How Much Should You Tip Your Hairdresser?
At times it may feel difficult to navigate the service industry’s rate of pay, and how much you should tip in any given situation. Tipping people who provide you with personal services is not only good etiquette but also a vital part of how they make a living. Good rules to follow are to never anger someone who brings you food and never cheap out on someone in charge of how you look.
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How Much Should You Tip Your Hairdresser?
According to Daniel Post, spokesperson for the etiquette training organization Emily Post Institute, a 20% tip is considered the golden rule because hairdressers need tips to supplement their income. If you have your phone with you, it’s pretty easy to calculate the tip. For example, if you want to tip 20%, divide 20 by 100 and multiply it by your total bill. That should give you the amount you need to tip.
Tipping Estimates With Standard Gratuity
Total Bill | Standard 20% | Above and Beyond Service 25% |
|---|---|---|
$25 | $5.00 | $6.25 |
$50 | $10.00 | $12.50 |
$100 | $20.00 | $25.00 |
$150 | $30.00 | $37.50 |
$200 | $40.00 | $50.00 |
$250 | $50.00 | $62.50 |
$300 | $60.00 | $75.00 |
Why Should You Tip Hairdressers?
Since hairdressers provide a valuable service, it’s important to understand why and how much you should tip. Here are some key takeaways:
Many hairdressers make most of their living off of tips rather than an hourly wage, making tipping all the more important.
If they choose to go out of their way to clean the space for you, make small talk, give you compliments about your hair and offer a complimentary drink, it’s courteous to tip them for their services.
By tipping a service provider, you show them your appreciation This can strengthen your relationship with them and ensure that they can continue providing you with excellent service.
How Much to Tip Hairdressers Based on the Type of Service You Received?
The amount you tip can also depend on the type of service provided to you. Some people may tip 15% to 20% on the total bill, while others may choose to leave no tip at all. However, you should only do that if the service was absolutely terrible. Not tipping is a rude money habit.
It is ultimately up to you how much you want to tip your hairdresser as a gratuity. For example, you should leave a tip of less than 15% only if you were extremely unsatisfied with the quality of service provided and plan on not coming back to the salon.
It’s important to note that many hairstylists may not consider 10% an acceptable tip. They might think of it as more of an ‘obligation’ on your part rather than an act of gratitude. So be sure to think twice before leaving a 10% tip.
20% Tip
You should tip 20% when:
You’re over the moon about the quality of service and how your hair looks.
You are on good terms with your hairstylist and want to let them know they are appreciated.
You want to create a good relationship with the hairdresser because you love their services.
20% is considered a standard tip to indicate to your hairdresser that you’re satisfied with the service provided. You will definitely want to tip this much if you are on good terms with your regular hairdresser.
You should opt for tipping a certain percentage rather than sticking to a $10 or $5 flat amount since you might be paying just $10 for a $200 service while the actual 20% tip for it would be $40.
Tip More Than 20% Depending on the Service
You should tip closer to 22% to 25% if:
Your hair is challenging to manage, but the hairstylist did a great job at it.
You were late for your appointment, rescheduled within 24 hours of your original appointment time or caused some other inconvenience that your hairstylist had to accommodate.
You feel the price for the actual service is less than other salons, and you want to make sure the hairdresser gets their effort’s worth.
Your hairstylist spent over three hours putting in highlights, bleaching or dyeing your hair.
You want to tip extra for the holiday season.
How Much to Tip Hairdressers for Hair Color?
If you go in for hair color, you should tip at least 20% if not more. This service deserves a higher tip since the process is time-consuming and your hairdresser would have to put other things on hold to cater to you.
Moreover, if someone other than the hairstylist is shampooing and conditioning your hair, you should tip them between $5 to $10.
You should tip more than 20% if:
Your hairstylist is also bleaching your strands.
You’ve opted for a difficult hair coloring technique.
Your hairstylist is adding highlights.
You’re served a complimentary drink or snack while you wait for the hair color to set it.
The tipping percentage can differ according to your location since salon services are priced differently in each state.
Final Take To GO
As it can take hours upon hours for hairstylists to style, cut and color hair, the expectation is they’ll be compensated appropriately. Tipping is common etiquette, and you should know how much to tip a hairstylist since it will save you awkwardness and calculations while you’re getting your hair done. Next time you go to your favorite hair salon, before leaving that salon make sure to tip your stylist at least 20% gratuity.
FAQ
Here are the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about how much to tip hairdressers.
How much do you tip for a $200 hair color?
As a 20% tip is standard according to any tip etiquette expert, depending on what kind of cut or color service you opted for you may want to tip a bit more. There can be a difference between tipping salon assistants for shampooing your hair and say a holiday tip. However, for standard gratuity purposes, 20% of $200 would be a $40 tip.
Can you tip your hairdresser 15%?
Though 15% used to be the standard going rate, 20% is now considered the minimum tip for satisfied customers.
Do you actually tip your hairstylist 20%?
Yes, 20% is considered the going rate for tipping stylists or salon owners who work on your hair.
Is it OK to tip the hairdresser 10%?
Tipping is always optional, and though there are no mandated rules, 20% is considered the standard going rate for the industry so a 10% tip would be considered quite low.
How much do you tip a hairdresser on $300?
If you tipped your hairdresser the standard rate of 20% gratuity, you would tip $60 on a $300 bill. However, if you got more complicated services such as a color service you might opt to tip 22% to 25% which would leave your tip range anywhere from $66 to $75 for a $300 visit to the salon.
Cameron Cole and Caitlyn Moorhead contributed to the reporting for this article.
This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: How Much Should You Tip Your Hairdresser?
