So why do we tip hairdressers but not other people?

[Mellyelly]

Just had an interesting conversation with my friends. It’s news to me that we’re supposed to be tipping our hairdressers. In a group of 7 I’m apparently the only person who doesn’t tip! Mortified! I simply did not know this was the done thing. I’m paying for a service. Why the tip? UK born just slow on the uptake apparently. Why not tip the checkout person? Or your dentist? I pay roughly 65 quid for a cut and blow dry. Not exactly cheap

im so confused

I don't know how you can get to adulthood and not know that a lot of people tip hairdressers? The subject has been done to death on here - tip if you want don't if you don't it is pretty simple.

Okay but why? Should I tip my car mechanic tomorrow?

I knew it was a 'thing' that some people did, but I always thought it was a minority that do. In fact, I still believe that. I don't think you are unusual, OP. I certainly have never tipped a hairdresser.

No need to tip hairdressers if you don’t want. I don’t. I think it’s weird that people do, but that’s on them. I think it goes back to the days when you’d tip the girl who washed your hair - who would be on very low wages.

I have never tipped a hairdresser. Why would you be mortified?

I don’t tip hairdressers or taxi drivers mainly because I am probably on a similar wage myself and I can’t afford to.

I am aware that some people tip hairdressers, but I have always thought most people didn't. I have never tipped a hairdresser.

I don't tip Hairdressers they already charge too much

But what sets hairdressers apart from other service providers? I don’t understand the distinction

I don’t tip my hairdresser. I can barely afford to get mine cut these days let alone tip

I never tip hairdressers either.

It is the same as we must feel sorry for the retail workers who have to work boxing day but not for the people who work in hospitality.

I find tips so confusing as well. Would you tip the delivery driver if you order a takeaway? Or in a restaurant? I used to tell taxi drivers to keep the change if it wasn’t too much but stopped doing that as I think it’s expensive enough.
I really like my hairdresser so I do always tip her

You don’t know about tipping? have you been living under a rock 🤣

now i can afford it, i always tip hairdressers. and wait staff in restaurants. It is traditional because they earn low salaries. Although now they prob earned more than me 🤣🤣🤣

There have been jokes for years about why don’t we tip in mcdonald’s etc. Nobody knows the answer…

I think because it is a personal service
I don’t tip my hairdresser now as she is the salon owner and I do tax services for her and she pays my bill but doesn’t tip me!
I do tip the junior who washes my hair and the girls who do my nails and eyebrows

I hand in £50 at Christmas for them to have a drink at their Christmas night out

I suppose a lot of people have a personal relationship with their hairdresser. I don't tip mine for this reason - it makes me feel awkward chucking a few £ at her. But I suppose this is why so many people do think it's a different sort of transaction to one you'd have with a mechanic, for example.

I agree it's confusing. I always tip my hairdresser though because I think she deserves it and her prices aren't high.
Does anyone else remember how ladies would put a sixpence in the toilet attendant's saucer in a nice restaurant or at the theatre?

YANBU. I'm sick of tipping taxi drivers, as well. I only tip them now if I have a heavy bag which they then help me with. If I have a bag and they don't help, or if I have no bag, then no tip except perhaps rounding up to the nearest pound, rather than adding a couple of extra pounds.

I don't tip my hairdresser but then I'm a bit of a slob and only visit twice a year for a quick trim. However, I think people probably tip them because the process is so intimate. Women who have their hair coloured (and all sort of other stuff done) visit regularly throughout the year when they sit in the salon for half an afternoon . A lot of this time is spent in conversation with the hairdresser. So, as I say, the whole thing is an intimate procedure which also requires a lot of trust with a delicate part of your body.

I never tip hairdressers. Some of the time I get my hair done at the local college so it wouldn’t be acceptable to tip the students.

I imagine it's because it's a very personal service, not to be confused with someone scanning and throwing your loo roll down the end of the checkout.

Just like a meal regardless of the cost the person giving you that service and making you 'feel good' is likely to be low paid.

If you feel that your mechanic has made you feel good by checking the brakes on your car then feel free to tip

I tip hairdressers, taxi drivers, waiters, my nail manicurist and the window cleaner - if they’ve done a good job.

Don't forget the rest of us. I don't work in either but I don't get a christmas break either!

I haven't tipped a hairdresser since the 1980s. It's no longer the norm and hasn't been for a considerable number of years.

I book and pay for my haircuts in advance only these days.

I don’t tip my hairdresser any more - I think that went by the wayside when cash disappeared during Covid and, although you can do it on the machine now, I don’t. I assume they charge the right price for the job and can put their prices up if they need to. I also always expect a good service so there’s nothing ‘extra’ going on.

Otherwise I tip for service that is above and beyond in taxis, restaurants and cafes. But not for normal or bad service.