Every time I go to the barber, I get confused about how much to tip my barber after they are done. My friend recently told me how much he tips his barber, and I could not help but compare the amount we both tip. Moreover, I wondered if tipping them depends on something? Or do you tip them with whatever your heart desires? Is it necessary to tip them? With all these questions running through my head, I decided to do some research on my own.
The answer is, yes, we should tip them as tips make up most of what they earn. But the tipping amount depends on how good the service was. The whole point of tipping is to appreciate their work, so of course, it depends on your satisfaction level. However, if you’re still confused, there is some advice for you in this article.
Barbershop Waiting Etiquette
Firstly, we should start with simple barbershop etiquette to make their job easier and our experience more pleasant. Some common and simple rules are:
- Being on time and having patience: Always be on time as your barber may have other customers, and if you are late, it will affect all his other appointments. Arriving at least 5 minutes early is the best. If your barber is running late even though you arrived on time, don’t lose patience! Maybe his earlier client wasn’t on time?
- Having clean hair: Arriving with a washed and clean head can improve your hairstyle. Having dirty hair can change the texture of your hair and impair the barber’s ability to cut it properly.
- Basic conversation etiquette: First of all, you should know the hairstyle that you want to make their job easier. Secondly, when having a conversation with your barber, make sure not to move your head around. Lastly, being on your phone the whole time seems pretty rude, so ditch your phone and live in the moment for a while.
- Trust your barber: Now, it is good to know what you want but also make sure not to tell your barber how to do his own job! Furthermore, listen to your barber as he has better advice than the internet because he knows your hair.
- Tipping: Tip as much as you like to the barber. It is recommended to tip anywhere from 15% to 20% of the total bill. Not only that but tipping generously might also grant you some special treatment the next time you come back.
Barber Tipping Etiquette; How Much to Tip Your Barber?
Now that we have some barbershop waiting etiquette let’s look at some useful tipping etiquette.
Tipping is a substantial part of the barber’s income; you should keep that in mind. Tipping the barber uses the same etiquette that you use in a restaurant and tips between 15% to 20%. Generally, anything from $10 and above is a good tip. If you get some extra services, you should tip for them separately as well. In addition to that, tipping the owner isn’t necessary, but it is appreciated.
During the holiday season, the barber is most likely working overtime and is exhausted, so it is better to tip them double the normal amount. There are no rules for this, but as clients and barbers form relationships overtime, tipping more during the holidays is a good way to say “thank you.”
You should tip more if the barber has a good attitude and listening ability. Besides that, if you’re running late, you should also tip them more as a way to apologize. However, you should tip less if you’re not happy with the outcome but make sure to have realistic expectations. If the barber cuts more hair than you wanted or has a bad attitude overall, then, of course, you should be disappointed and tip less.
Is It Rude to Wait For a Barber?
What if you go to the barbershop and your favorite barber isn’t there? What should you do? These might be some of the questions running through your head right now.
If you have a favorite barber in the shop and he is busy or not present at the moment, then you can choose to wait for him, but it might make the other barbers who are present feel a little bad. They might feel like they are not as good at their job. Moreover, you are making an appointment with the salon, not a particular barber.
However, you should be able to have a preference, especially if the barber you like is not too busy. It is always best to call ahead of time to see if he will be available so as to not hurt any feelings. After all, it is your hair and your experience, so it should also be your choice! Just make sure to be polite about it.
Is It Okay to Go to the Barbershop?
After some basic questions about how much to tip your barber, you might be wondering if it is okay to go to the barbershop now amidst the COVID-19 fiasco. As the lockdown restrictions are lifted, barbershops all over are starting to open again, but are they safe?
Going to the barbershop during COVID-19 is risky, but so is going everywhere else as it causes you to have contact with people who might be carrying the virus. Nevertheless, some places do take extra care and minimize the risk of contracting the infection as much as possible. It is still best not to go to a barbershop and cut your hair at home; make sure to use a giant cape or cobbler apron to help you! If it is necessary, then make sure to wear a mask and carry hand sanitizers.
Why do Barbers Get Tips?
You might have thought this question at least once, why do we even need to tip the barbers? Don’t they get paid in the salon that they work in?
First of all, just like any service-related profession, there is an expectation of some type of compensation beyond the basic bill that you pay. Secondly, most barbers do not own the shop or the chair you’re sitting on, so the bill that you pay is mostly for the salon, not the barber working for you. Therefore, the tip that you give is appreciated as it is only for the barber. Lastly, the tip that you pay to your barber is for their attention to detail, professionalism, and, most importantly, their time. It encourages them to work harder and give you better service in the long term.
Are you Supposed to Tip your Barber?
Some people might not have the money for tipping, or simply they don’t want to. So is it absolutely necessary to tip your barber? Even if you don’t want to?
While it is great to tip your barber, it is not a rule that you are supposed to follow all the time. But, Sometimes giving even a small tip is enough as it shows gratitude to your barber. Not only that, if you hand it directly to the barber, it is much more personal and appreciative.
If you don’t have the money to tip appropriately, but you still want to show appreciation for the hard work, then there are other ways you can help them. You could give them tickets to a certain show, movie, or sporting event, more than once if possible, so that they can take someone with them. Or you could provide them your own services for free or with a discount such as a car repair services, window cleaning, and other cleaning services. Not only that, but you could also give them a gift of something small, but this is something much more intimate than other options.
Hopefully, this article helps you out on your next trip to the barber and makes it a much more fulfilling experience. Lastly, if you want a stylish nylon jacket and other similar products, do check our mane cape store out!