do you tip your hairdresser?

[MayMummy11]

Should you and do you tip your hairdresser? If so how much? 10%? 5%? Nothing? I go every 8-12 weeks for a highlights & cut and blow dry for longish hair length past my shoulders. I have been tipping but a friend said it should be built into the cost of your cut? Is this right?

No. I don't tip. Do you tip the bus driver/Tesco check out operator/your insurance organiser?

I have always tipped. Usually about £3 and a bit more at xmas. Thought everyone tipped hairdressers

Queenmaeve - why?

Always tip my hairdresser about £2/£3, depending on what she's done.

Yes, usually about £5 (My cut and colour is about £80)

Berry, my cut and colour on Saturday was exactly £80 and I left a £4 tip (only because that was all the change I had)

I always tip about 10%. which works out at about £10 for cut and colour.

I don't tip if the person cutting my hair is the owner though.

I only get my hair cut about 4 times a year, but I've never tipped my hairdresser. It's quite expensive enough (around £50-60). I do always tip my son's barber though; they only charge £8 for a cut and I always give £1 on top.

I assume all of you that have said you do tip are about 20 years of age and trying to show that you are grown up. Why else would someone in this day and age "always tip 10%".

In days gone by, tipping was done when a service was provided by someone who was a servant. (Service, servant...get it?) This is 2011. There is a minimal wage. Your hairdresser is probably earning more than you are. Why do you want to be condescending and tip. I really do not understand this at all.

I don't understand tipping at all, in any situation. The cost of the service should be built into the price.

I never tip hairdressers. My haircuts are expensive and I expect that they should receive a decent proportion of that as wages.

I wish there was no culture of tipping in restaurants too, especially as it's just a convention not a comment on the quality of service. Indeed, decent service, even good service, should be expected. If the service is not good enough, you should complain. You shouldn't have to financially reward someone for just doing what they're already paid a wage to do anyway. Restaurants should simply pay their staff decent wages and charge what is necessary for food and service.

I agree that it's very patronising too.

Er, no, 33 actually - and it's been going on longer than I've been paying for my hair.

Taxi drivers aren't servants either, but you tip them. Or maybe you don't

I appear to inhabit a parallel universe

As someone who has worked in more than one 'service' job I can guarentee that most people do not feel patronised at being given a tip. Oh and minimal wage does not equal live-able wage.

Damselindisarray - well said.

and BerryLellow- no, I certainly don't tip taxi drivers. Why would I??? Why would anyone. Do you tip the bus driver?

I don't get the bus

I always tip the kid who washes my hair. Damn sure they're not earning more than me!

I knew someone who worked at Vidal Sassoon once, all through her (years) of training she was working in the salon full time and earning about £50 a week as it counted as an apprenticeship sort of thing. She literally lived off her tips.

Nope. I already pay a hefty price for the cut, and my hairdresser is a senior stylist, who should be paid a decent whack for her job. She often washes my hair too.

Also, I never have any change on me when I need it - I always pay by card and there's no option for a tip when I pay, so I assume that they all get a decent wage at the salon.

I do, however, tip taxi drivers and in restaurants, although I hate the culture of tipping.

No, the only place I tip is in a restaurant (unless the service has been dire). I only tip a taxi driver if it's easier to round up slightly.. it's rare. I don't earn enough to be tipping all and sundry.

I almost always tip my hairdresser - more if they've done a good job. Why wouldn't you? I loved getting tips in my minimum wage bar jobs, and saw nothing insulting about it. And DH gets a bonus each year if he's done well, so I see tips as being like little bonuses to say that you appreciate the work done.

plus which, you DO NOT want to piss off someone who is near your hair with scissors. so why not thank them instead?!

No, I don't tip. If they do a good job, I go back and generate more income for them - I think its different to just going to a general business as you book with a particular person

Yes i always go to the same hairdresser and tip 5 to the colourist and 5 to the stylist. And no i am not 20 years old

Yes I do and I'm not 20 and trying to impress. I wouldn't dream of not tipping for good service wether it's waiting staff, taxi drivers, hairdressers or the pizza delivery person. As someone who has worked in the service industry I can assure you they don't feel patronised. As a single mum years ago my tips were often the difference between me and my dd eating or not.
I know employers should pay a fair wage but the fact is many don't. If someone goes that extra mile I'm quite happy to show my appreciation.

I tend to round the bill up so probably 5 to 10 % but only because she's lovely and chatty and it's a nice experience. I didn't tip the expensive place in town that left me in a draft.
Restaurants get tipped if they are quick and helpful, but I've been known to forget when they aren't.

I usually tip £3. I used to work as a Saturday girl and relied on my tips. A hairdresser's salary isn't that great, even the senior stylists are not on a large salary. They work on a daily rate, not per client (unless self employed) so the clients money goes straight to the owner.
Having said that it is down to peoples choice to tip or not - some do, some don't. It's up to you.

I don't tip.