl we need to get a tip jar! It really pissed me off actually and I haven't been back since.

@ThreeLittleDots I need to give my head a wobble don't I! Last night though I actually bought a box eye in Tesco and asked my DH to do it this weekend for me. I had my driving license suspended on medical grounds last week so now need to rely on someone taking me to the hairdresser's and collecting me.
I've decided now at the age of 41 to actually be honest with myself and acknowledge the 8 weekly colour and cut trips are a chore and not enjoyable. I'm sticking with my nails and brows every 3 weeks because that's literally just over an hour and I'm done.

Surely the hairdresser would prefer you to go regularly (liked every) 4 weeks or so rather than tipping?

That is actually how I justify not tipping. I know some people that tip and some that don't (originally from the Midlands if that is relevant).

I actually think tipping is losing popularity. My philosophy is if a service needs to cost a certain amount to make a living, just charge that price!!

Yes I ask for a wet cut because they charge an extra fortune to dry my hair for me.

If someone charges a service where they earn £30+ for a 15 min job, and they are still on MW, that’s an issue with the owner, not me.

It baffles me in this country why so many professions earn MW but people only tip people like hairdressers (many of whom earn a very decent living), and not all other professions.

Id say £20 would be fine. Though you could do as my mother did, who went for a wash and set which turned into a wash and blow dry, weekly. She didn't tip but got them a nice present at Christmas (which could he in money firm).
I'm amazed at how many people in here don't tip! I also give a couple quid to the washer.

I thought you always tipped hairdressers!

You sound like you begrudge paying for services but that’s life 🤷🏼‍♀️

You’re not obliged to tip but pointless to make up excuses like no one carries cash - it’s not exactly hard to source!

I believe many years ago when my mother (who is now 80) was a hairdresser they were poorly paid. I do not believe that is the case now. In fact the ones I know are doing very well.

I tip my DD’s hairdresser for her £10 cut - just a couple of pounds - as she is a young girl employed at the salon.
For my own hair which is £150-£200 I don’t tip as my hairdresser hires a chair at the salon and dictates her own prices. I never know how much it’s going to be until she tells me when it’s time to pay. Maybe she bumps it up £10 when she has a night out planned - I have no idea lol

I've always tipped 10%, but I resent it because I've never had a good haircut. (Yes I used my words, no they didn't listen).

I've tried expensive and cheap salons and it makes no difference. One woman burnt my scalp leaving my colour on too long. Another, very expensive one, over the course of a year left me with horizontal stripes from various shades of dark brown. Then there's all the ones who insisted on layering my hair in a centre parting when I only wear a right side parting and I'd end up going home to even things up myself. I embraced the grey and started cutting my own hair in lockdown and it's been a revelation. It might not be perfect, but it's no worse than my misadventures at proper salons.

Of course i’m happy to pay for services, but I have the right to not like being ripped off, or feel like I can’t justify the cost of having my hair dried for a fortune. So no, I don’t tip an already expensive service when you’re already paying for the service itself, and certainly not going to carry out an extra task of getting cash out for said tip. It’s not hard to source, but it’s still an extra task.