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Original poster

Should I tip my hairdresser friend?

37 replies

Solola · 03/07/2012 12:14

I have a friend, not a close one but another mum from my son's class at school who sometimes does my hair.

I can't afford to have this done very often, but got a tax rebate last week so I thought I'd splash out and have highlights. She charges £50 which I think is pretty reasonable.

Should I tip on top of that? How much. Always feel kind of awkward paying friends and even more awkward tipping them as I feel I should be more generous than I would be with a stranger.

OP posts:
valiumredhead · 03/07/2012 12:28

I think £50 is pretty hefty for a mobile hairdresser so I probably wouldn't.

sheeplikessleep · 03/07/2012 12:39

Is she charging £50 for highlights and a cut all in? Or just highlights?

Original poster
Solola · 03/07/2012 13:11

Just highlights.

OP posts:
BettySwollocksandaCrustyRack · 03/07/2012 13:14

I pay my mobile £30 for cut and highlights. She is my friend and I do try and tip her - she never accepts.

£50 sounds quite a lot for a mobile esp just for highlights so no, dont tip her!

valiumredhead · 03/07/2012 13:16

That is as much as I pay in a 5 star rated salon for just high lights! I pay another £36 for a cut.

She is charging far too much imo.

NatashaBee · 03/07/2012 13:32

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Havingkittens · 03/07/2012 14:29

NatashaBee, I'm wondering what logic has made you come to that conclusion? A mobile hairdresser will have to pay for petrol plus wear and tear on her car to come to a client, as well as the additional time in the car which is valuable time that she is not able to spend with a client. If it takes 40 minutes to drive to a client's house, that's an hour and a half of unpaid time during a working day which someone based in a salon wouldn't have to worry about due to everyone coming to them. They also have to pay for all their own equipment and products, which they wouldn't necessarily have to do in a salon.

Regarding others' comments, don't assume that because someone is mobile they are somehow inferior to someone you would get in a salon. Often it is because it suits their circumstances better than being tied to a salon, the same way that having a mobile hairdresser come to you may suit your circumstances better than you having to go to a salon.

With regards to the price, and the tipping quandry, obviously price varies depending on where you are based and also on the level of experience and expertise of the hairdresser. If your friend/acquaintance is very good then she is completely justified charging £50. I think it's a reasonable price if she does a good job. I would make the decision on whether to tip her once you have seen the results.

valiumredhead · 03/07/2012 15:05

A mobile hairdresser doesn't have to lay out for shampoo or other products, water bills, laundering towels, electricity. She doesn't even have to plug the hoover in to clear up the hair on the floor, so £50 IS expensive when you can go to a salon and all those things are included.

A cut included would be far more reasonable for that price. My SIL is a mobile hairdresser and some of the best cuts I have ever had have been by mobile hairdressers so I would never suggest that somehow they were inferior.

The only outlay is petrol, scissors and a hairdryer and a mobile hairdresser with her head screwed on won't be travelling 40 mins to a client's house, she'll stay local.

Cheriefroufrou · 03/07/2012 15:07

thats already a lot for a mobile hairdresser round here too!

saythatagain · 03/07/2012 15:10

My mobile (again, a mum from dd's school) charges £50 for cut & colour for me and cuts for dd (a long trim!) and dh. She uses her own products too. I have never tried to tip her; it's not something I would want to start and then stop iyswim!

valium Are you still Palux swishing? I am! And, get this, they sent me amother one in the post, so I have two of the little angels! Apologies for the hijack.

valiumredhead · 03/07/2012 15:56

Oh wow say no way!!! Excellent! I LOVE it when things like that happen Grin

valiumredhead · 03/07/2012 15:56

Also she really would be in the minority if she declared all her earnings, so she's already doing well Wink

BettySwollocksandaCrustyRack · 03/07/2012 15:58

What on earth is Paulx Swishing?? Am I missing out on something? :)

valiumredhead · 03/07/2012 15:59

Oh yes, you really are Grin

CuriousMama · 03/07/2012 16:04

That sounds very expensive imo.

How long is your hair?

saythatagain · 03/07/2012 16:11

Swish-swish-swoosh! Its a make of hairdryer that valium got me intrigued by...wham-bam, next thing, I've only gone and ordered one. Slight mix up with delivery but eventually received it; fast forward a month and they go and deliver another one!
I don't know what it is about them but it does making styling/drying my
Huge Fearnley Whittingstall frizz fest head gorgeous locks much easier and it does look sort of salon styled too.

Original poster
Solola · 03/07/2012 16:17

Thanks for advice. No tip it is then!

My hair is shoulder length but quite thick. She's the only one who has ever highlighted it so not had it done in a salon.

I am prepared to pay a little more for the convenience of her coming to my house as then I can have it done while the baby naps.

Maybe I should look around and see what other mobile hairdressers are charging in my area. This friend is quite a good source of local gossip though :o

OP posts:
BettySwollocksandaCrustyRack · 03/07/2012 16:23

Oooh interesting, will google it.......it will make my Tresemme one look shite no doubt!! Whats so good about it though?? Is it good for curls or better if you want the straight look?? I love a good hairdryer! :)

valiumredhead · 03/07/2012 16:24

It's better than my Toni and Guy drier which cost £40 - in fact it pisses all over it! Parluxes are amazing!

BettySwollocksandaCrustyRack · 03/07/2012 16:25

Blimey, they're not cheap are they Shock

I'll stick to my humble hairdryer for now !

valiumredhead · 03/07/2012 16:27

I paid £55 for mine and it is worth every penny as my hair is so thick it cuts drying time down about 10 - 15 mins!

BettySwollocksandaCrustyRack · 03/07/2012 16:28

My hair is really thick too. When it was long it took forever to dry, had loads chopped off so its much quicker thank god!! Maybe if I get a bonus from work I will treat myself :)

valiumredhead · 03/07/2012 16:29

You would love one! Hope you get a bonus Grin

BettySwollocksandaCrustyRack · 03/07/2012 16:32

Me too! Thanks :)

Havingkittens · 03/07/2012 16:42

OK, I'm not trying to be contentious. Just trying to show a different perspective.

I pay £45 for a cut from a "mobile" hairdresser. I've paid the same amount for 3 different hairdressers. I live in Central London and this is not considered extortionate but I also have no problem paying it because I know that the various friends who cut my hair are exceptionally good (I know this because they are colleagues as well as friends so I have to associate with very good hairdressers). As a freelance beauty professional myself, I know that you get what you pay for. Most people in the business price themselves according to what they feel their worth is depending on their level of expertise, in the same way that there is a sliding scale of prices in salons.

Trust me, also in my line of work I have seen a chasm of difference between awful and fantastic highlights. I'd definitely pay extra for the good ones!

Solola, I can't say for sure obviously. Your friend may be really good and feel her price is justified. Or she may be a chancer Grin.

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