How Much Should You Tip a Hairdresser? Etiquette & Guide

The amount to tip a hairdresser is typically between 15% and 20% of the cost of the service provided. So if the cost of a haircut is $50, the tip would be $7.50 to $10.

However, there are instances in which you might want to tip a little extra. Read on to learn some key factors in deciding how much to tip a hairdresser.

The Standard Hairdresser Tip Rate

The standard hairdresser tip rate is 15% to 20% of the total for the services provided. If taxes were charged (which is generally the exception rather than the rule), don’t include that figure in the amount when you’re calculating the tip. Also, if you purchased any products at the salon (such as a shampoo or conditioner), subtract that from your total payment when you’re figuring out the tip.

If 15% to 20% sounds like a high percentage for a tip and you’re wondering if tipping can be optional, know that many stylists may split the revenue on haircuts and other services with the salon. So they depend on tips to supplement their take-home pay — and for many, tips can be a significant portion of their earnings.

While tipping is not mandatory, it’s considered standard to leave a tip. So it can be helpful to factor that in when considering the impact your hair appointment will have on your bank account.

How to Quickly Calculate a 20% Tip

There’s a quick and easy way to figure out a 20% tip on the cost of your hairdresser’s services. You don’t even have to use the calculator on your phone.

•   Start with the amount of your hairdresser’s services — say, $100.

•   Take 10% of that by moving the decimal point one spot to the left, so if your cost was $100, 10% is $10. If your cost was $67.50, 10% is $6.75.

•   Next, double that 10% to get to your 20% tip. Using the examples above, $10 doubled is $20. That 20% tip on a $100 fee means a total of $120. If you double the $6.75 figure on the $67.50 hair appointment, that equals $13.50. Add that to the $67.50, and you have a total of $81 for the service plus a 20% tip.

This easy method of calculating 20% can make figuring out how much to tip a hairdresser simple, and it may even improve your financial thinking. If you prefer to tip 15%, you can figure out the 10% amount, then take half of that amount, and add them together. The resulting number will be 15%. For example, with a $100 tab, 10% is $10, and half of that is $5, so $15 would be 15%. Doing the math, you’d be spending $115 for the services plus the tip.

Factors That Influence How Much to Tip

While 15% to 20% is the typical amount that hairdressers are tipped, there are several factors that can impact how much you should tip your hairdresser, such as the location of the salon (cost of living variations can be significant) to how complicated the style is.

Complexity of the Hairstyle

Not all hairstyles require the same amount of time and skill. Maybe you have a classic bob that can quickly be snipped into shape, or perhaps you are getting complex cornrows that can take four or more hours of intricate work. If you’re having a complicated and time-consuming style or hair color technique done, you may want to bump up the amount of the tip to 25% to 30% as a way to compensate the stylist or colorist.

Stylist Experience and Quality of Service

Your stylist’s skill level as well as the overall ambience of the salon can also affect how much you should tip your hairdresser. For instance, say you book your appointment at a salon where you receive personalized service from a master stylist (one who has years of top-notch experience, really listens to what you want, and then collaborates with you to give you the exact style you’re looking for). And they serve you an espresso or prosecco. In this case, you may want to tip more than 20% to reflect the premium experience you had.

If you’re wondering how much to tip a hairdresser if they own the salon, the percentage is the same — 15% to 20%. An etiquette guideline from the past that said not to tip a salon owner no longer applies. Today it’s a good idea (in fact, it’s generally expected) to tip a stylist even if they own the location.

Salon Location and Pricing

Where a spa is located, along with prices they charge, may influence how much you tip. Higher-end urban locations may typically see tips in the 20% to 25% range, while rural areas may tend toward 15% tips.

Another factor to consider when tipping is the pricing of services at the salon. Some high-end salons can charge hundreds of dollars for a cut with a renowned stylist. A 20% tip or higher (which may be the norm there) could have a sizable impact on your monthly budget calculations. It’s worth doing the math before scheduling your cut to see if you might be stretching your budget too far.

On the other end of the spectrum, chains like Supercuts and Great Clips are known for cuts at a more affordable price point. If you go to a lower-priced salon, where, for example, haircuts cost $18, a 20% tip would only be $3.60. In this situation, you might want to bump up the amount you tip to, say, $5 or a bit more to compensate the stylist. In general, it can be a thoughtful gesture to have $5 be the minimum tip for a stylist.

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Do You Tip Salon Assistants?

Yes, it’s considered a standard practice to tip anyone at the salon who works on your hair. So the person who shampoos your hair, rinses color from it, or helps the stylist with a complicated braided effect is typically given a tip of $3 to $5.

However, you don’t need to tip the person who checks you in for your appointment or brings you water or a coffee.

What to Do If You Are Unhappy With Your Hair

Every now and then, a customer may be unhappy with a hairstyle. It could be that a shag cut is too shaggy, or the shade of blonde is a bit too bright. If something like this happens to you, you may be tempted to walk out without tipping, but the prevailing wisdom is that you should instead speak up. Try to calmly let the stylist know that you are not 100% pleased with the result, and provide specific feedback about the style and/or the color rather than vague statements like, “It’s not what I wanted!” Chances are, the hairdresser will work to improve the situation so that you leave happy.

If the stylist works to fix the look and you are still not thrilled, tipping customs typically dictate that you should still tip (the stylist did put in the time and effort, after all) but at the low end of the range — say, 15% at most. But this is just a guideline.

Tipping Etiquette When You Are on a Budget

Many people are on a budget these days, and it can be worthwhile to figure out the full cost of a visit to the salon before you book. While tipping isn’t required, it is standard. If you can’t afford a $100 cut and a $15 to $20 tip, you might consider looking for a less expensive salon. In this way, you can help discern the difference between needs vs. wants.

Another option when you’re on a budget is to ask a salon if they have a tier of less expensive stylists vs. their seasoned or master stylists. Or you might inquire if they have a day of the week or month when their top stylists work with apprentices to help them train on real-life models. In this way, you might score a free or very low-cost hair appointment, under the watchful eye of a top stylist. You might even put the money you save into a savings vault to fund a goal you’re working toward.

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How to Fit Salon Visits Into Your Monthly Budget

Making salon visits fit into your monthly budget can involve some fine-tuning. For instance, if prices at your salon are going up, you might see if there’s a less pricey stylist at the same salon or ask trusted friends and relatives (or read verified online reviews) to find a less expensive place.

Another tactic some people use to lower the cost of salon visits is to go less frequently. If you were planning on a trim every four weeks, perhaps you could stretch it out to every six weeks instead. Over the course of a year, that would cut your appointments from a total of 13 to about eight. At $60 a haircut with a $12 tip, that would reduce the amount you spend in a year from $936 to $576, saving you $360.

Or you might see where you could do some trimming from another budget category and transfer those funds over to the personal care/grooming section of your budget. Determining budget percentages and tweaking them as needed is a valuable skill, keeping your budget flexible and evolving with your needs.

The Takeaway

It’s standard to tip 15% to 20% when you have an appointment with a hairdresser. Some factors, however, such as how complicated the style is, how experienced the stylist is, and where the salon is located can all impact the tipping equation. Having a banking partner that helps make budgeting easier can be an asset as you balance your recurring expenses.

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FAQ

Do you tip the salon owner if they cut your hair?

In the past, the rule was that a client didn’t have to tip (or didn’t have to tip as much) if the salon owner styled their hair. However, the current thinking is that you should tip the salon owner if they cut or color your hair.

How much do you tip a hairdresser for a $200 color and cut?

Typically, how much you tip a hairdresser is 15% to 20% of the price of a color and cut. That works out to a tip of $30 to $40 for $200 worth of services.

Should you tip your hairdresser in cash?

Cash tips are often preferred by hairdressers as they can avoid the processing and administrative fees that may be applied on other forms of payment.

Is it rude to not tip a hairdresser?

Hairdressers typically expect to receive a tip for their work and they may find it rude to not receive one. If you aren’t happy with the service you’ve received from a hairdresser, it can be wise to politely let them know what you are dissatisfied with. That way, they can try to fix it vs. you leaving the salon without offering a tip.

How much do you tip for a bang trim or consultation?

In terms of how much you should tip a hairdresser in this situation, if you are a regular client of a hairdresser, they may provide a bang trim for free. In that case, you may want to give them a $5 to $10 tip to compensate them for this service. If they do charge you a small fee, the usual 15% to 20% guideline still works, but it can be considered a thoughtful move to round up to at least a $5 tip. If you have a brief consultation with a hairdresser, there typically is no charge, and you would not need to tip.

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Photo credit: iStock/Hispanolistic

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