A Guide for How Much to Tip For Different Beauty Services

Suggested tip: 20 Percent

The standard tipping amount for hair styling services — including cuts, styling, and coloring — is 20 percent, and this typically remains the same no matter how intricate the service is. "A 20 percent tip for a blowdry is appropriate because some hair textures are more time-consuming and the stylist has to have expertise to manipulate the hair to a beautiful blowout," says Seattle-based hair stylist and salon owner Yvey Valcin.

However, for most hair stylists, tipping goes beyond how well the stylist performs the service. "Simply having the skills to cut, style, and color the hair isn't enough to warrant a higher tip," says Valcin. "My philosophy is that clients should feel like they're the most important person when sitting in my chair. Having the skills and expertise is a baseline, but being able to create space for each person is what really makes clients feel special and beautiful."

Things like knowing what kind of magazine you like, providing the kind of tea, coffee, or water you enjoy, having the station ready, and remembering details of past conversations are all details that communicate how much your stylist values you, and may warrant a higher tip. "In my experience, the relationship my clients have with me dictates the tips I receive, not the services," says Valcin. "Clients recognize when a stylist goes above and beyond for them."

Suggested tip: 20-30%

For Sataya Stone, the founder and owner of Art Nail NYC, the average client coming in once a month tips 22 percent each time (on a $160 service), but some go up to 30 percent for exceptional work. "Our pricing reflects the time, experience, and education required to perform intricate techniques. Therefore, a 20 to 30 percent tip for our services is appropriate," says Stone. "In contrast, establishments that charge significantly less and pay their workers lower wages warrant more generous tips."

Some add-ons — like a scalp massage — may be provided by someone other than your nail artist, and Stone recommends tipping this provider separately. "The add-on price itself is reflecting a sample of what a full service with this provider might be like," she says.

When it comes to tipping around the holidays, Stone definitely notices a difference in tipping practices. "Clients are absolutely more generous around the holidays — a lot of my clients would tip upward of 70 percent or bring a little gift of appreciation for their December appointments," she says. "This small act of appreciation goes a long way since we are holding hands for a few hours every month."

Suggested tip: 20%

If a facialist is working at a facility that's not theirs, tipping can be a critical part of their income. "Twenty percent or more is standard in our industry, depending on how generous you feel," says Erica Marie Gatt, aesthetician, makeup artist, and founder of EM Skin in Hermosa Beach, CA. "Depending on where you go, the tip may be included in the price so it's always best to inquire prior to your treatment so that you can be prepared."

If shelling out the money for a facial was already a splurge and you don't have the budget for tipping, Gatt says that posting a positive review, sharing your experience, tagging the company on social media, and referring friends, colleagues, and family are great ways to support your aesthetician.

Suggested tip: 20%

When it comes to makeup services, a 20 percent tip, depending on your satisfaction, is standard. To ensure a seamless service all around, you'll first want to consult with the artist beforehand to ensure your desired look is something they can realistically achieve. "Each artist has unique specialties, so in the same way you would call a nail salon to ask if there's a nail tech that can do nail art before showing up, you'll want to talk to your artist before booking," says Casper. "If you're requesting something dramatic or more intricate like a graphic liner, cut crease, foxy eye, airbrush makeup, or glitter, you're asking for a specific skill set that not all artists have, and these typically require more time and money to perfect."

According to Casper, most artists will factor in higher pricing for more intricate looks, but the look itself isn't all that should be taken into account when tipping. "Sometimes I have to wait to start a client's service because they're in the shower or tending to other matters, which can cost me being late for my next appointment," says Casper, adding that much of a makeup artist's work — maintaining their kit, fixing broken products, depotting lipsticks and foundations, sanitizing, restocking, and cleaning brushes — is done behind the scenes.

Consider whether you're asking for something extra (like customized lashes) that could add to your appointment time. Also, if the artist goes outside of their service scope (for instance, if they taught you how to do something yourself or they gave you touch-up products), this could also warrant a higher tip. And, if they're traveling to you, this should also play a factor in tipping. "Did they have to walk a considerable distance from the parking structure to your hotel room? Is the elevator in your building out? We are often carrying our weight in lighting, equipment, chairs, and bags of products," says Casper.

Remember that tips don't always come in the form of gratuity. "I have clients who bring me my coffee order, buy my lunch, or upgrade my suite or flight when traveling," says Casper. "If you're not in the financial position to tip, you can also offer to leave them a stellar review or send a letter of recommendation they can use on their website."

Suggested tip: 20%

Depending on where you go for brow services, tips might be pooled and shared among the staff to ensure that everyone benefits. In any case, depending on your service, there may be multiple service providers working on you. "When a client comes in to get their brows done at my tweeze-only brow studio in Atlanta, we have the primary brow specialist who tweezes your brows, but if you want a brow tint, that's done by a separate person," says Alyson Hoag, owner of Authentic Beauty Makeup Salon and Brow Studio in Atlanta and founder of Genuist Beauty. "While tipping is never expected, it's always appreciated when clients acknowledge each provider's hard work and expertise."

In Hoag's view, tipping habits have changed over the last few years. "During the holidays, it was standard practice to tip any service provider extra if you loved the service they provided," she says. "In the last couple of years, however, less and less people are doing that, with the exception of more established clients who still tip generously." If you're unable to tip, referrals and positive reviews are additional ways to show your provider some appreciation.

Suggested tip: Up to you

Med spas are different from typical salon services because there are medical procedures being performed — however, since they may also offer aesthetic beauty treatments, tipping at a med spa is similar to tipping at a beauty salon. "I would say patients usually tip between 15 to 20 percent of the services rendered, or provide a one-time tip of $20 to $50 here in Los Angeles," says Kami Hanaie, PA-C, a lead injector at Skinbiotic Med Spa in Los Angeles. "Tipping is not mandatory in this setting, but it's always appreciated by the practitioner, especially if the patient is satisfied with the results and wants to show their appreciation."

Aesthetic injectors with many years of training and hands-on patient experience are often more skilled and have more improved techniques, which will often show through their work and, thus, warrant a more generous tip, says Hanaie. If you plan on tipping, consider if you'll need to come back for multiple sessions or if you purchased a package of services. "If a patient comes in for multiple sessions of a treatment, for example, microneedling with radiofrequency or laser hair removal, they'll usually purchase a package and will tip at that initial visit or at the end of their final session," says Hanaie.

If you don't feel obligated to tip at a med spa, there are other ways to show appreciation, such as leaving a nice review, referring friends and colleagues, and posting about them on social media. "Here at Skinbiotic Med Spa, a simple mention from our patients letting us know they are happy with our work means a lot," says Hanaie. "In the case of a happy patient who ends up referring us to a friend or family member, we actually make an effort to send them a gift card as a token of our appreciation."

Suggested tip: 15-20%

While the standard tipping for eyelash services is 15 to 20 percent, Beverly Hills lash expert and aesthetician Dionne Phillips says it's not expected. "As the owner, I don't like putting pressure on my clients to tip, and I train my staff not to expect tips from people," she says. "At luxury establishments like ours, the quality of service is paramount, and tips are considered an extra gesture of appreciation rather than an expectation."

That being said, some clients feel inspired to go the extra mile for their eyelash technician. "I have loyal clients who usually just pay for the service with the card I have on file and will bring me a card with a few hundred dollars in it during the holidays," says Phillips. "Some clients tip throughout the year and at holidays, and non-regular clients usually tip, but again, I don't expect it." Phillips also adds that the clients she sees who are from other countries often don't tip because they aren't familiar with American gratuity customs.

"During these tough economic times, people are barely making appointments for services they want and as artists, we should be honored to have any customers at all," says Phillips. "We shouldn't make people feel insecure about their finances — they chose us for a reason, and we should act accordingly and do our job well."

Suggested tip: 18-25%

"Tipping for waxes can vary widely, but the average range is between 18 percent and 25 percent of the total cost of the service being provided," says Sarah Sherman, corporate field trainer at European Wax Center. "While tipping guidelines can offer a helpful benchmark, the actual tip left is a personal choice." And yes, the area being serviced often plays a role in how much to tip. "Guests often tip more for intimate services like the bikini, understanding the skill and care required to wax these areas," says Sherman.

Some places like Sugared + Bronzed have trainees perform services at a discounted price (they must receive a certain number of 10/10 feedback per body part before they are eligible to be on the floor), says Maddie Fowler of Sugared + Bronzed, so tipping the full price for their service may be a nice gesture.

"Our sugaristas and airbrush technicians truly appreciate any amount of tip they receive, although a trend they notice is that they typically get more gratuity when a client opts to leave it in cash," Fowler.

Suggested tip: Up to you

Laser hair removal is considered a medical service at most facilities, including Seaside Skin Care in Los Angeles, and just like you wouldn't tip your primary care doctor, gratuity isn't expected. "There is no expectation for tipping, but when patients do choose to tip, it's typically within the 15-20 percent range," says lead laser nurse Kristin Daniel of Seaside Skin Care.

Generally speaking, if you do choose to tip, the amount of a tip is often related to the cost of the service, which means you may be paying a higher tip for larger areas like full legs or arms. On the flip side, smaller areas like the under arms are generally less expensive to treat and may result in a lower tip. "Patients usually tip as a percentage of the treatment price. However, we want to stress that there is no expectation of gratuity for medical services such as laser hair removal."

Tipping practices can vary in this setting, and ultimately, the decision is up to you. "There are patients who tip each time, those who tip at the time of the package purchase, and those who don't tip at all," says Daniel.

Suggested tip: 20%

"Many clients actually don't automatically think about tipping tattoo artists," says Dillon Forte, a tattoo artist based in Austin, TX. "For some reason, there's an assumption that it just doesn't happen in the tattoo world, which is interesting since most service professionals such as barbers, hairdressers, waiters, and nail artists typically see a 20 percent tip for good service." Still, while there isn't a set standard, Forte says that a 20 percent tip for tattoo artists is common.

Tattooing is art as a service, and more often than not, the piece of work is personal and will leave a lasting impression. Forte says that being a tattoo artist is a high-risk position that requires years of practice and a high skill level, which may warrant a higher tip. "If the artist puts a lot of time into coming up with the design behind the scenes or in person, that makes the final product very unique, and clients tend to tip more for that personalized experience."

While a tattoo's size doesn't necessarily play a role in how much to tip, it can. "If the tattoo takes an hour or two versus multiple five-hour sessions over a course of days or weeks, then I would consider tipping a higher amount," says Forte.

Suggested tip: 20%, depending on the setting

Generally speaking, massage therapy aligns with tipping norms across other service industries to acknowledge the hard work and skill that therapists invest in each session. "When it comes to tipping for massage services, my recommendation is at least 20 percent, but this baseline can be adjusted based on your satisfaction, session intricacies, and overall quality of the experience," says Clinton Kyles, a certified massage therapist and national therapist trainer for Squeeze Massage.

Tipping practices can also vary depending on whether your therapist works at a spa, studio, or manages their own private practice. "Therapists often rely on tips in studios and spas to supplement their hourly wages, but if it's a private studio or practice, the therapist sets their rates and policies that reflect their expertise and overhead costs and tipping might not be as critical," says Kyles.

Clients are also more likely to tip mobile therapists who offer the added convenience of traveling to them. This shows appreciation for the time and effort spent traveling, setting up their equipment, and bringing everything needed to create a relaxing environment in your home, says Kyles.

Finally, the length of your massage session should be factored into tipping. "Longer sessions, like 90-minute massages, require more physical stamina and advanced techniques compared to a shorter 60-minute session," says Kyles. "Whether it's working out stubborn knots, addressing multiple areas of tension, or incorporating additional modalities, your therapist is likely providing a more intensive and personalized experience in a longer session."

Michelle Rostamian is a Los Angeles-based beauty and wellness contributor with over 10 years of experience in the industry. She began her career as a publicist, content writer, and social media manager, representing beauty brands and industry professionals. Currently, she is a writer and editor on all things makeup, beauty, skincare, and lifestyle.