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 tip my hairdresser, I pay plenty already.

The rule is something along the lines of if you’re standing when you order/receive the service, no tip. If you’re sitting then tip.

So no tip at McDonalds (as you stand to order and get the food), but tip at the hairdressers/restaurants.

I don’t tip my hairdresser though.

Not really because we don't tip retail workers but we are expected to tip housekeepers and waiters

My salon charges £80+ for a haircut. They increased the prices and sent an email saying it was so they could pay their staff well, so I take them at their word and don't feel I need to tip on top of that.

Actually there is table service at McDonald's these days

I tip the hairdresser (by the way they do not get what you are charged - depending on their seniority the actual stylists gets 38-70%). I also tip my beautician. I tip in restaurants. I tip the guy who delivers my pizza. I do not tip the guy who delivers my Tesco grocery order (they are not allowed to accept them anyway). I also tip housekeeping staff at hotels. I don’t know why you tip some people not others. I wouldn’t tip a courier for example.
My son works in a men’s boutique and gets the odd tip. But not usually.
Youre right @Motheranddaughteryou aren’t supposed to tip the salon owner.

I've been not so long ago and didn't see that. Even if there is, there's a difference between just bringing the food to the table like they do in pubs and also taking the order at the table.

"I also tip housekeeping staff at hotels."

How? I thought the usual thing was to leave a gift. Do you leave cash? Because it's not that common to see your chamber maid.

I don’t tip my hairdresser. I pay the salon £200 and really expect her to be paid fairly.

I'm pretty sure they don't find it patronising depending on what you give of course! It probably adds up to a decent amount over a month.

I presume you are used to tipping at restaurants?

at my hairdressers all staff are salaried. I think the days of hairdressers ‘renting a booth’ where they had greater outgoings have gone. They had n paid holidays, pensions, sick pay etc. This is why tips used to be given in my view, to boost their income.

but with everyone being salaried I don’t don’t anymore. £175 a go it’s expensive enough - and therefore covers all of the standard benefits that salaried hairdressers get.

That’s an interesting one! I don’t tip my dentist or GP or kids teacher at parents evening and they are all sitting experiences.

We do the same. In the hairdressers I’ll tip my stylist and then leave £1 or so for the apprentice that washes customers hair. Something my mum always done and it’s stuck with me.

I tip the girl who washes my hair and my hairdresser who cuts and blowdries. . But since Covid they introduced QR code thing which l don't like as it's not immediate so they won't connect to it be for good service and look after me well the next time.
I always tip hotel cleaners when leaving after a holiday abroad as love how they do my room and appreciate their efforts. Also tip waiters.

No.

They all get paid much better than hairdressers and their assistants.

I suppose because on the whole they’re not paid for services? Maybe they do tip healthcare providers in the US 😂

Maybe it’s linked to who you pay too… you don’t pay the dentist, you pay their receptionist while stood up? Who knows.

How does this sitting down fit in with tipping the postman, dustman and Evri then which people on here seem to do at Christmas

Why?

I don't tip the hairdresser. Tbh she hasn't set her service cheap!

You shouldn’t have to tip the hairdresser, but as much as I dislike tipping, I have sadly realised I get a much better service when I do.

I think it was a done thing when stylists were poorly paid. No idea if that has improved these days. In the salon I used to work in, apprentices were tipped. That made more sense to me, they were on pennies

I’m not sure they would be allowed to accept tips - could be wrong though.

I’ve never tipped my hairdresser. I didn’t even know it was a thing until a few years ago. I always pay by card and there’s never been an option to add a tip so I never have. I would feel weird bunging a few quid at her after paying, it would feel patronising, not to mention I never have any cash. She’s done a service for me, I’ve paid her, job done. She’s raised her prices a few times since I’ve been with her which I’ve happily paid, I would far rather she did that than expect me to tip.

Don't you just love people who declare, regally, that something "is no longer the norm" on a thread that makes it clear that it still is the norm for many people?
Nobody among my friends and colleagues would dream of shafting a usually very modestly paid hairdresser (or waitress for that matter).