*How* do you tip a hairdresser?

Question

I've read all the articles on tipping hairdressers. The consensus seems to be that you tip about 10% (unless it's the owner of the salon). But what I find hard to know is *how* to do it, and I always feel really awkward and embarrassed about it. Do you give it to them in person? Or do you wait till you get to the desk and pay, and then give the receptionist the tip to pass on? What about the junior who washes your hair? I'd feel really uncomfortable handing money over directly - it feels so old fashioned and patronising. But if I wait till I get to the desk then I feel I can't tip the junior because I usually have no idea what her name is.

If there are any UK hairdressers out there I'd really like to know what you find people usually do. And what they say, if they say anything at all.

Answer 1

ive been a junior for 3yrs and people usually give their hairdresser and my tip in at reception, and they put it in a box to pass on.
i do find it patronising when people give you tips in hand, and it seems much more professional to hand it in at the desk when you're paying.
10% is standard, but don't forget the juniors who break their backs for you and get paid the shittest wage!!

Answer 2

I pay as much as the hairdresser asks from me, no more. Especially in light of that hairdressers rarely have fixed prices, so they tell you a number that most probably has the tip included. I don't know who started this stupid custom, but I'm sick and tired of that now every merchant expect to receive tips for even the most basic things. If I don't give a tip they often treat me like some sht after I'm leaving, they won't say bye or anything. And then I AM rude for not paying an extra 10-20% for something they are already payed for! They say that the tips became customary in those days when the workers got very little payments and they depended on tips. But nowadays it's changed, wages are closer to the acceptable standards. I'm an administrator and I never got any tips(and never expected it), but I hardly earn more wage than a hairdresser or a waiter. Now is it fair? They say that if I can afford to pay for a haircut or to go to a restaurant, I can pay the tips as well. You know this is where they are very wrong, assuming that just because I go out once in a month to a restaurant I'm automatically a rich-*** jerk who can afford everything. Not true. The prices in a restaurant are already ridiculously high, so they have more than enough money to pay the waiters more. If the waiters accept the low wages, then they have to accept the consequences of that decision and they shouldn't expect tips. This tip system is wired into the society so tightly, that some places even go as far as INCLUDING the tip on the bill! Because tipping became so customary, people pay even if they received bad service, because they feel obligated to. This caused the quality of the services to go down hill, waiters know exactly that most people will tip them even if they are rude. People should wake up and stop tipping everybody everywhere, because they are also the major part of the problem!

Answer 3

Tip Hairdresser

Answer 4

Hi i always tip the hairdresser when i go all i do is when i got to the desk to pay say my hair cut cost £8.00 i would give the hairdresser a £10 note and then before she gives me the change back ill just say, It doesnt matter about the change, or keep the change for doing my hair so lovely. Theres no need to be embarrased just make a conversation out of it. If you intend o n giving a tip just carry change with you so when you pay just say thank you, Then walk away if she calls you back say its fine about the change. The usually know what you mean by this.Most hairdressers do.

If you are too shy you could even post the a letter thanking the hairdresser, make sure you know her name and send her some money or a check. if you really feel guilty from not giving tips

Answer 5

Hi
I am a hairdresser and love recieving tips, it makes it more worthwhile and it shows that the client really appreciated you. It really doesnt matter how you do it, either in person or to the receptionist. Most salons have seperate piggy banks for their staff so if you said to the girl at the till 'thats for Sharon' then they would put it in Sharon's bank, but by doing that, the hairdresser doesnt know who left them tips, so i prefer getting them directly, because sometimes, a cheeky receptionist may pocket the tips themselves as if nothing happened, so i say direct is best!!
I am self employed now,(mobile stylist) but still receive tips. If my clients bill adds up to say, £28 they would usually say 'just keep the two' so most people round it up so they can leave a tip. Be warned though, because some salons are very cheeky and put all the tips into one jar and it gets split evenly at end of week, which sounds fair, but to be honest,, its not really that fair as the people who have earned alot of the tips don't get as much as they deserve and the people who aren't so friendly and tip-worthy recieve alot of tips at end of week when they don't deserve them.
Usually a £1-£2 tip is fair for a stylist and 50p-£1 is good enough for the assistant (junior).
Have fun next time you visit your salon and give tips directly as the stylist will appreciate it more and its a more personal touch.
Hope that helped,
Sharon xxx

Answer 6

If I give a tip I usually do it in person.

But I don't really know why we should tip the hairdresser. They are just doing their job that they get paid to do - no one comes up to me at work and gives me a tip when I do something for them. We don't tip staff in supermarkets/high street stores etc, or the optician, dentist etc, so why do we tip hairdressers?

Answer 7

I'm not in the UK, but what I do is when my hairdresser is done with my hair, I usually ask how much do I owe her, then determine what I'm going to tip. Actually I usually tip between 5 and 10 dollars. I just open my purse, pull out what I'm going to tip, then place it upon her station table. Then I give her my thanks, and head for the desk.

Answer 8

As a hairdresser people tip me in different ways. Most tip me when they are paying. They hand over more cash then is requested and they say, you keep the change. When I was a junior, people would slip 5 bucks or so into my hand all the time secretly. Most tips you give, the employers take anyway... they go straight into the till. They don't let you accept them. So if i were you... hand it to them at the chair secretly. And it doenst have to be big. Even $5 is a nice suprise.

Answer 9

i tend to round up say £36 to £40 and tell the hairdresser to keep the change. in my salon, the hairdresser will book your next appointment and take payment, making it easier to tip ! I guess the hairdresser thought the same thing you have, so this avoids embarrassment.

Answer 10

It is not common to give additional tips to hairdressers in here - I usually go to small salons where everything belongs to the hairdresser-owner herself, so.. if I pay her, that should be enough...