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Even if you haven’t heard the term tipflation, you’ve probably already experienced it. Americans are believed to be facing this phenomenon, especially with digital payments becoming more common. With screens urging customers to tip for a variety of services, more and more of them are feeling confused, if not cornered.
While Americans may fighting tipflation in general, hair salons are not the place to do that. You should leave a tip at hair salons, notes Ted Rossman, senior industry analyst at Bankrate. In Europe, however, fewer service situations call for tips, and the culture of tipping salon owners is non-existent.
Traditionally, tipping at salons is considered normal and a great way to build a comfortable and beneficial relationship with your beauty practitioner or stylist. So, if you’ve grappled with the question, “how much to tip at a beauty salon,” we’ve got it all sorted out.
In this blog, we’ll address these questions:
How much should you tip at a beauty salon, and why?
What is the standard tipping percentage for salon services?
We’ll also introduce you to Zenoti’s salon tip calculator, a handy tool for salons to take the guesswork out of tipping.
The question is NOT whether to tip or not.
Although tipping at beauty salons is optional, stylists and service providers expect to be rewarded for their time and effort. While tipping salon staff may seem natural, tipping salon owners might appear awkward or uncomfortable. Don’t worry – we’ll come to that a little later.
Let’s start with some background on the economic climate in recent times. The salon and beauty industry was one of the worst hit during the COVID-19 pandemic. Salons shut down and staff experienced job loss across categories. When salons reopened, they did so with fewer practitioners, deeper pay cuts, and poor tipping practices because salon guests were also strapped for cash. However, with the situation returning to normal, guests should think of tipping as an act of appreciation for services received. Tipping also helps build long-term relationships with preferred stylists and beauty practitioners.
Now, the standard tipping percentage for salon services is 20% of the services rendered. For example, if you got a $100 facial, the tip would be $20.
It’s also important to consider the number of hours you spent at the salon and the extra efforts by your stylist or beauty practitioner to ensure the service was comfortable and on point. Here’s an example – say you got a $350 hair service that took 5-6 hours, it would be acceptable to tip higher, going up to 30-35% of the service cost.
Having said that, how much to tip at a beauty salon still largely depends on the guest.
Here’s a quick guide for tipping based on beauty services:
Beauty services are about your overall experience, not just about the service itself. How much you tip could be guided by your total experience at the salon and the quality of customer service you received.
So, while the ballpark figure for tipping at beauty salons is 20% in the U.S., you can tip based on how much you enjoyed the experience. Whether it’s a simple haircut or color, a deep cleansing facial, or hair extensions, if you had a pretty good experience, consider tipping at least 25-30% of the services rendered.
Well, ideally, yes.
Even if tipping is optional, consider leaving a 15-18% tip when you aren’t totally happy with the service or results. The thinking here? 20% is a marker for good service.
However, here’s the thing – speak to your stylist or service provider about what you didn’t like. This allows them to potentially fix the problem, which means you could leave the salon happier and give them a better tip – of 20%!
While we’re talking about how much to tip beauty salons, it’s also essential to understand why tipping is so important.
Most beauty practitioners and stylists are paid only a fraction of the cost of services rendered. They are also usually paid low hourly wages. Earnings haven’t grown much, especially after the pandemic, which means many salon staff use the tips they receive to make ends meet.
When you’re considering how much to tip beauty salons, think about how much you appreciate the effort and the services provided, and how happy you are with the results. If it’s a salon you visit often, tipping is even more important because you want to build a long-term relationship with your hairstylist or beauty practitioner.
Yes!
It’s polite to tip even if you’re using a discounted beauty service like a hair trim. You can consider tipping anywhere from $5 to $10 to show your appreciation to your beauty practitioner for taking the time to attend to you.
Again, yes. The assistant may have helped shampoo your hair or set up a room for your service, or they may have brought you something to drink. Tipping them is a nice way of saying thank you. Tip $5 to $10, or let your practitioner know that their tip has a cut for the assistant.
Many salon goers seem to have this question; rest easy – we’ve figured out salon owner tips for you!
Should you tip the owner of a salon? You certainly CAN.
Tipping a salon owner might seem a little awkward. After all, they’re the boss of their business. You might wonder if they really need the extra income.
So, while the decision to tip the owner of a salon is completely up to you, we suggest a 20% tip is good, especially if the salon owner provided the service.
The truth is that even salon owners appreciate tips. In most cases, they share tips they receive with their staff, which is an added reason to tip the owner of a salon.
Related reading: How to start your salon business: A Detailed Guide
Salon owners, end any confusion with the FREE Zenoti salon tip calculator
There are many benefits of using a tip calculator for beauty services. We’ll list them out for you.
A salon tip calculator can be a great tool to help manage finances at your salon business, whether you run a beauty salon, a spa, a nail bar, or a barbershop.
Explore the Zenoti salon tip calculator.
The Zenoti salon tip calculator helps divide tips among your staff. The free calculator comes in especially handy if your guests prefer tipping the salon owner instead of the service provider directly.
It’s also a great tool to calculate total earnings for providers, ensuring each provider receives a fair tip payout.
If you’re struggling with salon tip payouts, read Zenoti's insider guide for solutions.
From how much to tip at a beauty salon to questions on salon owner tips, we’ve answered them all.
Businesses that use a salon tip calculator can eliminate tip-related confusion and guest embarrassment. It helps improve customer experience and streamlines a salon’s financial processes.
With Zenoti’s free salon tip calculator, salon owners can focus more on delivering exceptional service to their guests and bring ease to their daily operations.
Explore the Zenoti platform for salon management.
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