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To tip or not to tip?
Photographed by Theo Wenner,Vogue, 2016
This is especially true when it comes to how much one should be tipping their beauty practitioners.
Hair salon revenue, according to areport doneby IBIS World, has been declining since 2020.
Fewer people are simply inclined to book salon services now, making tips essential for the livelihood of many.
The economy is a mess right now, celebrity makeup artist and hairstylistT.CoopertellsVogue.
Inflation has caused many salons to raise their prices.
Many people cant afford to tip as much, when they can barely afford the service.
A booking is still work after all.
With that in mind, below, the experts break down proper tipping etiquette.
We give them the boost of confidence they need for their special event.
Its more than just makeup, its super personal.
Makeup artists sometimes employ an assistant or other help to prep a client.
If this is the case, youll also want to include them when tipping.
Refer our service to others, she suggests.
Instead, they opt for one large tip at the holiday season.
So thats another way to do it.
[Its] the gift that keeps giving and reaches more people, she says.
And speak up if youre not happy with your brow treatment.
Communicate with the service provider, Streicher says.
This also applies to styling services such as blowouts, braids, and protective styles.
[This] helps offset their lower salary.
I know several assistants who were able to make ends meet because of the additional cash from their tips.
But what happens if you hate the end result after a styling session?
If theyve been with you for a long time, theyll appreciate your candor.
The pandemic devastated the beauty industry.
So if anyone can understand, a hairstylist can.
For assistants who shampoo your hair, she recommends tipping an extra $5 to $10.
She explains that tips arent necessarily shared amongst everyone.
Even if youre only able to tip just $1, its something that stylists shouldnt discount.
Tipping shows consideration for the amount of effort an artist puts in your new ink.
So its not just a tattoo session for the artist.
It takes extra hours just to finish one tattoo session.
But it can vary based on how complex your service is (e.g.
While tipping is optional, tips make a substantial portion of the nail technicians income.
Tipping is also the best way to help offset lower salaries and encourage better service overall.
In my experience this rule of thumb changes in a private practice setting.
Factoring that with other costs, such as classes to obtain and maintain a license, tipping becomes essential.
The body and wellness care industry is larger than ever and becoming more exclusive and expensive as it expands.
If youre strapped for cash, Bovary recommends cheaper options that make massages more accessible.
First, consider massage schools in your city and utilize their clinics.
Many of us are open to that, she says.
But tipping in general is not a requirement.
And [that] is often not even off the full price of the service.
A lasting relationship and loyal clientele is better than any tip, she says.
