Here’s How Much to Tip Your Hairdresser

Making the call to add caramel balayage highlights or even bangs to your hairstyle? No problem. Deciding how much to tip your hairdresser for creating that new look? Not quite as easy. That’s because figuring out how much to tip is innately discretionary, says Sharon Schweitzer, an international etiquette expert and the owner of Access to Culture. “Tipping can be one of the most confusing aspects of culture because no one is required to follow a set amount,” she explains. But what most experts do agree on is that tipping your hairdresser is a key component of good salon etiquette.

Tipping your hairdresser (and tipping well) also helps build and maintain a solid relationship for the long haul—the kind of relationship that, say, can sway your hairdresser to squeeze you into a packed schedule at the last minute, recommend their favorite insider products for your hair type or go the extra mile to share the best haircut for your face shape.

But how much is enough—and how much isn’t? As a longtime beauty writer specializing in the hair industry, I tapped five professional stylists, along with Schweitzer, to weigh in. Their candid answers will help you nail the numbers and navigate gray areas where a gratuity isn’t so clear-cut. Read on for invaluable salon etiquette rules and tipping guidelines so you don’t have to stress at your next appointment.

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Do you have to tip your hairdresser?

As noted above, you really should. “I look at tipping as rewarding a service, just like at a restaurant—you’re paying for the food, then tipping for the service of someone bringing it to you,” says Aida Mulic, owner of Envision 1111 Salon in Lynnwood, Washington. “At a salon, you’re paying for the time, the products and the training, and then tipping for the level of artistic talent, experience and service you receive.” It always pays to show your appreciation.

Plus, stylists and colorists may rely on this extra money to make ends meet. As Kyle Miller, owner of Euforia Hair Salon in Newburgh, Indiana, explains, “We’re in a service-based industry, and not only do we appreciate tips, but they’re also an essential part of most stylists’ income.”

But you should only tip on the price of the service itself, notes Mulic, not on any salon products you purchase—such as the great anti-frizz product your stylist recommended—when checking out. With that in mind, let’s get to the specifics of that tip.

How much to tip a hairdresser

Whether you’re hopping into the chair for a quick trim, a major chop or a three-hour coloring sesh, a reasonable tip range is 15% to 25% of the cost of your service. Go for the low end if you aren’t so happy, and the high end if you’re thrilled with your new look.

That said, many things can factor into the actual tip amount, including location. A high-rent, middle-of-Manhattan swanky salon will likely have significantly higher prices than its counterpart in downtown Knoxville, so your tip will likely be higher based on the price of the services alone. But you can still use the 15% to 25% rule as a guideline.

Another tipping consideration? The number of people who worked on your hair. (We’ll get into the service specifics below.) In larger salons, your hairstylist might be doing the main gig, but an assistant might hand over the highlight foils, an apprentice shampoos your hair and sometimes even a fourth person handles the blowout. “This can be a tricky one,” admits Tiffany Molina, owner of All Tangled Salon in Vancouver, Washington. “Every salon does it differently, and I wouldn’t be afraid to ask either the receptionist or your stylist what the policy is. Sometimes the stylist will split all their tips with the assistants per an agreement. At other salons, the assistants may be paid on a commission, or they’re in school earning credit hours, and the salon tips them out differently.”

Tipping reference guide

If you’re not in the mood to do mental math, we’ve got you covered. Follow the guidelines below based on the price of your services for your main stylist, whether you’re getting a cut or color.

• $25 haircut: $4–$6 tip
• $50 haircut: $7–$12 tip
• $75 haircut: $11–$19 tip
• $100 haircut: $15–$25 tip
• $150 haircut: $22–$37 tip

How much to tip for a shampoo and other smaller services

Lari Bat/Getty Images

Assuming the stylist or colorist doesn’t split their tips with assistants (again, feel free to ask up front), it’s courteous to reward those additional staffers for their work—whether it’s a shampoo, a rinse-out or even the occasional neck massage. The easiest tactic here is to consider handing each of them a $5 or $10 bill to show your gratitude. To clarify, $5 should be the minimum, but if the place is expensive, bump up your tip to $10 (especially if you really liked the service).

“I actually love to tip the stylist’s assistant,” says Leticia McKay, a hairdresser at Artistic Hair Design in Dayton, Ohio. “Honestly, they’re the hardest workers, and most of the time, it’s a thankless job. A tip will remind them of their importance.”

How much to tip for a specialty service

Knowing how much you should tip your hairdresser for a Keratin smoothing treatment, a special updo or a blowout-and-curling service can seem confusing. But you should handle it the same way you would for a haircut or color: 15% to 25% is good etiquette and an acknowledgement of the stylist’s time and talent.

Use this rule even for extra-pricey services such as hair extensions, which can run upward of $1,000. A $200 tip covers the intense, multi-hour labor involved in weaving, fusing or hand-tying each weft.

How much to tip for a discounted service or if you have a gift certificate

Again, the golden tipping rule reigns supreme here: Go with 15% to 25% of the full cost of the service. Yes, even if it is already paid for with a gift certificate or you got it on sale via a promotion at the salon or on Groupon. FYI, the same would be true for tipping at a nail salon or spa.

If you have a gift certificate, some salons may let you leave a tip using the money on the gift card itself, but if you aren’t sure that’s allowed, call the salon ahead of time and ask. That way, you aren’t inadvertently stiffing your hardworking hairdresser.

Should you tip if you don’t like the results?

Admittedly, this is another gray area—and one that even the pros have conflicting opinions about. Some say you shouldn’t reward a bad job … nor should you stay mum, because (politely) explaining why you’re unhappy can help the hairdresser in the future.

Others believe that handing over a leaner tip (like 10%) is a kinder move, even when you’re dissatisfied. “Most clients tip even on the rare occasion that they don’t like their results,” explains Devin Toth, a hairstylist at Salon SCK in New York City. “They still want to show gratitude for the hairdresser’s time and effort. They also know that sometimes there’s a little bit of trial and error with hair, especially with color services, and it’s usually understood that through communication, their results will get better over time while working with the same hairdresser.” Mulic agrees, and advises tipping for your hairdresser’s time and asking them to change what you don’t like.

Consider, too, whether a miscommunication led to a cut or color job you don’t love. “Sometimes, a hair adjustment is just a simple miscommunication between you and your stylist,” Molina says. “It doesn’t necessarily mean you’ve received a bad haircut or color.” What’s more, if they offer to redo your hair for free—especially with another appointment—that tip helps make up for some of  the extra labor and time.

Do you have to tip if your stylist is also the salon owner?

Yes! Old-school rules say you don’t have to tip the owner of the salon if they’re doing your hair because they get all the revenues. But times have changed, says Mulic. Remember: With a tip, you’re also acknowledging the owner’s time, products used, education, training and experience. Those extra dollars are also going to the overall functioning of the business. “If you go into a salon that pays commission or an hourly wage to their employees, they’re also providing the space and a lot of extra overhead in order for that salon to succeed,” explains Miller. That includes countless hours, sleepless nights and the added financial burden that not everyone is willing to risk.

If your hairdresser rents a booth and is the sole proprietor, tips help cover rent and product purchases. Those products can be expensive since they’re not being bought in bulk at a discount (something that large salons do).

Should you tip your hairdresser more during the holidays?

It’s not necessary, but it’s certainly a nice idea. If you happen to have an appointment during the holiday season, you may want to up your usual gratuity as a gesture of cheer and thanks—increasing the standard 15% to 25% tip by an extra 10% to 15%. So if you’d normally tip $20 on a $100 service, consider tipping $35 for the holidays.

Toth, who believes it’s completely up to the client, explains that “some people don’t tip any differently during the holiday season. Others tip double what they normally would. Some round up by 50 or by the hundred. Some people tip the value of the entire service and even a lot more.”

At the very least, if you’re stopping by the salon in December and your budget doesn’t accommodate an extra outlay of cash, a small gift—like cookies, chocolate or a bottle of wine—is a kind gesture.

rd.com, Getty Images

The best way to tip

Cash? Credit card? Envelopes at the counter? At the chair? Toth offers these suggestions on how to hand over your appreciation:

• There’s no wrong way to give a tip. You can leave cash, write a personal check, utilize apps like Venmo, PayPal or Zelle, give the tip in person or in an envelope (or a handwritten card), or simply leave it at the front desk for the hairdresser to pick up.
• You can make tipping as fun and personal as you’d like. Some people leave cute messages or inside jokes on their tip envelopes or even draw funny doodles. Toth has a client who always tips using only $2 bills.
• In addition to giving cash, think outside the box for an extra-thoughtful thank-you. Some of the best tips include referring your hairdresser to new clients, giving them social media shout-outs, writing them excellent reviews on Google and Yelp, and continuing to come back as a loyal client.

Additional reporting by Kelly Kuehn. 

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Reader’s Digest has published hundreds of etiquette stories that help readers navigate communication in a changing world. We regularly cover topics such as the best messages to send for any occasion, polite habits that aren’t as polite as they seem, email and texting etiquette, business etiquette, tipping etiquette, travel etiquette and more. We’re committed to producing high-quality content by writers with expertise and experience in their field in consultation with relevant, qualified experts. We rely on reputable primary sources, including government and professional organizations and academic institutions as well as our writers’ personal experience where appropriate. For this piece on how much to tip a hairdresser, Hillary Quinn tapped her experience as a longtime beauty journalist who specializes in the hair industry and interviewed numerous hairstylists and an etiquette expert. We verify all facts and data, back them with credible sourcing and revisit them over time to ensure they remain accurate and up to date. Read more about our team, our contributors and our editorial policies.

Sources:

• Sharon Schweitzer, international etiquette expert and owner of Access to Culture
• Kyle Miller, owner of Euforia Salon
• Aida Mulic, owner of Envision 1111 Salon
• Tiffany Molina, owner of All Tangled Salon
• Leticia McKay, hairdresser at Artistic Hair Design
• Devin Toth, hairstylist at Salon SCK

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