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Written By Jimmy Huh
Tipping your barber is good etiquette, a gesture of appreciation, and a way to maintain a positive relationship with your stylist. But figuring out how much to tip your barber can be tricky.
Unlike calculating a percentage like you would in a restaurant, there are other factors that impact how much you tip your barber. In this guide, we'll explore the factors that influence the tip amount, how to tip for various services and whether you can tip with something other than money.
But first, let’s discuss why we tip barbers and stylists.
Why Tipping Matters
Your barber helps you look and feel your best by ensuring you have great hair. They’ve invested time and effort to gain and maintain the skills to do so. Giving your barber a nice tip shows your appreciation, builds trust and, of course, helps bolster their income. Here are a few more reasons tipping your barber is important.
- Reciprocity & improved service - If your barber knows they can count on you for a generous tip, they’re likely to provide you with even better service in the future. This means you’ll be even happier with your cut.
- Stronger client-barber relationship - Tipping well can foster a stronger bond with your barber. Since they feel appreciated and valued, they are more likely to go the extra mile for you, building trust and loyalty.
- It contributes to a positive atmosphere - A barbershop with satisfied clients tends to have a more positive and welcoming atmosphere. When you barber and their coworkers feel appreciated, it creates a culture of respect and courtesy within the shop.
Your Barber's Perspective
In addition to better service and building a strong relationship, it's crucial to understand your own barber's income and perspective when it comes to tipping. Most barbers and stylists don't earn a traditional salary. Often, they rely on commissions from the services they provide, meaning their income depends significantly on tips.
This means that your tip is an essential part of their livelihood. It helps them make a decent living, maintain their tools and equipment and invest in their skills through continuous training.
Factors That Influence the Tip Amount
The amount you tip your barber is influenced by the person's service and various factors. Here are the most important things to consider:
1. Quality of the Service
Like any service, the quality of the haircut, trim or wax they provide carries the most weight on the tip amount. If you’re happy with the job your barber did and feel they provided good service, a more generous tip of 20% - 25% is in order. If you feel you didn't get great service, you might tip 15% -18%. Be sure to discuss any dissatisfaction with your barber and offer suggestions to avoid future disappointment.
2. How Often You Visit
This is one factor that often gets overlooked. If you visit your barber more frequently, such as bi-weekly or monthly, it’s acceptable to tip less per visit since they are seeing you more often. If you get a cut every 6-8 weeks or even less frequently, we recommend tipping closer to 20%.
3. Complexity of the Cut
If you ask for a brand-new cut, your stylist listens carefully and executes perfectly, make sure you leave a bigger tip. After all, a straightforward buzz cut is a lot simpler than a complex style and should be tipped accordingly. Barbers spend extra time getting complex styles just right, and a larger tip is a great way to show that you appreciate their skill and attention to detail.
4. Extra Services Rendered
If you get a beard trim, shave, eyebrow wax or head massage in addition to your haircut, it's customary to tip a little more as these extras take additional time and skill. There's no need to go overboard, but adding a few extra bucks goes a long way in saying, "thanks".
5. Location & Local Customs
Believe it or not, your location has an impact on the appropriate tip amount. In small towns or rural areas, it may be acceptable to tip a lower percentage simply because the cost of living is lower. In large cities, you should be prepared to tip a higher percentage.
6. Your Relationship with Your Barber
The relationship you share with your barber or stylist plays a significant role in the amount you tip. When seeing a new barber or stylist, you may not feel comfortable tipping a higher percentage. If you’ve been seeing the same barber for years and have established a strong rapport, you may be inclined to leave a larger tip. But it’s important to note that tipping generously often leads to a stronger relationship and better service since your stylist knows you appreciate them.
7. Your Personal Financial Situation
Your personal financial situation will naturally impact your tipping decisions. If you're on a tight budget, you may feel like you need to tip conservatively. You can show your barber appreciation in other ways like referring friends and family, leaving positive reviews and following them on social media.
How to Tip Your Barber
Keeping everything we’ve mentioned so far in mind, here are some additional guidelines when it comes to tipping your barber.
Tipping With Credit or Debit Card vs Cash
For most service industry workers, barbers included, cash is king. While tipping via credit or debit card is acceptable, it is also subject to credit card processing fees, so your stylist is unlikely to receive the full amount.
If you find yourself without cash and don’t want to tip via card, ask if they accept tips via apps like Venmo or CashApp. Many professionals are happy to be tipped this way.
Tipping During the Holidays
During the holiday season, it’s customary to spread cheer by tipping more. Generally speaking, the rule is to tip 100% of the service cost. So, if your haircut costs $40, you may tip $40 this December. If a 100% tip isn’t in your budget, simply tip more than you normally would.
Can You Tip a Barber or Stylist with Something Other Than Money?
If money is a bit tight, you might be wondering if you can tip your barber with something other than cash, such as a gift card or their favorite treat. This is risky since some salon owners prohibit stylists or barbers from accepting non-monetary tips. Even if this type of tip is allowed, it may not be well-received. We don’t recommend tipping with things other than money unless you know that your barber can accept the tip and you’re sure they’ll be ok with it. If you decide it’s appropriate to tip this way, do so sparingly.
Should You Tip the Salon Owner?
If the salon owner isn't your stylist, there's no need to tip them.
But what if they are your stylist? The services provided by salon owners are typically priced higher than "regular" stylists. This may make it tempting to skip their tip, but this isn't good etiquette. Their rates are typically higher because they have more training and experience. For those reasons, tipping the standard 15% - 20% is recommended.
Should You Tip a Salon Apprentice?
If your barber or stylist has an apprentice, you may be wondering if you're required to tip them. That answer depends on a few factors, namely the amount of work they do and whether they are tipped out (given a small portion of the stylist's tips) by the salon.
If the apprentice gets tipped out, you may want to add a few extra bucks to your overall tip to make up for the amount passed along by your stylist. If they do not get tipped out, it's acceptable to give them a tip, especially if they provided a service like shampooing or blow drying your hair. Just keep in mind that apprentices are unlikely to be able to accept tips via credit or debit card, so you'll need cash.
How Much to Tip a Barber For Different Services
While the customary rule is to tip your barber or stylist 15-20%, different circ*mstances may call for a higher tip or lower tip. Here’s a quick guide to help you determine how much to tip for different services.
How Much to Tip on a Haircut
With a haircut, you can't go wrong with the standard 15% - 20%. For example, if your haircut comes out to $40 and you’re happy with the results, a 20% tip ($8) is a great way to say, "thank you". If your cut was a bit more complex, tipping 25% of service fee ($10) is even better.
To calculate 20%, simply multiply the total bill by .2.
- 20% of $20 is $4
- 20% of $30 is $6
- 20% of $40 is $8
- 20% of $50 is $10
- 20% of $60 is $12
You can also skip the calculations and simply round total bill up. A $50 service rounds up to $60, which comes out to a $10, or 20%, tip.
How Much to Tip on a Kid's Haircut
Taking a child to the barber or stylist can be stressful for everyone involved. For your barber, cutting a child's hair usually means extra patience while they work with a wiggly or upset client. We recommend that you tip generously. 20% on a kid's cut is a great way of saying, "thank you," to your barber for their patience with your little one.
How Much to Tip on Beard Trims
A professional beard trim is a specialty service, and the amount you tip should reflect the complexity of the trim. A 10% tip on a quick trim is sufficient, but 15% or 20% is more appropriate if your beard is long or it’s been a while since your last trim.
How Much to Tip on a Shave
There’s nothing quite like a barber shop shave! When it comes to tipping on this service, you can follow the standard 20% rule. If you found the service especially relaxing, you might even bump it up to 25%.
How Much to Tip on an Eyebrow Wax
Tipping 15% - 20% is a good rule to follow for small waxing services like eyebrows and ears. If the job was particularly time-consuming or you’re especially pleased with the results, you might tip a generous 25%.
How Much to Tip on Special Occasion Hair Styling
Whether it's for a wedding, prom or other formal event, special occasion up-dos are time consuming and require additional training and skills to execute professionally. It's customary to tip 20% - 25% on these services due to the amount of time they take.
How Much to Tip at a High-End Salon
The level of service at a high-end salon or barber shop is noticeably different than at your everyday salon. Still, you may be surprised to learn that tipping etiquette is the same. Sticking to 15% - 20% is always safe, but if you find the atmosphere extra relaxing and extras like champagne, wine or head massages are included, you may want to tip 25%.
Make Mr. Winston's Your Barber in Dallas
Looking for a great barber or stylist in the Dallas area? Mr. Winston's is here to keep you looking your best. With two locations to serve you, we're never far. Book your appointment today and let us take care of you.
Jimmy Huh
