We’ve all been there: You just spent an hour or two getting your hair cut, colored, and styled, and you’re feeling great about the end result. But then comes the moment of truth—it’s time to pay. You do your math, figure out how much to tip your hairdresser, and reach for your wallet.
But wait—how much should you actually be leaving? It can be a tricky question to answer. Not only are tipping etiquette rules often fuzzy and confusing, but the right amount to give can also vary based on the services you had done.
If you’ve ever been confused about how much to tip or felt uncomfortable trying to calculate a percentage in your head while at the salon, you’re in luck. In this article, we’ll help demystify the process and arm you with the information you need to make sure everyone walks away happy with their service (and tip).
What Constitutes a Hairdresser Tip?
When you leave a salon after getting your hair done, you’ll want to make sure you don’t forget to tip your hairdresser. While tipping is optional, it’s an appreciated gesture that shows your satisfaction with the service.
So what exactly constitutes a hairdresser tip? Well, the golden rule is to tip 20% of the entire service cost. But if you had both a colorist and a stylist taking care of your hair, then it’s customary to divide the tip between them—usually evenly. Generally speaking, 20-25% is a good range for a tip if you’re satisfied with the service.
Remember that tipping is not mandatory and should be based on your own satisfaction level with the service provided. But if you did receive exemplary attention from both the colorist and the stylist, be sure that they feel appreciated with a generous tip!
The Right Tips for Quality Service
You love your hairdresser, and you want to make sure they know it. After all, they’ve made you look your absolute best for that big interview or that special date. But just how much should you tip your hairdresser? That’s a tricky question.
It’s important to show your appreciation for the effort and time it takes to craft the perfect style, color, or cut for you. An appropriate tip is typically between 15-20% of the total bill. If you feel your stylist has gone above and beyond, you can certainly go up to 25%. And, if you’re willing and able, consider tipping above this range — at the end of the day, it’s all about showing gratitude for exceptional service.
Regardless of the amount, be sure to consider giving tips that are commensurate with the quality of service provided — tips are an excellent way to let your hairdresser know how much they’ve helped you look and feel great!
How Much to Tip at the Hair Salon?
When it comes to tipping for your hairdo, most people suggest you leave between 15-20%, depending on the service you received. That amount can be shared with everyone who helped out during the process. Some say that a 20% tip is standard and appropriate, while at the lower end, many will go with 10%.
So what should you do? Well, first of all, make sure you’re in the know about the local tipping culture—it’s different in every city. For example, if you’re in a big city like New York or Los Angeles, chances are people will be tipping more than in places like Austin or Des Moines.
Tipping your hairdresser is a personal choice and it’s totally up to you; whatever percentage feels right for the level of service provided is fine. In general, though, it’s recommended that when going to an upscale hair salon with experienced professionals you aim for the higher end of 15-20%, especially if they take extra care and give extra attention to your hair.
Tips for Tipping Beyond the Salon
When it comes to tipping your hairdresser, you might think the salon fee is all you need to pay. But what about special occasions? Or if you want to show extra appreciation?
You can certainly reward your hairdresser with a larger tip beyond the salon fee.
Tip at Celebrations and Holidays
Holidays like Christmas and Birthdays are a great time to show your hairdresser extra appreciation. Think about it—you usually get a gift or card for some of the people in your life, so why not do something special for your hairdresser? When going to the salon, add a tip that’s corresponding to the day and/or celebration as a way of acknowledging them for their hard work.
Referral Bonus
Do you love your hairdresser so much that you’ve been referring friends or family? You should definitely reward them with an extra bonus or tip! You can do this by giving them a one-time bonus or giving them an extra percentage whenever someone mentions you referred them. This is a great way to make sure they know their hard work has not gone unnoticed—and make sure they keep up their amazing service!
Gift Cards
Another great way to tip beyond the salon fee is by giving gift cards. Most salons accept gift cards, so you can give one that covers the cost of their services (or more) as an additional thank-you. Gift cards also help ensure that they keep up with their craft and learn any new skills necessary.
Tipping Etiquette: When and How to Give
When it comes to hair styling services, you may think that a small tip is enough. Not so. The suggested amount for hairstyling services is between 10-20%, depending on the cost of the service, the level of expertise, and how satisfied you are with the end result. It’s all about what makes you feel like your hairdresser has been fairly compensated for their hard work.
A few factors to consider when tipping your hairdresser
- Quality of work: If a stylist really goes above and beyond in her work, consider upping your tip a bit more than usual.
- Speed: If your stylist managed to finish your mani-pedi or cut-and-style session quickly and efficiently, give them a generous tip to show your appreciation.
- Friendliness: Show some extra love by giving an extra-special tip if your stylist was friendly or made an effort to make you feel comfortable during the service.
Ultimately, it’s all up to you—how much should YOU give when tipping your hairdresser? A good rule of thumb is to provide them with 10-20% of the cost of the service, but remember that ultimately it’s about making sure that this hardworking professional gets fairly compensated for his or her efforts—so don’t skimp!
Recognizing Exemplary Service With Larger Tips
If your hairdresser went above and beyond the call of duty, then tipping a bit more is always appreciated. If your new bob or balayage looks perfect, give them a few extra bucks to show your gratitude! A 15-20% tip is appropriate if they’ve provided you with exemplary service.
It’s also important to recognize that hairdressers often rely on tips as their main source of income since their wages are not typically as high as other professionals. So if you have the means, leave them a little something extra!
Here are some other ways to recognize good service:
- Leave an online review on local business sites like Yelp or Google Maps
- Provide a positive referral to family or friends
- Purchase styling products from your hairdresser’s salon
- Give them a card expressing your appreciation for their service
- Offer them an extra gratuity during the holidays
Is 10% an OK tip for the hairdresser?
Did you ask: Is 10% an OK tip for the hairdresser?
The answer is: it depends. Tipping is kind of like a thank you for good service. So, if you are happy with the service you have received, then 10% is usually a good starting point – depending on how much the haircut cost.
In general, it is customary to give 15-20% of the bill as a tip, but you can of course go lower or higher depending on your budget and level of satisfaction. For example, if it was a simple trim that only cost $20, then you might go with closer to $5 instead.
At the end of the day, do what feels right for you in relation to your experience with your hairdresser. Tipping is a great way to show your appreciation – whether that’s 10%, 15%, 20%, or more!
Should I tip for an expensive haircut?
Ah, the age-old question—how much should you tip your hairdresser for a fancy haircut?
In general, it’s always polite to leave a tip at the end of service. But here’s the tricky part: how much should you tip for an expensive haircut? Technically, there’s no hard and fast rule, but some industry experts suggest tipping 20% or more for pricier cuts.
Here are some other tips to consider when tipping your hairdresser:
- Talk to your stylist to figure out what kind of tip they prefer — cash or credit.
- If you’re extra pleased with your service, you can always adjust your tip—upward or downward. If you’re not happy with their work and don’t want to return, a smaller tip might be more appropriate than no tip at all.
- To show appreciation for excellent service and build stronger relationships with your stylist, you might want to reward them with bonuses throughout the year—not just when they do something special like giving an extra-long head massage or providing additional styling guidance and tips.
At the end of the day, it really depends on whether or not you’re happy with the results of the cut and how well the stylist treated you. Always remember that tipping your hairdresser is ultimately about rewarding good service so that you can keep coming back for more great hair care experiences in the future!
What is salon etiquette?
Another important bit of info you need to know is how to be polite when going to the salon. That includes tipping! But how much should you tip?
It depends on a few factors, like the type of service, the size of your bill, and the geographic area. As a general rule of thumb, tip 15-20%, or roughly the cost of one service. So if your bill is $100 for a haircut, you should tip between $15 and $20.
Most salons will have an ATM or credit card machine in case you don’t have cash on hand. But even if they do have one, normally it’s appreciated by your stylist if you can bring cash.
It’s also polite to let your hairdresser know ahead of time how much you plan on tipping so they’re not left with any surprises at the end (and they’ll appreciate it!). And always remember to thank them for their services!
Polite behavior is key in any salon — both for stylists and customers — and following these tips will ensure that everyone has a pleasant experience at the end of each appointment.
Conclusion
So, how much should you tip your hairdresser? It really depends on personal preference and how much you appreciate their work and your experience. A good rule of thumb, however, is to tip at least 15 percent of the cost of the service. To show extra appreciation for excellent service, you can always opt to tip a little more. After all, that’s the best way to give your hairdresser that extra bit of motivation to keep giving you the best salon experience!
