As I sit in the salon chair with my face being slathered with a cleansing mask or my hair gently washed under running water that’s just the right temperature, my social anxiety makes certain questions swirl in my head: What is the correct amount to tip the beautician/hairstylist? If I get a haircut from the salon owner, should I be tipping more? Do I hand the tip over to the cashier or the stylist providing the service?
By speaking with salon owners and beauticians across India, The Nod decides to put the matter to rest once and for all.
Do I have to leave a tip?
When I bombard salon owner and celebrity hairstylist Samantha Wadhwani with these questions, she first reassures me that, unlike in the States, tipping in India is not mandatory—or even expected. It is for this reason that Samantha’s Salon, her 13-year-old establishment in Bandra, Mumbai, does not keep a tipping box on their cashier’s counter. “We don’t want clients to feel obligated or pressured to leave tips when they make payments,” she explains, “We want whatever they give us to come from their hearts.” She reveals that almost 90 per cent of their clients end up tipping stylists anyway, with the amount sometimes coming up to 45 to 50 per cent of whatever service has been provided. “Even if it’s not a traditional tip, they often come in with cakes and snacks and little things like that,” she admits, smiling. In the 13 years since Samantha’s Salon launched, Wadhwani shares that her clients and staff have built long-term relationships that do not necessarily depend on a one-time tip. “During Christmas, one of our clients puts little handmade gifts under our tree for each one of my staff members. It’s the most thoughtful thing anyone has done.”
Meenakshi Rathore, one of the veteran aestheticians at Lakmé Absolute Salon in Bandra, Mumbai, shares that she also frequently receives gifts from her clients. “I’ve been working here for 12 years, so every client knows me, and seventy out of a hundred clients give me tips,” she smiles. Since COVID, these tips are mostly transferred to her personal GPay so as to not cause confusion in the salon’s official accounts. “They bring me all sorts of gifts too: earrings, dresses... If they go abroad, they bring me something. Someone gave me a Versace perfume,” she says. The 40-year-old does, however, stress that clients shouldn’t feel obligated to tip at all. “I’ve seen clients feel bad about not being able to tip, but my services always come from the heart either way, and what I am being paid for my work is good enough.”
Can I leave the amount at the cashier’s counter or in a tip box?
An important part of these long-term relationships is tipping a stylist or therapist directly—as a thank you—as opposed to leaving the tip at the cashier’s counter. Srivalli Kotha, CEO of Bariks Luxe Salon in Kochi, also recalls clients bringing cakes and transferring tips online on occasions like Diwali, even if they are unable to actually visit the salon. “Even though it’s not mandatory to tip stylists, it is just a small way of showing them appreciation,” she points out, “Some people may question why they need to give tips if they’re paying so much for a service. But even if you’re only able to pay ₹50 or ₹100, it’s just a gesture to affirm that [the beautician] did a good job.” It is why she believes that handing a tip over directly is a way to build and cement a lasting connection with stylists. It just feels more personal.
Should I give a larger tip to the salon owner if they cut my hair?
Wadhwani, Kotha, and Archana Bhobhe—who manages Snip Luxury Salons in Goa—all agree that it is not as important to tip salon owners, and definitely not necessary to tip them more than what you would give a staff member. In fact, Wadhwani and Kotha concede that salon owners hardly get tipped in comparison to the other stylists and therapists. They are, after all, the boss of the business. “It’s not something I begrudge in any way,” Wadhwani clarifies.
Which services receive larger tips?
Certain services provided by salons earn larger tips than others. Kotha tells me that her clients—most of whom are NRIs—always tip generously. Recently, a staff member received a ₹1,000 tip for a ₹1,800 pedicure; another received ₹1,500 for a ₹600 service. “Once, a customer was so happy with their service that they handsomely tipped the entire staff, including the front office admin staff who weren’t even part of the service process,” she shares, baffled. An interesting insight she shares is that clients are more likely to leave tips after a relaxing and time-consuming treatment or spa ritual. “Over 90 per cent of clients end up giving gratuities after procedures like pedicures, facials and massages.” On the other hand, people generally leave smaller tips after haircuts, “unless someone comes in with a very specific hairstyle in mind and the stylist executes it perfectly”.
Bhobhe admits that if she goes to other salons or spas, she ends up tipping 10 to 15 per cent of the final amount, depending on the service availed. “If the service is time-consuming and complex, it warranties a bumped-up gratuity.”
What about freelance beauticians?
While staff members at salons are tipped regularly, those working with apps such as Urban Company are not as accustomed to this generosity. Sonia (last name withheld for privacy), a beautician providing a range of services from mani-pedis to waxing and facials in New Delhi, shares that few clients give her tips. “Most people don’t, and if they do, it’s nothing more than ₹50 or ₹100,” she confesses, “It’s not something I fret over. I’m happy just earning what I work for.” Perhaps it is the marketed affordability of services offered by Urban Company that prompts clients to withhold tips. Sonia notes that when she does receive them, it is when her clients are in a good mood, often after receiving spa treatments or facials.
What percentage of the bill does my tip need to be?
Since there are no service charges levied in the beauty industry, Bhobhe believes that staff members should receive tips. “Anywhere between 15 to 25 per cent of the service availed is a fair amount,” she concedes. Kotha agrees. So, the next time you go to get a facial or haircut know that while you don’t have to, it’ll could nice to GPay your technician a little token of appreciation. And maybe get them a cake, if you’re in an especially good mood.
