Tipping hairdresser

Understand that most people tip their hairdressers (I am talking for guys) here. How much do you typically give? Only if you have a regular stylist?

I have been going to The Barbershop off Wellington Street and have had my hair cut by various people. Do people tip there?

In places where most of the clientele are expats (especially American, of course), they will expect expats to tip 20% with a minimum tip of HK$25 - though they won't expect anything from local customers. As these salon owners know that expats will tip, these hairdressers are generally paid a feeble wage (same idea as restaurants in the US).



However, in local districts (as in local restaurants) stylists will be delighted with just the loose coins in the change. I can never resist tipping the shampooist too (although my wife - who's local, and quite a generous tipper overseas - always tells me it's not the form here) simply because these girls make less than HK$20 per hour in local districts and that seems pretty sad. The almost tearful gratitude they show for HK$10 makes me feel quite tearful, too.

Have heard similar things about not tipping the boss owner (also common in Europe for owner-operated restaurants: you only tip the staff).

Back to The Barbershop: Does anybody know who the boss/owner is? They seem to have the same crew their all the time.

Also, how much do you tip them on the $200 simple hair cut? And how? Do you just slip a copule of 20s after paying for the cut?