When you're at the nail salon and the beautician has finished their work on your nails, there's always a bit of an awkward moment when you're trying to figure out how much you should tip. Most people wonder if getting their nails done is the same as getting their hair cut or blow-dried. Do you need to tip your manicurist or nail beautician? The answer is yes. The minimum tip widely accepted in the industry is 15 percent, according to Kandalec, but the most common tip at a beauty salon is 20 percent.
This is similar to what is expected when tipping at a hair salon or for a massage or spa treatment. So, you should pay at the nail salon just like you would for any other spa treatment or hairdresser. Not only is it good etiquette, but it also helps you foster a good relationship with your nail beautician. According to Jodi R.
Smith, President and Owner of Mannersmith and Etiquette Consultant, you should tip 15% to 20% at the nail salon. If you're extremely satisfied, you can tip more, or if you're disappointed, you can tip less. Therefore, the amount of the tip may increase or decrease depending on the level of service you received from the nail beautician. Christa Cole, a nail artist who lives in Los Angeles, suggests that you should tip 20% or more, as any amount below that amount could leave the nail artist feeling undervalued.
If your nail technician has done an amazing job, don't hesitate to give them whatever tip you think they deserve. Showing your appreciation for your nail technician will make them always do their best for you. Cyndi Ramírez-Fulton, founder of the Chillhouse salon in New York, agrees and points out that she always gives a 30% tip in salons where the prices are cheaper. It's also important to note that your relationship with the nail artist also determines the tip you give them. For example, if you have a good relationship with them, you could give a 20% tip.
But if you're in the process of developing a relationship, you might want to tip more. At an Austin, Texas salon called Lacquer, nail technicians receive an average of 18% tip for their services. Carla Hatler, the owner, says: “It's actually based on the relationship that (our customers) have (with our nail technicians) and how fantastic they felt their service was. Meanwhile, at a Nashville, Tennessee salon called Poppy & Monroe, customers pay 20% in tips up to 98% of the time. Therefore, the percentage of tips is totally constant in all states across the country.
While customers are expected to pay a higher tip in some upscale metropolitan areas, the national average is 15 to 20%. If there are two nail technicians working on your nails, both of them must be tipped. For example, if one did your pedicure while the other painted your nails, you must give both technicians a tip of 15 to 20%, depending on the service individually. If you had both a manicure and a pedicure done on your nails, then it's best to give the highest tip to the pedicurist. Tati Dantzler, owner of Tati's Nails XoXo and nail technician says: “Don't get me wrong, you don't have to tip if you're not happy with the service”.
However, she says that if this is the case then it's best to discuss your problem with the manager before leaving without tipping. If you have received poor service or something has not gone as expected during your visit to the salon then it's important to report it to whoever is responsible so that they can avoid such situations in future and take appropriate steps to resolve any issues. On average, it's recommended that customers leave a 15% to 20% tip for a pedicure. Think about what your nail esthetician had to do with your feet and any extra effort they put in to make sure that you were comfortable during your visit. Now that you know how much to tip for a pedicure or regular nail service. Make sure that your next visit to the beauty salon is one that your nail technician will remember by showing them your appreciation with an appropriate tip. Tipping is always recommended in the service industry and it's something that should be taken into account when calculating how much money needs to be paid for providing such services.
The amount of money given as a tip is up to each individual customer although they should consider how satisfied they were with their experience at the salon. It's also a great way of building relationships with your nail technicians. Tran Wills, owner of her own salon reveals that she grew up in salons (her mother also being a nail technician has worked in one all her life), so she wanted to make sure that her technicians would take home enough money.
