Tipping Your Barber or Stylist: Know the rules

Tipping is a part of the overall hair cutting experience. Gratuity consists of quite a big part of the earnings of a stylist or barber. By tipping your hair stylist or barber, you show that you value the service offered by this person and that your relationship with him is valuable to you.

A hair stylist tends to offer better services to those clients who tip generously. That is why you should not take the matter of tipping lightly and know all customary rules of tipping your stylist beforehand.

The first thing that you should know about tipping is the quantity; that is, what the ideal amount to tip is. In general, the tip amount should be 15% to 20% of the total bill for any good service. Of course, the tip amount depends on quality of services provided.

If the service provided is exceptional, then you can tip more. If you find the service to be inadequate, tip accordingly.

It is a way to show appreciation for a job well done. So, if the stylist has performed the job outstandingly, and has exceeded your expectations, then you can tip more. If you want to tell a stylist that his performance needs to improve, you can tell them this through your tip.

If someone else gives you service other than your stylist, then you should tip them a bit as well or divide the tip between both people.

Remember that tipping at a barbershop is different from tipping at a hair salon. The service at hair salon costs more than barbershops and their range of services include many more things like washing and blow drying the hair.

It is confusing to tip at a hair salon, because normally there is a receptionist to accept your payment.


There are many hair salons who accept tips only in cash; that’s why if you are using a credit card to make your payment, make sure you know the rules of the salon.

You can request the receptionist to give the tip to the stylist later on, or you can personally give the tip to your hair stylist in case she isn’t busy.

If you are going to a high end salon, you will need to tip following some different rules. You can tip the salon’s owner unless you are told something different by the owner.

At such a salon, several services are provided at once like a manicure, color, massage and haircut. These services are much more costly than those of a hair salon or barbershop.

You should tip every individual that provides you some services. In a high end salon, there are many more assistants to help, and every one of them should be given tips, including the persons who have washed and dried your hair.

It is customary to tip your stylist during the holidays. If you have a good and close rapport with your stylist then you can give them a small gift along with the monetary tip.


Tipping has everything to do with the quality of service that you are getting. When your stylist listens to you carefully, has a welcoming attitude, gives you sufficient amount of time, is entertaining and engaging, offers great suggestions on how you should wear your hair and keeps their work area absolutely clean, you can say you are getting great service and you can tip in generous amounts for this kind of service.

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