Tipping at the salon can feel confusing, especially when two or three people work on your hair. Here is the common US guideline, who to include and how to handle the tricky moments.
How much should you tip a hair stylist?
In the US, the usual guideline at a hair salon is 15 to 20 percent of the service price. The Emily Post Institute's tipping guide gives that same range for salons and suggests asking for the tip to be split among the people who served you.
Base the tip on the price of the service. A quick way to do the math: find 10 percent by moving the decimal point one place to the left, then double it for 20 percent. Go toward the top of the range when your stylist went out of their way, squeezed you in or handled a tricky request with care.
A tip is a thank-you, not a fee. Some salons don't accept tips, and some build pay into their prices instead. If you aren't sure, ask the front desk. That is what the Emily Post Institute suggests when you don't know what is customary at a hair salon.
If money is tight, tip what you can and say a sincere thank-you. Rebooking with your stylist or sending a friend their way are other ways to show you value their work.
Do you tip the same for highlights, color and long appointments?
Yes, the same 15 to 20 percent range works for color. Highlights, balayage and other color services often cost more and take longer than a cut, so the tip is larger in dollars, but the percentage stays the same. Tip on the total for everything you had done, such as color, toner, a cut and a blow-dry.
Long color days often involve more than one person. Your colorist may mix and apply, while an assistant rinses, tones or dries your hair. Think of the tip as one total and divide it among the people who worked on you. If you don't know how to split it, the front desk can help.
The same idea applies to a color fix that takes many hours. Our corrective color guide explains what those appointments involve.
Who else should you tip at the salon?
The tip is for the people who spent real time on your hair, not just the person whose name is on the booking. A simple way to handle it:
- Your stylist or colorist: the main share of the tip.
- A separate colorist and cutter: split the tip between them based on the work each one did.
- A shampoo or color assistant: a smaller share, handed to them directly or added at the front desk.
- Someone who blow-dried or styled your hair after color: a share as well.
- Not sure who did what? Ask at checkout, and the front desk can help you divide it.
Should you tip the salon owner?
This one has changed over time. Traditional etiquette said you didn't need to tip an owner who did your hair. Today views are mixed, and many owners who still work behind the chair accept tips the same way their staff do.
If you aren't sure, just ask. A simple "Do you accept tips?" is polite and clears it up in a second. The same question works for stylists who rent a chair or run their own studio. If the answer is no, a thank-you and a return visit are a fine way to show your thanks.
Should you still tip if you don't like your hair?
Speak up first. If something feels off, tell your stylist before you leave, or call the salon within a few days. Ask whether the salon has a policy for fixing a cut or color, and how soon you need to call.
Whether to tip is your call. If the stylist listened, worked carefully and the result just isn't what you pictured, a tip still recognizes their time and effort. If the service was careless or rude, it's fine to tip less. Explain why, calmly, to the stylist or the manager. Skipping the tip in silence doesn't tell anyone what went wrong.
If the salon fixes your hair at no charge, a tip for the stylist who does the fix is a kind way to say thanks.
Is it better to tip in cash or on a card?
Either can work. Cash is simple and goes straight to the person. Some salons can't add a tip to a card payment, so it's smart to carry a little cash, as the Emily Post Institute also suggests. Small bills make it easy to hand each person their share yourself, which also makes it clear who the tip is for.
If your stylist is an employee and you tip on a card, federal wage rules apply. Under the Fair Labor Standards Act, employers can't keep any part of their employees' tips. They may take out only the card company's fee on that tip, and nothing more, according to the US Department of Labor.
Watch for service charges, too. The Labor Department says a required service charge isn't a tip under federal wage law. If your bill includes one, ask what it covers and whether it goes to your stylist, then decide whether to tip on top.
How much should you tip at the holidays?
A holiday thank-you is a nice touch for a stylist you see often, but it isn't required. The Emily Post Institute's holiday tipping guide suggests up to the cost of one salon visit, divided among the staff who work with you, or a small gift instead. It also says that if you already tip at each visit, you can skip the year-end tip.
Whatever you give, add a short handwritten note. Two or three sentences about what you appreciate is plenty.
For more on what goes into the price itself, see salon prices explained. When you're ready to book, you can find a salon near you.
Questions people ask
Is 20 percent a good tip for a hair stylist?
Yes. 20 percent is at the top of the common 15 to 20 percent range for US hair salons. You can tip more if you want to, for example after a long or complex appointment.
How much do you tip for highlights?
The same 15 to 20 percent of the service price, split among everyone who worked on your hair, such as the colorist and an assistant who rinsed or toned. Because highlights often cost more than a haircut, the tip is larger in dollars.
Do I tip on the full price if I used a discount or gift card?
It's kind to base the tip on the full price, since the stylist did the full amount of work. Ask whether a gift card can cover the tip, or bring cash.
Do I tip a stylist who owns the salon?
Views differ. Traditional etiquette said owners weren't tipped, but many owners who do hair now accept tips. If you aren't sure, ask them or the front desk.
What if the salon adds a service charge?
Under federal wage law, a required service charge isn't a tip. Ask the front desk what the charge covers and whether it goes to your stylist, then decide whether to add a tip.
