Should I Tip my Make Up Artist / Hairstylist?
Tipping: it’s complicated! Is it expected? Where? How much? Today we’re going to touch on the subject of whether you should be expected to tip your makeup artist or hairstylist. Hi! I’m Ruth, pro hairstyling and makeup artist of 10+ years!
A quick history lesson! According to Wikipedia, tipping originated in Medieval Times in England and only occurred when a servant had performed especially well! Tipping in America had been just that until more recently, when even poor service is recommended to be rewarded with a “low” 10% tip. So what should you do when you’ve finished your glam and the artist is waiting on you to close out the session?
In my research, the growing expectation stems from the rise of the price of living and the lack of being able to reach that rising price with the average daily wage of the servicer. For instance, in a salon you might be paying $75-$150 for a haircut, but the artist/stylist, working under a company name or with an agency, is getting anywhere from 30-60% of that.
Working in the artist community I have artist colleagues who have come to expect a tip with payment and in my professional opinion, I don’t believe that’s best. I still run with the old school thought that tipping is a thank you for an extraordinary service. Tips should be handed out at the client’s option for stellar service that has exceeded their expectations or as an elevated appreciation. Have we gone above and beyond and you want to show some appreciation for it? Great! We love tips in cash! But either way, my aim with my clients is to give them the best hair and makeup services, while also being indispensable to them when it comes to the service and their experience.
The bottom line: Artists/Stylists set the price for their services. The client is not responsible for supporting their lifestyle choices. For instance: I charge what myself and my team need to be there for you. Tips, though always appreciated, are not expected.
Here are 5 Glam Service details to look for that may deserve a great tip:
How was the booking process and communication leading up to the glam? Smooth and easy or a bit rough?
Did your artist arrive on time? Did they keep to the schedule and get you finished on time?
Grooming and Presentation: How did they show up? Were they ready with a smile and attentive to your requests?
Was the final product what you requested? Was it better than expected?
Are you completely satisfied with the whole experience and wish that this is something you could do everyday?
Still a little unsure? My best advise is ask your artist/stylist ahead of time to check their expectations. They will have no problem letting you know what is expected. But if it falls on you to decide, tip when you feel you’ve received above your expectations or your overly impressed with the level of service that was provided! Some may be unappreciative, but in the end, our responsibility as an artist/stylist is to give you the best we can so you keep coming back for more! And I know personally, I would rather have a happy, returning client, than one who feels like she has to empty her bank account each time she comes to see me!
A quick reference guide for tipping your Makeup Artist or Hairstylist:
Tipping in cash is always preferred.
10% Tip - A Great tip, you were pleased with the service!
15% Tip - A Great tip, you were pleased with the service!
18% Tip - A Generous tip, you were pleased with the service!
20% Tip - A Generous tip, your expectations were beyond met and you loved the service!
25%+ Tip - An Extremely generous tip, your expectations were beyond met and you loved the service!!
Here are a few ways you can also thank your artist/stylist for stellar glam service:
Leaving them a glowing 5 star review on their preferred platform (Google is a great one!)!
Refer your friends and family! (There’s nothing better than a great referral!)
Giving your artist/stylist shout outs and tags on Social Media!
Reach out with any questions! And as always, I’m always happy to be available for all your hairstyling and makeup needs! Click here to get the conversation started!
-Ruth
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