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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

How long is acceptable to wait in the salon for your appointment?

398 replies

ThatCyanSheep · 16/08/2025 10:51

Just that really. Currently at the salon and my stylist is running at least half an hour behind, I’ve been waiting for 25 minutes as it stands. She knows I’m here and told me to take a seat, but I’m just wondering how long you’d wait before saying something?!

OP posts:
GoneGirl12345 · 16/08/2025 15:46

MonetsLilac · 16/08/2025 15:42

I think that's terrible, good service is reliant on you tipping? That means it puts pressure on everyone else to tip.

I said from the outset that it's not ideal, but just a fact of how financial incentives work.

Juniperberry55 · 16/08/2025 15:46

Imveryold · 16/08/2025 15:42

The difference is that most people don’t have a personal relationship with the bin men, postman or checkout worker, or chat to them much, or know their name, or care whether they get that person or someone else who's paid to work in that role. Most people do care which hairdresser they get, and stick with a particular individual.

Do you apply the same rule and never tip in restaurants? If not, why not?

Edited

I don't have a personal relationship with my hair dresser either.
When I worked in retail, I used to see the same faces and talked to them regularly but didn't expect extra money. My job was to serve them and be pleasant. Are you using your hairdresser as a therapist or something? If they cut my hair well then they get repeat custom, if they do a bad job, then they don't.
Personally I'd rather the hair dresser not sit there yapping away while cutting my hair and just get on with the job at hand. I respond politely to their conversation and get on with my day

BeanQuisine · 16/08/2025 15:47

Imveryold · 16/08/2025 15:42

The difference is that most people don’t have a personal relationship with the bin men, postman or checkout worker, or chat to them much, or know their name, or care whether they get that person or someone else who's paid to work in that role. Most people do care which hairdresser they get, and stick with a particular individual.

Do you apply the same rule and never tip in restaurants? If not, why not?

Edited

I never tip in restaurants because I assume that the people serving me are being paid an adequate wage.

If I lived in the USA or some other third world country, I would understand that tips are expected to provide their actual living.

But last time I looked, that wasn't the case in the UK and is not the case here in Australia.

Robin67 · 16/08/2025 15:50

With you OP. I don't tip for anything in the UK. Not uber, taxis, hairdressers, manicurists. It's just weird. Charge more and pay people better if they are not earning enough

Anyahyacinth · 16/08/2025 15:51

ThatCyanSheep · 16/08/2025 11:33

Nobody tips. We’re in England, not American!

They do..always do

Swiftie1878 · 16/08/2025 15:51

Plastictreees · 16/08/2025 15:26

I just cannot imagine someone slipping a staff member a fiver, in any of the salons I’ve been in. Who even carries cash nowadays? I’m curious about the ages and locations of posters who claim to tip hairdressers (and this being the norm), especially in cash. It is most definitely not the done thing in expensive salons!

SE, only carry cash for tips (visit ATM before appointment).
Salon is Toni & Guy.

BeanQuisine · 16/08/2025 15:52

JanetareyouokareyouokJanet · 16/08/2025 15:46

I love tipping. It is part of our culture and the people saying it’s not sound very snobby.

It's tipping that's "snobby".

"Here you are, poor little servile wretch, have an extra fiver from your grateful superior."

Mothership4two · 16/08/2025 15:53

Some do..always do

BeanQuisine · 16/08/2025 15:54

Anyahyacinth · 16/08/2025 15:51

They do..always do

No, only a silly minority.

Do you really think a random survey of British people will find that they all give tips?😂

Wtafdidido · 16/08/2025 15:55

20 minutes and I’m out. My time is as precious as theirs and worth just as much so if I make an appointment for a certain time the max leeway I will give is 15/20 mins tops.

ThatCyanSheep · 16/08/2025 15:57

Robin67 · 16/08/2025 15:50

With you OP. I don't tip for anything in the UK. Not uber, taxis, hairdressers, manicurists. It's just weird. Charge more and pay people better if they are not earning enough

I just find it weird that apparently my hairdresser who’s off abroad all the time is apparently expecting a tip?!

OP posts:
sunsu · 16/08/2025 16:00

I always tip my hairdresser, brow girl, makeup artist if getting it done, massage therapist, etc. I would also give a small gift at Christmas, usually a bottle of wine or chocolates! I do the same for our delivery men at Christmas and our posties get a Christmas card and gift too. We even get one back from our postie! (A card, not gift).

I worked in a similar industry for a few years and also appreciated the clients that would tip, bring a coffee/juice, sometimes flowers or chocolates. While everyone got a good service, I would always bend over backwards for these clients as they were so appreciative. I also know how hard going it is and how much these gestures are appreciated. They’re not expected but I’d say most people tip.

also to whoever said high class, luxury salons don’t tip because there are no tip jars. Tip jars are not expected and most people would say ‘can you please make the total X’ when paying by card, the tip is then transferred to the recipient. Staff are also likely to have their own pouches/envelopes. I was at a luxury spa last year and was leaving a tip for my massage therapist on departure, the receptionist sealed the cash in an envelope and put it in her tray - I apologised for not taking the cash into the treatment room with me to give her personally but I had simply forgot and she said not to worry most people did it on departure and this was the standard process. So it is very much the norm.

For reference, I’m 30 and have always tipped, as have my parents. My dad will also tip delivery men if large/heavy items are delivered and we always offer food and drink to any worker in our home which seems to be another mumsnet controversy! It’s just the polite thing to do.

BandBChocolat · 16/08/2025 16:04

sunsu · 16/08/2025 16:00

I always tip my hairdresser, brow girl, makeup artist if getting it done, massage therapist, etc. I would also give a small gift at Christmas, usually a bottle of wine or chocolates! I do the same for our delivery men at Christmas and our posties get a Christmas card and gift too. We even get one back from our postie! (A card, not gift).

I worked in a similar industry for a few years and also appreciated the clients that would tip, bring a coffee/juice, sometimes flowers or chocolates. While everyone got a good service, I would always bend over backwards for these clients as they were so appreciative. I also know how hard going it is and how much these gestures are appreciated. They’re not expected but I’d say most people tip.

also to whoever said high class, luxury salons don’t tip because there are no tip jars. Tip jars are not expected and most people would say ‘can you please make the total X’ when paying by card, the tip is then transferred to the recipient. Staff are also likely to have their own pouches/envelopes. I was at a luxury spa last year and was leaving a tip for my massage therapist on departure, the receptionist sealed the cash in an envelope and put it in her tray - I apologised for not taking the cash into the treatment room with me to give her personally but I had simply forgot and she said not to worry most people did it on departure and this was the standard process. So it is very much the norm.

For reference, I’m 30 and have always tipped, as have my parents. My dad will also tip delivery men if large/heavy items are delivered and we always offer food and drink to any worker in our home which seems to be another mumsnet controversy! It’s just the polite thing to do.

It's just the polite thing to do.

It's not, actually,

It's a leftover from when many jobs paid peanuts and tips were there to make up a decent wage by kind clients.

Mothership4two · 16/08/2025 16:04

My mum and I had a hairdresser once who was renowned for keeping clients waiting for 20 minutes minimum every time, so once Mum didn't rush to get there and turned up 10 minutes late and was refused her appointment. She wasn't waiting for her, but was still working on the previous client so was obviously overrunning yet again anyway. Mum was livid and never went back

overthinker001 · 16/08/2025 16:04

I must be the biggest arsehole that ever walked the earth. I never tip, why would I? They are doing their job and getting a wage, the same as me and I don’t get tipped. The tipping culture is absolutely ridiculous!

MayaPinion · 16/08/2025 16:05

I used to tip, but I don’t carry cash anymore. Besides costs have increased so much I suspect it is included most of the time. My DD has a summer job in a gastropub. She said some people tip and some don’t. It doesn’t really matter because any tips go onto one pot and are shared between the team. Even when they specifically tip the server with a sneaky folded up £10 note for great service that money goes into the pot. It’s definitely dying out and so it should.

Staff shouldn’t have to rely on the charity of strangers just to earn a living wage like America, where people who serve you have been reduced to beggars, mugging up to you in the hope you’ll throw them a few bucks. It’s demeaning.

MKDex · 16/08/2025 16:06

I take taxis a lot and and always round up plus add a pound, but thats because I usually feel like I've been undercharged. It probably works out a pound a minute. At the salon if you break it down they're charging well over a tenner a minute, and im being generous there by including all the hands off time where you sit around waiting for colour etc to take

BandBChocolat · 16/08/2025 16:07

It's patronising to tip someone doing a professional job.

They earn a salary.

I worked in a professional sector where I could be 'appreciated' and the nicest things were perhaps some flowers or chocs left for me, but I never ever expected either.

Mothership4two · 16/08/2025 16:08

I agree @MayaPinion . I think most people would like staff paid a decent wage and not have the awkwardness of whether or not to tip (especially in the UK). Many eateries have a service charge anyway. Hairdressers generally are not cheap.

CareerChange24 · 16/08/2025 16:08

Can someone start a thread as I need the tip debate resolving. The salon I use, it’s £350 for balayage and root smudge. He owns the salon who I use. And I don’t leave a tip! Am I terrible. The salon before I used was £180 for the same bleach balayage and I’d leave a fiver and barely got a thank you.

Namechangedagain999 · 16/08/2025 16:17

whether people tip or not is not only boring but a different thread.

MummaMummaMumma · 16/08/2025 16:18

I'm England also, and always, always tip if I am happy with the service.

BandBChocolat · 16/08/2025 16:19

MummaMummaMumma · 16/08/2025 16:18

I'm England also, and always, always tip if I am happy with the service.

If you're unhappy you'd just not go back or you'd complain at the till when charged.

I tell my stylist when I'm happy and make it very clear.
I can't afford to add £30 (the 20% quoted here!) to my bill.

tigger1001 · 16/08/2025 16:19

DaisyChain505 · 16/08/2025 11:48

I will never understand the tipping culture. What makes you decide which people you tip and which you don’t. Why do you find it acceptable to tip your hairdresser but not the person serving you on the tills in Tesco?

If a service is advertised at a certain price that’s what you should pay. Being pressured or shamed into paying even more on top is not ok.

This!

I don't generally tip my hairdresser either. She's a curly specialist and expensive. Worth the cost quoted though. But I just can't justify paying £10/20 over what she charges.

yet, never had slow messages back or not being able to get an appointment. She operates an online booking system anyway.

she values repeat custom.

LittleCosette · 16/08/2025 16:28

GardenGaff · 16/08/2025 11:33

They really don’t.

Agree- my hairdresser, nail tech and the beautician who does my eyebrows earn significantly more than I do.

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