What to Give Your Hairstylist at the Holidays (2024)

FAQs

What to Give Your Hairstylist at the Holidays? ›

Baked goods, cashmere, keys to the yacht—the people we interviewed always welcome such thoughtfulness. "I think gifts are more special than money," says hairstylist Ted Gibson of Ted Gibson Salon in New York City. Spend about the same amount as you would on a monetary tip.

As a general rule of thumb, most hairstylists, manicurists, masseuses, and tattoo artists tell us that a 15-20% tip is considered standard—no matter the time of year. To show extra appreciation during the holidays, consider adding on an extra 10-20%.

“I would like to thank you for your wonderful work. It was a real pleasure and I love, love the hair style and the make up that you created for me! :) I have never looked so beautiful and it's all thanks to you. Also, you really helped me to relax and take the day easy.

How much should you tip your hairdresser? We asked three etiquette experts, two salon professionals and a certified financial planner. Most of these experts suggest leaving 15% to 20%, depending on the service and your satisfaction. Going with 20% is nice for the stylist and you because that math is pretty simple.

According to general etiquette, it's about the same amount as a regular appointment. I always do cash plus a small gift, with the amount totalling about the same as my regular appointment charge. I make sure that the small gift is something my stylist really wants AND is returnable/exchangeable.

Remember the golden rule: "You should tip 20% on the entire service cost, not per individual," says Schweitzer.

Just keep it simple and polite, stating that despite no hard feelings or ill will, you think it will be best to see another stylist moving forward. Wish them well, and thank them for their services to date.

Each year on April 30th, National Hairstylist Appreciation Day honors hairstylists everywhere who make artful hairstyles possible.

According to Consumer Reports, you should tip at least 15% of the service fee, even if the service wasn't the best. If you're debating whether to tip a smaller amount because you're not happy with your service, you can also consider speaking to the manager or owner first.

Is $5 a good tip for a hairdresser? ›

If she does a simple dry cut (a haircut without washing or shampooing first), she says that a $5-$10 tip is a great tip. That service takes her anywhere from 20 to 40 minutes, but rounding up to an hour would be the best thing to do.

“$10 to $20 is generous,” Rivera said. “Most people will do $5.” Others said people should leave a similar tip to what they would leave at a restaurant. “I would say around 20% is fine,” said Adam Quintero, owner of Up Hair in the Castro.

In other words, if you spend $75 five times a year and usually tip $15 dollars, or 20 percent, consider adding $15 for a total tip of $30 at Christmas. This assumes that you have an appointment in December. Otherwise, it's probably not necessary to go out of your way to deliver a present.

Hair Cut & Styling

T. Cooper says that how you tip hairdressers doesn't really differ based on what type of cut you want, so 20 percent of the cost is the magic number to tip your stylist.

If math is not your forte (don't worry, we rely on a calculator too) here's a little cheat sheet: Wondering how much to tip for a $100 hair color service? A 20 percent tip is $20 and a 25 percent tip is $25.

Suggested Tip: Up to the cost of a session. Just as you should take care of the person who takes care of your hair, you should think of the person who tends your pet's mane. If you bring your pet to the same person year-round for grooming, anywhere from half to the full cost of a session is appropriate.