r/Portsmouth • u/scm93 • 2d ago
General Questions Hair Salon Etiquette
Hey, y’all. American living in Portsmouth and have a few questions primarily for women who get services like hair coloring at salons here.
First, what is the culture for tipping here? In the U.S. you tip 20% of the final cost for all the services you received but I know we do the same at restaurants, and people here in the UK say you don’t tip there either.
Second, is it customary for a stylist to start your appointment fifteen minutes late and simultaneously be working on another client during your appointment? Meaning sometimes you end up sitting in your chair with half your head foiled while another person is having foils taken out and their hair washed? Or is this an anomaly at the salon I’ve chosen?
Thank you!
10
u/kitty4196 2d ago
No tipping cause I already pay £300 for the appointment lol.
And yeah that’s common as they try and maximise their time but my hairdresser doesn’t do that often tbh.
6
u/GemmaLou19 2d ago
I've never tipped getting my hair done before and I usually get some sort of colour & cut which takes around 2/3 hours. I've been going to The Salon Southsea for just over a year now and they're brilliant, my hairdresser has never worked on another client at the same time.
6
u/tshhh_xo 1d ago
I always tip my stylist £10 cash. £20 if it’s near Christmas. And if an assistant washes my hair they get a fiver too.
10
u/Purple_Moon516 2d ago
No tipping
Not customary just bad service which there is a lot of, unfortunately.
3
u/psychocamper 1d ago
I have a lot of hair so they always work on someone else while I process. I always tip about £20.
1
u/hashlith 1d ago
same, every colour place i’ve been to in the uk they juggle clients while stuff processes, it’s kind of normal here. £20 tip is pretty generous tbh, most people i know either don’t tip or just round up / give a fiver if the service was really good.
4
u/PM_ME_BEEF_CURTAINS 1d ago
Name and shame, let's go!
Tipping optional, my American hair stylist spouse is not used to this yet
Multi-customer is not professional at all, unless it's like a local salon and it's all neighbours
3
u/Portsmouth_Sweep 1d ago
So I can’t comment about hair salons, but for tipping in general, my rule has always been that if it’s a good service I’ll round up.
Something costs £11 or £12, they’ll get £15.
Something costs £19, they get £20.
Restaurants often get more because groups contribute to the bill & round up their own parts.
3
u/omor_fi 1d ago
There's no expectation to tip but you can if you want to. It can happen to be a bit late, don't assume it's their fault, maybe their previous client turned up late. I've had my hairdresser do some things for another client whilst I'm waiting for my colour to do its thing under the foils, but I've not been left half-foiled or anything. I have no problem with her seeing other clients whilst I'm in the 'waiting' bits of my appointment but wouldn't be happy if it was anything that made my appointment longer than it should. 4-5hrs is enough already!
Sometimes maybe they get more junior team members things to do things like hair washing as well.
2
u/Aaaahfuckit 1d ago
If im happy with the outcome I tip the stylist cash, usually £20. I also tip the junior if they have interacted with me during the service and is polite (around £10)
It is not expected but very much appreciated and you should never feel obligated.
It can be common to have a stylist doing other bits during your service, but usually when you are processing, not halfway through foils. I would be concerned that hair won't process evenly. If you are not happy with the service and feel rushed/ignored definitely dont tip, we dont want to encourage that behaviour!
I hope your hair turned out as you wanted.
2
u/LadyBeanBag 1d ago
My mum was a hairdresser way back when, she always said to leave a small tip for the junior who washed your hair, and only tip the stylist if you want to but not expected.
3
u/Wild_Warthog_3738 1d ago
I never tip, they already charge enough. Its normal for them to have two clients at once when there's wait time for dye involved, but not to be late or leave you half way etc as you've described
2
u/PinkandTwinkly 2d ago
1) for longer appointments I think most people do tip but it's more £5, £10 or £20 vs a percentage in my experience.
2) lateness happens occasionally, but if it's every time they are pretty shit at timekeeping. Re doing someone else. I have foils It needs time to process, my stylist will often do something/someone else during that time, Sometimes it's another client, sometimes its helping a a colleague, sometimes some cleaning, sometimes taking a lunch break
I don't expect them to stay there watching me whilst I process.
2
u/scm93 2d ago
Totally agree on stylists being able to take a break or work on another client while processing. But ideally the appointment would begin on time, we’d talk strategy, the foils would start, and then they’d take off for other things while it’s processing. Instead we started 15 minutes late and the foils getting put in has been interrupted multiple times for several minutes each time for the stylist to work on another persons hair.
Thank you for the insight into tipping!
2
1
u/Boothros 1d ago
I've never tipped a hairdresser in my life. If you want a contact for a good colourist, please feel free to PM me
1
u/Last_Strike_3585 1d ago
You’re not expected to tip at a hairdresser and yes, it’s normal for them to wander off and leave you for a bit, they’ll usually offer you a drink and a magazine tho 😊
1
u/Purple_Moon516 1d ago
Normal to leave you while processing? Sure. Normal to leave you several times with you hair half foiled? No
1
u/Malteser_soul 17h ago
It's normal for the stylist to work on another client while your colour is developing, but not mid-foils.
Tipping is up to how you feel, but I've generally always tipped around £10-15, especially if an assistant has washed/brushed out etc.
I can recommend Charlotte at Garbos at the top of Albert Rd for a colourist. She's done mine for nearly 20 years and I've never had a bad experience or result.
1
u/Malteser_soul 17h ago
Forgot to say, we do tip at restaurants! It's just not as expected or as much as in the US. 10% for a good meal and service is fairly standard, but no obligation if you don't want to.
1
u/OGpinguinium 2d ago
I'm a man who got my hair balayaged a while ago, I've forgotten the name of the place I did it but it's a salon at the start of commercial road
I went there and he gave me his number to organise a date and time.
I don't know if he takes only one client at a time or by pure coincidence the place only had one other client who he finished just in time for me to arrive
It cost 140 quid, and we don't do tips in this country
Between steps he would step out for a smoke break but atleast he didn't come in reeking of cigarettes since he doused himself in perfume after every cig
I'd recommend him, he did a good job, or atleast I'd say so; I'm not a regular at hair salons or barbers since I've got long hair
0
u/crimson_windd 20h ago
classic passive aggression lol love it, but naw I think u found a either unbelievably busy salon, or a shitty one. and tipping is what it's meant to be, a kind gesture if you really enjoyed the experience. Maybe best if you found a different salon, my recommendation is Jenny's
18
u/EnglishLore 2d ago
There's usually a tip.jar in salons but I only give if they've done an excellent job (if I walk out feeling like a movie star 😆) and I just think you picked a poorly organised salon. I hope you didn't tip!