How Much to Tip Your Hairstylist? – HairstyleCamp

Tipping at the salon can be confusing. Prices are higher, services often involve more than one person, and expectations are not always clear. While it may be tempting to reduce or skip a tip after an expensive appointment, tipping still plays an important role in U.S. salon culture and can affect your ongoing relationship with your stylist.

How much should you tip your hairstylist? Should you tip the person who washed your hair or applied color? And should salon owners be tipped at all?

Below, we break down current tipping etiquette so you can tip with confidence.

How Much Should You Tip at a Salon?

While tips aren’t mandatory at a salon, tipping at a salon is often seen as expressing your gratitude to the person who provided you the service.

Tipping at least 15%-20% of the service price is part of the etiquette and custom as this is one of the main sources of hairdressers’ income, especially in the US. If you’re particularly pleased with the result, you might choose to tip on the higher end.

Consider tipping at least 20% of your bill.

– Ghanima Abdullah, Cosmetologist

If your hair took over three hours to style, you had to reschedule outside the salon’s normal rules, or if you’ve arrived late, consider tipping 25% instead.

For smaller or less expensive services (like a quick trim or a blow-dry), a flat tip of $5 to $10 can be appropriate, depending on your satisfaction with the service.

Survey Data Specific to Salon/Hair Services

According to surveys mentioned below, most clients tip in the 10–24% band, with 20–24% being the single most common bracket for haircuts.

Zenoti (June 2025) salon/spa tipping survey: Reports the distribution of tip percentages by service type (haircut, hair coloring, massage, facial/skin treatment, mani/pedi, waxing). For example, for haircuts, the largest share in their table is 20–24% (33%), followed by 15–19% (22%) and 10–14% (23%).

Bankrate Tipping Culture Survey (June 2024): Share who say they always tip hair stylists/barbers: 55% (up from 53% the prior year, per Bankrate’s write-up).

Why Should You Tip Your Hairdresser?

The prices listed on a salon menu go to the business, not directly to your stylist. Unless your hairdresser owns the salon, they are typically paid an hourly wage.

While pay increases with experience, the junior stylist who shampooed your hair is often earning close to minimum wage. For many hairstylists, tips make up a meaningful part of their income.

Beyond the final look, it is also worth considering the overall experience. Was your station clean and sanitized? Were you offered water or coffee? Did the stylist make you feel comfortable and cared for throughout the appointment?

Stylists place a strong emphasis on customer service, and a tip is a common way to acknowledge that effort.

Should You Tip Everyone Individually?

When paying at the front desk, ask how tips are distributed and whether you should tip the main stylist, colorist, or shampoo assistant separately. Many salons already have systems in place to divide tips among the team.

If not, the front desk may provide small envelopes. This allows you to tip the main stylist around 20 percent and leave a smaller amount, such as $5, for each junior stylist, if you choose.

Should You Tip the Salon Owner?

Traditionally, salon owners were not tipped because they earn income from running the business. That expectation has changed in recent years.

If the owner personally provides your service, tipping is now considered appropriate. You may also choose to tip based on the overall experience, as owners often set the tone of the salon.

If the atmosphere felt well-managed, comfortable, and aligned with your preferences, tipping the owner is a reasonable way to show appreciation.

How Much To Tip Your Braider

Tipping Your Braider in the USA

In the United States, tipping your braider is considered customary but not mandatory. A tip typically signals satisfaction with the service and helps build a positive long-term relationship—especially if you plan to return.

According to current U.S. salon etiquette guidelines, the standard tip for hair services is 15–20%, with 20% now widely viewed as the norm in 2024–2025, particularly in urban areas and for time-intensive services like braiding.

If a 20% tip is outside your budget, rounding up the total or leaving a smaller amount is perfectly acceptable. Professional braiders are expected to deliver full-quality service regardless of tip size.

Price negotiation in the U.S. is generally appropriate only when the braider is self-employed and before the service begins. Always clarify what the quoted price includes, as lower prices may mean fewer braids, shorter length, or excluded hair.

If you choose not to tip, appreciation can still be shown through referrals, positive reviews, or tagging your braider on social media—often valued as much as cash tips.

Typical Tipping Standards by State

While 15–20% is the national guideline, expectations can vary by state and city:

• New York (NY): 18–25% is common, especially in NYC, due to higher living and service costs.
• California (CA): 18–20% is standard; 20% is widely expected in major cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco.
• Texas (TX): 15–18% is typical, with flexibility depending on service complexity.
• Florida (FL): 15–20%, especially in tourist-heavy areas like Miami and Orlando.
• Georgia (GA): 15–18% is common; tipping is appreciated but less rigid than in coastal states.
• Midwest states (e.g., Ohio, Indiana): 15–18% is generally acceptable.

If a full percentage tip is not within your budget, rounding up the total or leaving a smaller amount is perfectly acceptable. In the U.S., professional braiders are expected to provide full-quality service regardless of tip size.

Should You Tip Your Hairstylist in Cash?

It’s a good idea to carry cash in small bills to the salon—especially if you aren’t aware of their tipping system. Some salons will accept your card to pay for the tips, but many smaller ones do not. If you use cash, the little tipping envelopes at the front desk come in handy. 

What if You Can’t Afford to Tip?

Tipping isn’t mandatory, but it’s part of the salon culture. If you don’t tip, it might be assumed that you didn’t like the style you received. Your stylist probably won’t consider that you can’t afford it because, as we’ve seen during the pandemic, salon services aren’t really essential.

They are actually classified as semi-luxury and something your stylist assumes you can afford. So if you don’t tip, you risk leaving your stylist with question marks about his or her abilities. Instead, try to budget the cost or go less frequently.

Should You Tip Your Stylist Just for the Holidays?

If you have a personal relationship with your stylist, consider adding an extra ten percent to their usual tip to add holiday cheer. You can also give gift certificates, cards and handmade gifts that you know the stylist will appreciate.

Should You Tip for a Botched Hair Job?

If you’re not happy with the way your stylist is doing your hair, it’s best to stop her midstream and explain how you like it. If you get to the end of the service, it’s still okay to explain what you would like to be done differently.

A salon is a professional environment, and follow-up appointments are not rare. In this situation, it’s best to leave at least a 10% tip, based on the effort of the people who served you.

Key Notes

• Hairstylists rely on tips as a part of their income.
• You can tip the main stylist apart, then use $5 tips for the junior stylists.
• Tip the owner if the owner was your stylist.
• It’s up to you, but even if you don’t like the outcome, consider tipping at least 10%. Mistakes happen as the stylists are human too.

FAQs