Should I give my hairdresser, who's getting married, a gift?

No.
You are a customer. You are not family, you are not friends, you probably do not even rise to the level of acquaintance.

@ragingloli is probably correct, but if you have a social relationship with her at the salon, and you get along well, it can’t hurt to do a nice thing. Sort of an altruistic, unexpected niceness.

How does it hurt to do so?

It would be a nice gesture. Certainly not necessary, but I bet it would be appreciated. Doing something nice for someone is never a bad thing.

For me, it would depend on. how close to the wedding date your appointment is before or after the wedding. If within a week before, perhaps a gift card of around $35 to $50. If it’s more than a week or so, no present necessary at all.

I think it’s very nice to do it, but not necessary. Is she registered? I think you can do it in lieu of a tip for your next appointment if you walk in with the gift. I’d spend a little more than my usual tip.

I agree with others that it would be nice, but I wouldn’t. But then, I have to watch my budget.

I should add, I don’t think the wedding has to be within a week of your appointment. Just knowing it is upcoming is sufficient. I don’t know why jellies are so negative about it, you have known her a long time and you are going to give her extra money above her fee anyway. The gift will be tax free for her.

I would think that it’s NOT required; however, I do think that it would be a nice gesture!!! Nothing overly expensive, but something to say you’re thinking of her on her day. She’s probably not asking any customers to her wedding because she doesn’t want everybody badmouthing her behind her back for asking simply to get a gift. She’s thinking that anyone who wants to will & those that don’t want to won’t. Personally, I would. How many of your casual friends have lasted 8 years???

I would give them a card. If I want to be nicer, I would include a gift certificate or equivalent.

I would tell her, “Mazel tov”.

When I got married, my various beauticians gave me freebies. When I got my hair, manicure, and pedicure before the wedding, each technician said there’d be no fee; the services were gifts to me.

In light of that experience, yes, I’ll give a modest check in a nice card.

Over the years, my hairdresser has become a dear friend. He invited me to his recent wedding; I went and gave him $250. But, that’s a special case; I love him.

Absolutely not. You are not a friend, nor invited. That answers it.

^^ Because, you know, generosity of spirit and thoughts of simple kindness should never be acted upon. <eyeroll>

^^ A gift or a tip is not a substitute for showing spirit.
Never monetize friendship, nor think it is a measure of such.

^you don’t give gifts to special people?

@Forever_Free She’s not a friend exactly. Her services are monetized.

Hell, acts of kindness for strangers are warranted in this world. The OP is going to spend money on her anyway, a gift for the wedding is acknowledging the happy occasion.

@Hawaii_Jake Don’t put words in my mouth. That is not what i wrote.

@JLeslie I agree that acts of kindness is what helps the world and society. Do as you feel, not as you are told to do.

@Forever_Free You are looking at it in black and white terms. The relationship has a certain level of intimacy (touching one’s person), longetivity (the aforementioned 8 years) and the conversational sharing of personal information.

You obviously do not want to do anything nice for people whom you get to know on such a level, but some of us actually like our fellow humans and often want to wish them well with small gestures.

@jca2 Your wording of the Q (“Should”) would indicate that you are ignorant of how such social niceties work, which I would be surprised by, as I have known you here for over ten years, and I think you have a pretty good grasp of such things.

@canidmajor I didn’t read it that way. You said it yourself you know the OP.

I think @jca2 was just looking for opinions.

It’s not like when a person from the UK needs information about tipping in the US.

@JLeslie That was my point. Some users seem to have read it like she was asking for a yes or no answer, which is what the word “should” implies.

I think that mostly I am just surprised she asked at all.

^^Interesting. Might be a dialect thing. I don’t take the word should so seriously, but I think a lot of people do. I’ve talked about it before, that some people have a lot of “shoulds” so I’m not arguing with your interpretation. I’m just saying I tend to be relaxed about etiquette pertaining to a lot of the “shoulds” so when someone asks me should I, I don’t necessarily feel it is to the level of, “do I have to?”

I forgot to update: I bought her a bottle of either Prosecco or Moscato (I forgot which) from Italy. It was about 20 dollars from Costco Liquor. I gave her a card, too. She was very happy. She said the brand was her favorite one. I forgot what it’s called – it starts with a “B.”