Tipping a haidresser in the UK vs the US

Hi, not sure if this is the correct forum, sorry!

I was recently given a gift certificate for a hair salon up here in Newcastle. I can't remember the last time I've been to a hairdresser, it was probably 6-7 years ago back in the States (and I know I tipped then, because people working in the service industry in the States tend to get paid a pittance).

But I digress...

So, I have this GC and I'm out of practice going to salons, and I know that things are a lot different over here in the UK with regard to tipping.

So do I tip or not? (It's a £40 haircut voucher).

Some people do, some people don't. It's certainly not universal to tip here. My hairdresser is the salon owner, so I don't tip him.  But even if he weren't, I don't think I'd tip as most people around here seem not to. I generally give a bonus and a present at Christmas, and that's it. However, if one of the young girls in the salon does my shampoo, I usually give her £2.

ok, cool, thanks for the reply. I was really torn about this and don't want to look like a crass American, not doing the correct thing.

I always tip my hairdresser, and most people who perform a service for me, from 10-20% regardless of where I am (USA or UK).  I've seen other people tip in my salon, but from the sounds of it (a "keep the change" kinda thing), it usually isn't that much.  I get stressed about my hair (it's short, thin and crappy), so when someone can work wonders with it, I am really appreciative.

i do just what i do in america......i tip if im happy with the service offered

I haven't tipped anything more than 5 pounds.

Some people do, some people don't. It's certainly not universal to tip here. My hairdresser is the salon owner, so I don't tip him.  But even if he weren't, I don't think I'd tip as most people around here seem not to. I generally give a bonus and a present at Christmas, and that's it. However, if one of the young girls in the salon does my shampoo, I usually give her £2.

This is exactly what I do as my hairstylist is also the salon owner.  I also give the girl who washes my hair £2 as it's long and thick and she does a really good job (very thorough, excellent at combing out tangles with no pulling, etc.).

I give my hairdresser a tenner, which is about 20% of the cost of the cut (£55)

He's great, he's nice, he listens to what I actually want, he spends the time to make sure my fringe length matches my glasses. He makes a mean cappuccino.

What more could I want?

I'm not living there yet but I had this discussion with my Fiance and I guess he said he DOESN'T tip because they earn a wage (just as he stopped me from tipping a bartender the first time I was there) but I'm not sure if that is because he is a guy and if it's different for a male versus female as I imagine a man's head is easier? He did inform me though that it definitely wouldn't be poor form to NOT tip. I feel a little bit iffy about not tipping so maybe follow the tipping but not quite as generously as we do over here?

Can anyone recommend a thread about tipping in general (not just for a hairstylist)? I'm really confused about who you tip and who you don't and what is considered appropriate tip percentages. All I got so far is "don't tip bartenders. Tip waitstaff at a restaurant. Don't tip hairdressers." I'm curious about tattoo artists and other service industries. Thanks!

I actually asked my hairdresser about it since I've known her for years, and she was kind of like, "some do, some don't.  It's really up to you."  I do give her a tip, but it isn't huge.  I gave her a larger tip one year when she cut my hair just before Christmas, which had been more of a given back home, and she acted really surprised and asked me if I was sure.  It wasn't all that big of a tip, but it actually felt awkward in that moment, so now I do tip, but usually just a few pounds and she seems fine with it--not that she'd let on if she weren't.

Oh, and search the past threads.  Tipping comes up regularly on UKY.  Some in a nutshell stuff--tip waiters at restaurants where they take your order at the table, but tips aren't generally nearly as big as the US ones.  You can tip a bar keep if you want, but what they will often do is say they can give themselves a drink as well.  They can't drink on shift, so they'll add a drinks' cost to the bill and have a tab for themselves when they aren't on duty.

In my area, it's kind of up to you if you tip for things like food delivery.  I usually give a small tip to the pizza guy or the Chinese delivery--especially if it's a cold night and the food was on time, but in our area, I don't get the feeling it is expected at all.  I think a lot of delivery drivers for big companies like the Tesco deliveries, aren't allowed to accept tips. I'm pretty sure DH gave a nice tip to the mover when we moved house though.

I usually round up a taxi fare, but I've heard some argue to not.  I've been told that it was the tradition for bin men and postmen to come around with a card or something at Christmas/Boxing Day, and you'd generally give them a tip for their work during the year, but this hasn't happened to me yet.  Even our posties who come to the door disappear so fast, we don't get to see them much if at all.

The one I still can't get my head around is tipping Christmas carollers.  That is just odd!

I tip in restaurants, but not much. Wait staff get paid more here than in the US - in the US they really have to rely on tips to make up their salaries.

I always give a gift (booze + cash) to my postman, bin men and milkman at Christmas.

Chary, how do you tip the binmen? Do they come to your door? Do you just leave something for them? Ours come before six in the morning, so I've never seen them.

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Chary, how do you tip the binmen? Do they come to your door? Do you just leave something for them? Ours come before six in the morning, so I've never seen them.

I just run outside really early in the morning (6-ish) and leave some beer with a big red ribbon and a card with cash in it on top of our bin.

I just run outside really early in the morning (6-ish) and leave some beer with a big red ribbon and a card with cash in it on top of our bin.

Don't you worry about it being stolen? Just in case, I wanted to clarify I don't mean that in a rude tone in the slightest (i know sometimes it can be hard to tell via text). I'm just fascinated because around here, i don't even live in a bad town or anything, it would most likely be gone with no guarantee the person it was intended for got it. I'd be afraid most about the money more than the beer.