Hey, Stop Doing It Wrong – This Is How You Should Tip For Your Haircuts

Written by Mike Medders Published: April 8, 2021

So Someone Asked, “Why Does Tipping Really Matter, Mike?”
- The Old School Tipping vs Modern Day Tipping
Whom To Tip?
How Much To Tip Barber During A Regular Visit?
How Much Should I Tip During Holiday Seasons?
Tipping A Regular Barber Versus Tipping A New Barber?
Tipping Based On Age (Specifically, Kids)?
Conclusion

Question:

Have you ever felt like you’ve not been tipping your barber just enough for those exceptional cuts? Do you think those extra bucks you parted with for that recent wicked fader shouldn’t have happened?

Well:

If you’ve ever had trouble deciding whether to tip at all and how much to, you’re just in the right place.

In this complete guide, I will show you exactly when and how much to tip your barber.

Plus:

You will also understand things like…

Why tipping is important
Whom you should tip when you visit the barber
When to and when not to tip
How to tip during a holiday vs a regular visit
How to tip a new barber vs your regular barber
How much you should tip for a child vs adult

Sounds great?

Well, let’s get started.

First thing first…

So Someone Asked, “Why Does Tipping Really Matter, Mike?”

So:

Clearly, tipping a barber is not merely a way of saying “thanks for not making a mess of my hair.”

Hahaha. This meme explain everything.

But, think about it:

A fine barber isn’t born in a day.

Similarly, staying relevant in the industry is no doddle. For instance, in the US, you need a certain amount of schooling to be a barber.

Plus, a long list of expensive barber tests to pass to get licensed. Especially the gruesome infection control and safety test.

As if that’s not enough:

Barbers bear recurring equipment maintenance costs; without forgetting the continuously rising barbershop rents among other overheads. Then add this to fixed operational costs and tax deductions.

Anyway:

Even with all that, barbers understand the need to keep prices low for customers. And are also constantly investing in skills improvement to serve you better.

But, bear in mind:

Tipping isn’t compulsory. So, you should never be obliged to do it.

Yet, each time you tip your barber, know that you’re…

Getting access to some perks
Making his/her day better (even you appreciate kindness)
Appreciating their dedication, passion, and talent
Lifting some of the expenses off your barber’s shoulders
Investing in them to serve you even better
Building a good relationship between you two
Encouraging him/her to do his/her best during your next visit

Now look here:

One thing you should note is that …”tipping changes with the economy.” And below is how far the barbering world has gone in regards to this.

The Old School Tipping vs Modern Day Tipping

Looking at the Old School Way;

Back in the early days of the great legend Antonio Mancinelli, the customary tip was 10%.

For instance:

If you were getting a $50 haircut, you would give a $5 tip.

Get it? Great.

Anything above that was a way of saying “you’re one hell of a barber and you’ve given me a reason to keep coming back.”

On the contrary, anything below 10% signaled dissatisfaction and a cold “goodbye”.

So:

Do these norms still hold water in 2024?

The Nitty Gritties of Modern Day Tipping:

Today, the new baseline ranges between 15%, 20%, and 25%. The idea is to choose a number based on where you’re getting your haircut.

But does this mean tipping a high-end saloon more than a streetside barber?

Wrong!

Quite the contrary. This is what I mean.

The cost of running a barbershop in Manhattan is higher than a salon in the main street of a small town in the US.

Besides, salons in the boroughs of NY have more competition and so offer lower haircut prices.

So:

It only makes sense that most customers in these communities are willing to go as high as 20%-25%.

Meanwhile, they tip 15%-20% in a less competitive area where the bill is likely to be higher.

Again:

Nowadays, tipping below 15% anywhere in the USA means you’re not satisfied with the services rendered to you.

Psst:

Whom To Tip?

Note:

Who you decide to tip depends on two factors; the people present in the salon and how far you’re willing to go. Let’s take a closer look.

Do you Tip The Hair Salon Shop Landlord?

If you’ve been visiting a barber for over a long time, you’re likely to know whether it’s a rented shop or not.

More likely, you probably know who the barbershop landlord is.

And:

In this case, tipping the landlord every once in a while (if present) is a good idea because;

It can buy your barber a rental reduction
It’s a relationship booster between your barber and the landlord
It’s one of the things landlords consider during a delayed rental payment

Bear in mind:

Tipping the barbershop landlord is not really a thing – just a few people “do it”.

Moving forward…

Do You Tip The Hair Salon Owner?

Now;

The commonly held belief among customers is to not tip the salon owner for haircuts.

And here’s the point;

Salon owners already get tipped out for almost every sale of hair products in the shop. The only time the barber gets a gratuity is after a haircut.

However:

Seeing as the owner is usually responsible for the furnishing and styling of the shop, plus, overall service delivery, you can tip them too; if you want.

After all, if you’re satisfied with the services rendered, it’s because the owner made sure their shop has quality barbers and equipment.

Get it?

Moving on…

Do You Tip The Barber?

Of course, YES.

The person who did the job of grooming you should be your top priority.

In fact, if you had the choice to tip just one person in a barbershop…?

… Let it be that guy who did their best to make sure you walk out of the shop with a killer cut.

What About The Salon Apprentice?

Well:

The popular opinion is to tip apprentices only during holidays and festive periods. In fact, some customers say not to tip apprentices at all.

Now:

The reason behind this is that the free training apprentices get is enough as payment. But it’s a no-brainer that you should tip these guys too when you consider the following:

The majority of barber assistants make the least wage
They do most of the work; laundry, tools sanitation, and cleaning the entire salon
Some apprentice don’t get paid by their bosses at all

Anyway:

Here is another controversial topic in almost all barber tipping discussions.

“Do you tip the same on a regular visit vs on holidays?”

Well…

Let’s get down to it;

How Much To Tip Barber During A Regular Visit?

Remember when I said tipping ranges between 15% and 25% of your haircut price?

Well:

On a regular visit, it’s the kind of cut you get that decides which of these percentages is ideal.

Let’s dig a little deeper.

Ready?

How Much To Tip For A Trim & Quick-fixes?

Popular opinion:

“Trims and quick fixes are no big deal, you shouldn’t be giving gratuity for them”.

In Reality, “fixing a bad DIY cut or trimming a fading style back in shape takes time and expertise”.

Always remember:

Even if it takes your barber just 10 minutes to repair a poor DIY cut, it’s still 10 minutes off their schedule.

But again, how much you tip is totally up to you; it will depend on how big the fix was.

Remember;

A quick-fix should earn your barber between a 10% and a 15% tip. Basically, the same goes for trims.

Moving on;

How Much To Tip For A Complete Cut?

Now:

On a regular visit, you should tip your barber between 15% and 20% for a standard cut. Consider 15% when you’re satisfied with the cut and 20% when you’re blown away. Lol.

And if you’ve been wondering…

How Much To Tip For Hair Coloring?

Basically, when it comes to hair dying, one thing you should bear in mind is the number of hours spent on your hair.

If your barber spends up to 2-3hours highlighting, bleaching, and dying your hair, consider tipping them off starting from 20%.

And if you’re ecstatic about the results, 22% to 25% is great.

Moving forward;

How Much Do You Tip When The Haircut Is Bad?

Remember the good old cliche “you don’t always get what you want”?

So, imagine this scenario…

Suppose it’s your barber’s bad day and you end up with a cut you don’t like.

Or:

You aren’t comfortable all through the process because the salon is dirty; the seat is worn out and uncomfortable; the clipper keeps pulling your hair; or you just feel they did your hairstyle in a rush.

How do you deal with that without kicking chairs or throwing capes and clippers?

Well:

The point is to make your dissatisfaction known in the most gentle way possible. And tipping off an old barber less than you used to or a new barber less than 10% is the best way to do this.

On the flipside…

How Much To Tip When The Haircut Is Too Good?

Now:

If your barber manages to get you groomed with perfection, i.e. without pissing you off, that’s one good reason to tip more than usual.

Haircut outcomes tend to determine your mood; so, if you’re happy with the service, go beyond 20%.

But, have you ever wondered:

How Much Should I Tip During Holiday Seasons?

The best way to tip a barber during a holiday/festive period is by gifting grooming accessories like;

Combs
Hair clippers
Professional barber capes
Shaving creams
Blades
And others

But:

If you’d rather tip with money during a visit for your holiday/festive cut, tip them more than 25% of the bill.

Holidays only come once a year, so even a 50% tip can be ideal.

Though I received a 100% tip from many clients last Christmas; it just depends on how high you are willing to go to make your barber’s holiday memorable.

Okay, Mike, what about…

Tipping A Regular Barber Versus Tipping A New Barber?

Here’s one good rule of thumb:

“Tip your regular guy more than the man you’re visiting for the first time”. But this isn’t a hard and fast rule.

If you’re an advocate for equality, tip both equally.

Here’s my take though:

Regardless of who you’re tipping, remember the general tipping etiquette always. They are some factors you must always consider when tipping a barber; for example: