Tipping your hairdresser

[Blogwoman]

I'm confused about what's the norm, if there is such a thing, around tipping hairdressers in the UK. I've always done it and give about 10% of the cost of my bill. (I have a cut & blow dry in a salon every 6-8 weeks.) A conversation with colleagues recently revealed that some never tip. What do you do? If you're a hairdresser, what do you expect and how much variety in practice is there? I'm about to move to a different salon and don't want to get this wrong! Thanks

Merclady that sounds a lovely exchange!

I work in a salon chain. About 30% of clients tip me. I don't depend on or expect it but of course I do enjoy an extra couple of pounds. I charge £55 per cut as a senior stylist and but will be promoted in December so charge more. I get basic rate pay plus 30% of anything over £1000 pw I make. Typically I make 1100 per week- so an additional £30. My target will rise when I get promotion so won't hit target again for a while until I gain more clientele. I survive fine without commission or tips though just as any other worker does, just budget differently.

£40 cut and I tip £5

I make it up to the cost of the note as long as its under a fiver. For example, if its £17, I just tell them to keep the £20 note.

I currently pay 38 for a cut and blow dry. Since having kids and going part time it's a lot of money to me. I don't tip but do walk away wondering if the stylist thinks I'm being tight.

My hairdresser is the salon owner, she drives an Audi and has 3 overseas holidays per year plus weekend minibreaks. She has much more disposable income than I do. I don't tip her, even though she has a tip box which I think is a bit cheeky, TBH.

I tend to tip about £2 each for the stylist and junior - I remember being a junior and my wages were crap so each £1 was very much appreciated

I pay about 40 quid for a cut and tip about a fiver every so often but every time I go through this whole thing in my head, should I tip or not... I hate the social awkwardness of the whole thing and would prefer to just pay what it costs without worrying about extras!

The reason I don't like the concept of tipping (but still do it) is typically British: I hate that the amount you tip is (or can be perceived as) some sort of judgment on how good the job was. Like in the US, you might tip 10% for average service or 12.5% or 25% or whatever for better, it's like you're giving a score in Strictly or something and I find the whole thing too stressful. I don't want to have the extra work of judging and awarding tips when I get my hair cut or eat out!

Yes, but I have cheap cuts! Mine cost about £24 plus £10 for Lush henna, which I do myself. I got really fed up with paying more and having to sit there for hours for a result that really wasn't any better.

I always round up the bill a little. I've been going there for ages, know the staff well & they do a good job. I know the salon has a little pot for tips under the reception desk & they share the tips between all the staff, so I just ask whoever takes my payment to put the extra in there.

My hairdresser comes to my house and charges £18 a cut and I give her £20.

In the salon I last went to it was £43, and i always added a fiver tip. There was no junior but if there was they would have got a quid probably.

It's mad because I much prefer my home cut which is cheaper, and more convenient, but I tip less because to give a larger tip would seem like I was being a bit flash IMO.

I've never tipped a hairdresser. I only get my hair cut every six months or so and go to whichever salon has an offer/ suitable time with a cheap stylist. I resent paying £40 basically for a trim of my long straight hair. I'm not tipping on top of that. I just want a cheap, straight cut.

I do feel I'm probably being rude. But if they give me funny look I won't go back there again for a couple of years! Luckily I live in a big enough town there's loads of places to choose from.

I'm a hairdresser have been for years. I'm self employed. Some clients tip some don't really doesn't bother me. Some of my favourite clients don't tip me. When I first went self employed some clients said right your earning more money so where not going to tip anymore which of course was fine. As for Christmas again some clients bring me a gift in some don't some bring chocolates in for all the salon and some bring a gift in for my little girl instead

Not anymore because I get my hair cut and highlighted ever 6-8 weeks and it just starts adding up really.

I thought everyone tipped their hairdresser!

I always tip mine - I'd be embarrassed not to.

But I only give her £5 which I have just realised is a bit mean for a £60-70 haircut.

I'm glad it's not just me who finds this difficult. I used to tip but found it embarrassing (the Lady Bountiful thing someone else mentioned) now I don't. I'm retired now and as I have the senior stylist/ salon owner I don't but worry he thinks I'm tight. If there was a jar on the desk for tips for the juniors I would put something in, but there isn't.

Never. She is a partner in a very, very successful salon and has a much more expensive house than I do.

i don't tip anyone, sorry but they are doing a job, just like me, politeness goes a log way ime, and i usually get good service as a result.

Any hairdressers on here?

People say they're poorly paid, but in reality, all the hairdressers i know have substantially more disposable income than I do.

How much does a hairdresser actually earn?

I always tip my hairdresser 10% or more. Sometimes I will add in a bit for the junior if she's done a lot. But my hairdresser is a stylist in a small village salon. If the owner was doing my hair I wouldn't tip her.

Hairdresser of 20 years here. Worked for the same independent salon for 19 of those years.
About 50% of my clients tip.
I've got a very regular loyal client base after many years of hard graft and yes I get paid well as I'm employed and salaried.
I get a commission on over a certain amount taken per week in services but don't and have never relied on the commission or tips as my basic wage is good.
Not all salons pay well regardless of how much the services are and the bigger chain salons tend to pay less and have higher staff turnover.
As a stylist I never expect tips but a lot of people like to show they're appreciation with a tip.
I also get given chocolates,flowers,thank you cards and more recently doughnuts and biscuits and a bottle of chase vodka
I'm very spoilt by my clients however I spend a lot of time on their hair when they're with me and most of them have been clients for at least 15 years so it's personal to the client. We have married,had babies and been through lots over the years together and you build a relationship with regular clients.
It's not always about just the hair

Very interesting thread here as I had a similar conversation to this with a friend earlier on in the week who is an ardent tipper whereas I am not!

My hairdresser is the salon owner and I have never tipped her. I always take a Christmas present in though

I used to tip but since the minimum wage was introduced I realised they earn the same as I do and I don't get tips so I've stopped

I do tip my hairdresser......usually £5 but my bill is £150 for a cut and colour so it's not very much in percentage terms. I only go about 3 times a year though ( because who would want to at that price.....and she's not even the most expensive in the salon)