How much to tip your hairdresser
Your hair has been cut, colored and styled. You’re looking and feeling good. But unlike the shampoo head massage that kicked off your appointment, knowing whom to tip and how much can be a little stressful.
And even though tipping may not be required, hairdressers, stylists and barbers often count on tips. Learn more about tipping etiquette, including how much to tip and what factors might influence your decision.
Key takeaways
- Tipping is one way to show appreciation for your hairdresser’s time and effort.
- A 20% tip may be standard, but the percentage can vary.
- More complex jobs or a stylist that went above and beyond might merit a bigger tip. If service was poor, a little less might be appropriate.
- If your appointment involved multiple stylists, such as an additional colorist or shampooer, you could consider tipping them separately or finding out whether tips are shared.
What percentage should you tip your hairdresser?
When it comes to tipping after a hair appointment, the salon experts at L’Oreal say “20 percent is the most common tipping percentage in the hair industry.”
But percentages might vary based on the quality and complexity of your appointment. Some questions to ask yourself when deciding how much to tip:
- Did my hairdresser go above and beyond?
- Did they follow my requests?
- Were they professional and kind?
- Did the service take a reasonable amount of time?
- Was this a difficult or complex cut, hairstyle or other service that I received?
How much you tip is ultimately your choice. But keep in mind that many people in the service industry—including hairstylists and barbers—depend on tips.
Tipping is also a great way to show your appreciation and build a positive relationship with your hairdresser, which might make it more likely you’ll have good experiences with them in the future.
How much should you tip other salon workers?
Depending on the salon services you’re receiving, you may have others who help, like shampooists, hair colorists or cosmetologists.
But before you tip them individually, you could ask whether tips are shared.
How do you calculate how much to tip a hairdresser?
Here are two examples to show you how you can calculate tips:
- Method 1: If your haircut was $60 and you want to leave a 20% tip, you can calculate how much that would be by moving the decimal one space to the left. That will give you 10% of the total. Doubling the number will give you 20%.
- Method 2: To do the math on your phone’s calculator, try taking the cost of the haircut and multiplying it by 0.2, which represents 20%. You can see the sample calculation below.
FAQ about tipping your hairdresser
If you still have questions about salon tipping, these frequently asked questions might help.
Is it OK to tip 15% at a salon?
According to Consumer Reports, you should tip at least 15% of the service fee, even if the service wasn’t the best. If you’re debating whether to tip a smaller amount because you’re not happy with your service, you can also consider speaking to the manager or owner first.
Do you still need to tip when you get a bad haircut?
Consumer Reports also says to “never skip a tip.” But ultimately, it’s up to you how much you want to tip your hairdresser, stylist or barber. Remember to think about the work that went into your appointment and the kind of service you received.
What if you can’t afford a tip?
If you can’t afford a tip, you may want to consider postponing your salon visit until you can.
Consider prioritizing what services you need or want the most and save up for others you might not need right now. And to help you better prepare for your next hair appointment bill, it may help to find a budgeting method that works for you.
Should you tip with cash or card at a salon?
Every salon is different in terms of what forms of payment they’ll accept. And you can always call ahead to find out for sure.
Tipping hairdressers in a nutshell
Whether you’re going to a new hair salon for the first time or you have a long-standing relationship with your hairdresser, tipping is usually part of the experience. And it lets your hairdresser, barber or stylist know that you appreciate their time and skills.
You might consider paying—and tipping—with a cash-back rewards credit card that lets you earn unlimited cash back on every purchase, even trips to the salon.