to think this a stealth way to ask for tips?

[gingercringe]

The tips thread made me realise something I’ve been thinking about since Saturday.

I have been going to the same hair salon for ages - colour, roots, highlights and cuts & blowdries etc - always with the senior hairdresser

For the past year (Easter will exactly a year) I have been going for blowdries only (sometimes hair cut) since I don’t colour anymore and trying to grow my hair - with the caveat that after trying all the hairdressers there I realised that the most junior (cheaper) one is the best of them all when comes to cut and blowdry - her hair is very similar to mine and her hands are super gentle. So I make a point to always book her. I do it online. I go there sometime 4x a month, sometimes 1x a moth but I’m a regular.

So last Sat I had my appt and they called me asking if I could arrive earlier - no priblem.
Got there everything seemed normal.

When the junior hairdresser was blowdrying my hair, the senior came to me to say that she changed my appt from short hair to long hair since my hair is now longer and from now on I should make sure to book long hair always especially since I only want (insert junior hairdressers name) so this is to allow her plenty of time to do a good job.

I was mistfied as to why she said long hair rather than medium but thought it was because my hair was curly so thought nothing if it.
Then upon reflection, sure they should have told me the appt changed when they called me? It is not a big deal but halfway through the appt they told me it would be more expensive. Which is fine, my hair looked good - even though the time duration of the appt was the same for short hair. But I paid for long.

Is is because I never tip?
The mention that I only want XYZ to do my hair makes me think so.

My hair is shorter than this on the photo BTW. I think it is medium not long?

I feel uncomfortable going there again, will have to find somewhere else.

did they mention tips? I know a hairdresser and almost everyone tips apparently

I honestly don’t know anyone who doesn’t tip. That to me is not short hair though.

@bleidn they never ask for tips and the card machine does not ask either

but I don’t tip

Where I come from is not a habit because it is embeded in the bill so I don’t.

(And I know I’m not in my country in case someone mentions…)

How much you all tip?

And wherever I go next should I book medium hair then tip?

Or short hair then tip?

You definitely don’t need to tip.

Yes, the senior’s comment that you only book the junior was quite pointed.

I would call them and ask why they think your hair is long now when it hasn’t changed length?

And if they insist it’s long then definitely find a new hairdresser, they sound like CFs.

The length of hair should not be related to a tip.

They are charging a pretty penny already, don’t tip!

I agree - it is medium hair (mine is a bit shorter though) - but sure it can’t be classed as long hair?

I have short hair and have been going to a barber for some years (before, I had short hair and went to a unisex salon). I have never once tipped. I am against tipping.

I feel terrible cause I don’t tip either but I pay £200 for colour. £150 for a cut. Sometimes I have ended up paying £500 for gloss and all sorts added in. I don’t know if I should tip! Sorry I’m not of much help

Most hairdressers that I've been to class long hair as shoulder length at least.
Sounds odd to me. Not a great way to treat a regular, especially as a lot of hairdressers are struggling as people are leaving longer between appointments - I'd probably go elsewhere too.
FWIW I don't tip. My hair appointments cost around £150 to get my colour done which is expensive enough.

Thanks

It is a bit longer now than when I started having regular blow dries with the junior a year ago following a big chop but still shorter than the picture

Also I told them in the past that I always book her because I love her hands (super gentle) and the results she achieves

Honestly she is the best out of them all for my hair

But maybe they think I book her because I’m being cheapstake?

Dh tips because his cut is £12 so he gives £15. Mine is around £200 and I sometimes buy products. I never tip. I honestly think people should charge the appropriate amount for their service. I always tip in restaurants (so long as service is good).

I never tip the hairdressers!

How much extra was it? I would probably keep going to your person you like and pay the extra and consider it inflation, if it’s not loads more. Ignore the comments of the senior lady, it’s not the junior’s fault she said that to you so keep seeing her if you like the way she does it.

I've only been to a hairdresser once in the last 25 years, but in the past I've always tipped the stylist 10% and a £1 or £2 to the shampooist (but bear in mind that was a very long time ago so I would expect that's quite out of date now). When I had a Saturday job in a hairdresser in my teens, customers used to pop 20p into my pocket, or 50p if I was lucky 😆😆

It was £11 extra

That is absolutely not medium - it's short. Medium is shoulder length and long is below shoulder

Ok but you think it is fair I book long hair? When it is hardly medium atm?

From the website:

Short hair - above the chin
Medium hair - below chin to shoulders
Long hair - below the shoulders

My hair is definitely not below my shoulders

And what if the junior actually complained and asked the senior to step in?

Since when is chin length long hair

Where I go, the owner does my hair and I tip a fiver or once when she opened early for me, I gave a box of m&s biscuits too.

I would maybe book medium instead of short. If they say something, you could refer to their website saying long is below shoulders. Is your hair curly and when pulled straight it’s below shoulder?

it is all a bit cringe inducing though and I think it would be fair enough to find somewhere else instead.

It is horrible practice that they called me to change the time and ask me to arrive earlier but didn't mention changing the appt tier...but the appt lasted the same time it always does for short hair but I was charged long hair?

And they told me about the change half way through he appt?

The more I think about it the more uncomfortable I feel.

Do you go to the same hairdresser as me?! They class 'long' hair as anything that passes your ears!

Prices are going up so so fast, i think tipping is becoming less and less common. They shouldnt have changed the price mid-appointment (it would have been good if theyd advised you so you knew for your next appointment, rather than implement it now), but i wouldn't say its a way of getting more of a tip.

The whole story is strange. They should have told you upfront what the issue was, and definitely mentioned any increase in price before starting the work. There's no way that's long hair in that picture, and if it took the same amount of time as usual, it seems clear that they're using that as an excuse to charge you more. Whatever the reason, it's weird! I don't know why people can't just charge what they want for a service. Tipping is such an awkward pain, and I resent the attitude that you're horrible if you don't tip. Tell me what you want to be paid and let me decide if it's worth it; don't expect me to read your mind!

I don't think it's related to tipping but I would feel unhappy about the stealthy way they suddenly increased the cost. I wouldn't want to go back and have moved hairdressers for much less of a reason.

I'd just quit if they made you feel uncomfortable. Your hair isn't long, but that's not really the point.
You need to feel relaxed. I would actually subtly ask the junior you like if she's doing private work? Then you could bypass the salon.
I tend to tip but not a consistent %. So an expensive job might get a similar tip to one half the cost.