Everything to Know About Tipping Etiquette When It Comes to Beauty Services

Best Tipping Practices for Popular Beauty Services

When it comes to tipping etiquette in beauty, our experts agree across the board that 20% is recommended on average, though each has greater insight into where that number comes from. 

Nails

Base Nail Bar owner Pi Chu says the American standard tipping for nail services is 15%–20% of the total service cost, which “encompasses gratitude for the nail technician's time and skill, support for a lower base wage, and recognition of extra effort,” she explains. “Tipping closer to or above 20% is more common in big cities due to service prices being higher, and clients often expecting luxury experiences. Nail techs may rely more heavily on tips due to higher living costs.”

Facials

Marino explains that “20% gratuity is common and standard across the board for beauty service providers,” including facials. These treatments are highly personalized and require advanced expertise to address your unique skin concerns. Whether it’s a relaxing facial or a more clinical treatment like microdermabrasion, tipping shows appreciation for the esthetician’s skill, care, and effort in helping you achieve glowing skin. If they go above and beyond—like offering a massage or detailed aftercare advice—consider tipping a little extra to acknowledge their dedication.

Hair Services

Gregga LA hair salon founder Gregga Prothero says she typically sees anywhere from 15% to 25% of the total cost of service, “depending on how the client is feeling, how complicated the service was, and whether their stylist just talked them out of bangs again.” 

She insists there’s no written law when it comes to tipping, but it’s “definitely appreciated, especially because stylists spend hours on their feet, wrist-deep in bleach, making sure your hair looks good even when your life is a little chaotic.”

She adds that with haircuts, hair color, and blowouts or new hairstyles, especially, a tip generally covers “the time and effort your stylist put into your hair (and, let’s be real, sometimes your emotional state), the products they used (color, treatments, magical potions), and the hospitality like making sure you’re comfortable, hydrated, and not accidentally orange.”

Airbrush Tans

Lopez echoes Prothero’s sentiments, saying, “Tipping isn’t expected, but it’s always deeply appreciated.”

Much like what’s implied, a tip is “a client’s way of saying they felt genuinely cared for,” Lopez adds. “A tip typically reflects the extra time, detail, and love poured into a custom service. Most of our clients at the salon usually leave 20%, which seems to be pretty standard in our industry.”

Massages

Terranea Resort spa director Cynthia Howell also supports the 20% tipping rate, saying that spas will often add in that amount as a service charge automatically so that it can be distributed among staff equally. 

“Some guests may tip more for exceptional service, while others may follow local customs or personal preferences,” she says. “Ultimately, while there may be minor differences depending on the region or the specific spa or salon, 20% is widely accepted as the norm in the industry.”

When to Tip More or Less

While tipping is greatly appreciated and considered proper etiquette, our experts don’t typically have expectations. That said, they have a sense of what’s worth a greater or lesser tip than the industry standard of 20%. 

For example, when it comes to nail services, Chu points out that nail art, hand-painted designs or unusual materials will often motivate a client to leave a greater tip than if they did a polish change or something else that’s more simple and less of a time commitment. The same can be said for holiday season, wedding prep, or other high-pressure situations. 

Similar to that of nails, if a hair service calls for color-correction or another service that involves extensive creative work or going above and beyond, clients tend to tip more. 

“Tipping isn’t a rigid formula, it’s a gut thing,” Prothero explains. “And sometimes your gut says, ‘Wow, this person just spent six hours lifting three layers of box dye out of my hair, and somehow I still have hair left.’ That’s when a tip above the usual 20% feels not only appropriate, but almost says, ‘You saved me. Thank you.’”

On the flip side, our experts agree across the board that if a client is dissatisfied with their service, or didn’t feel like the environment or provider offered the best experience, it’s expected they won’t leave a full 20% tip.

Additionally, depending on the establishment, a service fee may already be locked in, and in that case, extra tipping isn’t expected. It is, of course, appreciated if the provider went above and beyond.

Best Way to Tip Beauty Service Workers

Interestingly, the verdict on this is divided. Depending on the service, some methods are preferred over others. For example, Chu says nail techs still appreciate cash (though Zelle or Venmo are also totally acceptable).

“Some salons take tips on cards, but cash goes directly to the tech and avoids processing fees,” she explains. “Also, tip each nail tech separately if multiple people work on you. For example, your manicurist should get a separate tip from the person who did your pedicure.”

Marino is also big on cash and money transfer apps, explaining, “That way the provider doesn't have to wait until their paycheck to receive the tip, and the business doesn't get taxed on it.”

And once again, Prothero, too, says hair pros love their cash. “Cash is still queen,” she says. “If a client pulls out a perfectly folded $20 and says, ‘This is for you,’ I’m not going to be mad about that. Cash tips are always appreciated, and there are no fees taken out, no glitches, no oops, I forgot to add it before I signed. Just clean, classic gratitude.”

But ultimately, “Most clients seem to love when they can just add a tip during checkout, right on whatever system the salon uses,” she says, regarding credit cards. “You’re already paying, your card is out, your hair looks amazing, you’re feeling yourself, and boom, there’s a little screen asking if you want to tip 15, 20, or 25%. Easy. Done. Emotionally painless.”

Lopez, too, says cash is preferred but not expected since most people don’t carry it on them these days.

With cash aside, “Apps such as Zelle or Venmo are probably the most preferred way to receive tips by service providers,” she says. “The reason these two methods are preferred over adding tip at checkout via card is because the service provider has access to those tips in real time. They don’t have to wait until they receive a paycheck.”

Howell, however, has a different approach in the spa.

“The most preferred method of tipping in spas is through digital tipping, which is integrated directly into the point-of-sale system at checkout,” she says. “It’s convenient for guests, ensures accurate processing, and allows for seamless distribution to the service provider. The least preferred method is cash, as it can easily be misplaced. Additionally, this method lacks tracking and can create inconsistencies or confusion for both staff and management.”