Haircut & Salon Tip Calculator
Calculate appropriate tips for hairstylists and salon services
Salon & Barber Tipping Guide
Tipping your hairstylist or barber is customary and appreciated.
How Much to Tip for Hair Services
- 15% Minimum for acceptable service
- 18-20% Standard tip for good haircut or service
- 20-25% Excellent service, perfect results
- 25%+ Outstanding work, complex services, or holidays
Tipping for Different Services
- Basic Haircut: 15-20% is standard for a simple cut. If you love your haircut and want to maintain a good relationship with your stylist, 20%+ is ideal.
- Complex Services: For coloring, highlights, perms, or other time-intensive services, 20-25% is appropriate. These require expertise and significant time.
- Multiple Services: Calculate the tip on the total cost of all services combined, not separately for each service.
Special Tipping Situations
- Salon Owner: Traditional etiquette says owners don’t need tips, but modern practice often includes tipping 15-20% regardless
- Assistants: Tip $3-5 for shampoo service or assistant who helped with your service
- Free Services: If you get a complimentary service (fixing a mistake), still tip based on what the service would have cost
- Holiday Season: Consider tipping extra (even double) for your regular stylist during holidays
- Mobile Services: Tip 20-25% when a stylist comes to your home
Frequently Asked Questions
Get answers to common questions about tipping for this service
Standard tipping for haircuts is 15-20%. Tip 15% for acceptable service, 18-20% for good service, and 20-25% for excellent results or complex styling. For a $50 haircut, tip $10 (20%).
Traditional etiquette says salon owners don't need tips, but modern practice is to tip 15-20% regardless of whether your stylist owns the salon. Many owners now expect and appreciate tips.
Yes, tip 20-25% for color services, highlights, and complex treatments. These require significant expertise, time, and expensive products. For a $150 color service, tip $30-40.
Tip $3-5 for shampoo service or assistant help. If different people perform different services, tip each separately (e.g., $5 for assistant, $15 for stylist on a $75 haircut).
Yes! Stylists at budget chains (Great Clips, Supercuts) rely heavily on tips due to lower service prices. Tip 15-20% or at least $3-5 minimum even for a $15 haircut. These stylists work just as hard.
Always bring cash to salons. Many salons don't allow credit card tips or charge fees that reduce what stylists receive. Cash ensures your stylist gets the full tip amount.
Yes, it's customary to give your regular stylist an extra generous tip or even a holiday bonus (sometimes double your usual tip) during December. This is especially appreciated if you see them regularly throughout the year.