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.

I agree.

I've got short, fine hair and they never charge less for the fact my hair doesn't take long to cut and style!

I wouldn't give a tip if I'd already spent 500 . If they'd squeezed me in at short notice and it was just a usual hair cut and it was a nice experience then may be.

I always used to give a little tip to the hair dresser , only about £2 or £3, but it's just so expensive now to get your hair done I don't anymore. £170 it cost me the other day for highlights and cut and blow dry! This wasn't a city centre salon, it was just a local one in the suburbs.

I've always tipped - 10% or so - whether at a salon or using a mobile hairdresser.

But on the £550 , I would say £20.

Totally get what you’re saying, except there are a few people on this thread referring to anyone who doesn’t tip as ‘tight’ rather than acknowledging it’s perfectly reasonable. And if we go by your logic, i’m not sure all of use the same hairdresser all the time either. I don’t. So we also don’t have that relationship. Definitely get where you’re coming from though!

Ive never tipped a hairdresser

Lots are self employed with quite a bit of flexibility over what they charge, even if they are renting a spot in a salon. They aren't that badly paid.

I don't really understand tipping in the UK where we have a well understood national minimum wage.

The people who its traditional to tip in the US can be making just a few dollars an hour, tipping is required to make a full wage.

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

I don't either and I live in the south east.

Most people here only leave extra on a restaurant bill where there's a service charge/service not included, or if there's a large group eating and the waiter/waitress has provided particularly good service.

Tipping feels pointless when in lots of places you order on an app, the only thing the waiter or waitress does is deliver plates to tables.

I always tip £5 for cut £10 for colour . Never in my life have I spent £500 at the hairdresser but I'm thinking £20 .

No. Mumsnet is nuts.

I don't tip my hairdresser. If we need to tip hairdressers, shouldn't we tip all customer service? Hairdressers is already so expensive that I've had to start coloring my own hair. She's a nice person and pretty good at her job but nothing more special than what's expected of her so I pay the price she has set.

I always tip £5.

Never tip the hairdresser, why would you.

I stopped tipping routinely years ago. If service is particularly exceptional and they’ve gone above and beyond I will, but it’s mostly not, so why would I? Eating out, hairdressers etc is expensive enough (and a huge treat for me) without adding another 10-15% to the bill.

We have a Minimum Wage in this country, remember, as well as a Living Wage.

I haven't tipped a hairdresser since about 1983! My mum used to. I think it was a more common practice of the older generations.

Where does it stop then? Do you tip everyone who does a service for you? Amazon delivery drivers? Checkout operatives? Starbucks barista?

Where I live (Midlands) everyone tips the hairdresser. I always give £5.

on that kind of spend I’d give £20 I think.

I don't tip mine as it's dh 😂. I was a hairdresser for years so taught him how to do the back of mine and I do the rest.
When I was in a salon one woman tipped 10p. She was awful. Some tipped some didn't. I never judged. Except for her.

Guess because it’s the type of job where you generally get tips, like in a restaurant. I’d never not tip in a restaurant either unless I’ve had terrible service. The hairdressers I know aren’t exactly rich, depends what you class as well off I guess.

I live in London and I usually tip my hairdresser £10 cash, a cut and finish is now £90. On the odd occasion I haven’t, e.g. I went twice in one week as I had a blow dry for an event, there was absolutely no expectation of anything.

I got a message from him before the salon opened post Covid so I could get one of the first appointments, he has never charged me if I am ill, even within the 24 hour cut of for full charge for a cancellation. If I ever want an appointment and there are none showing online, I can ring the salon and he will do his best to fit me in. Most of all, he knows my hair and what I want so we can just have a good chat.

I understand etiquette is that you don’t offer tips to the salon owner.

But the waiters in this country shouldn’t be getting tips above all the other occupations who get minimum wage. That’s an american thing where they don’t have MW.

This. If I tipped everyone who gave me a service, I wouldn’t have any money. They all earn a salary, and with hairdressing you are already literally paying for their service. Not sure why i’d pay them twice. Calling people cunts for not tipping is awful.

I didn't use to tip my mobile hairdresser, felt that she doesn't have as many outgoings as a salon - I washed my hair with my own products, she used my electricity obviously when blow drying. No need to rent a chair in a salon etc.

I now attend a salon and usually just round up slightly, feeling that my hairdresser probably doesn't get to keep everything I've paid her. Probably talking £4-5 tip each time

I used to tip but my last hair cut was very disappointing. She was 30 minutes late, as the saloon decided to take walk ins and therefore my booked appointment got delayed. Then she didn't listen to what I wanted and I've ended up with a haircut that I hate and will need redoing.

Looking for a new hairdresser, as they prices and service are too expensive. £60 per cut for 45 mins.

People used to often round up the amount when paying cash to taxi drivers, hairdressers etc.