I think people fall into two categories: those who can and those who can't. It's like wearing a pashmina: you either chuck it artlessly over your shoulder and it looks fab, or no matter how hard you try you look like you should be trying to flog bunches of lucky heather.
I can't wear a pashmina and I can't tip. I went to the hairdressers today and had, as well as my normal cut, my hair coloured for the first time (normally do it myself). Who do I tip? And how much? The bloke who cuts it owns the salon - and I read somewhere you don't tip the owner. Should I have tipped the colourist? And what about the girl who washes your hair? In the event, I nearly fainted at how much it cost, paid by card, and scuttled out of the door without tipping anyone. Am I a bad person? Do they slag me off as soon as I am out the door?
I DO tip in restaurants, and I do tip taxi drivers. I don't tip the dustbin men at Christmas time. I have never said to a person serving behind a bar "and one for yourself" and am not even sure what they do if you do that - do they have an actual drink, or add the price of a drink onto your round of drinks? And if they do that do they add on the price of half a shandy or a double brandy? And don't you feel like a complete t*sser going "and one for yourself, my fine wench!"
I feel I am completely gauche when it comes to tipping - and I particularly hate it at the hairdresser's as I really don't know what to do so end up not tipping at all.
What does everyone else do?