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A visit to the nail salon should leave you feeling glamorous and refreshed. You wouldn’t want to ruin that by digging around in your pocket for money at the last minute — and potentially chipping that fresh polish. Giving some thought beforehand to how much to tip can help you avoid that awkward scenario.
So what’s a good tip? A 10% to 20% gratuity is standard at nail salons, but it’s acceptable to leave more or less depending on factors like your budget and the service you receive.
How much should you tip at the nail salon?
The amount you tip at the nail salon is ultimately up to you. However, the industry standard is 10% to 20%, experts say. For a $45 pedicure, that works out to a $4.50 to $9 tip. You can use a tip calculator to easily find an appropriate tip for your bill.
“You can give 10% for good service, 15% for great service and then 20% or more for exceptional service,” says Elaine Swann, etiquette expert and founder of The Swann School of Protocol in Carlsbad, California.
But what if you receive poor service or results? What if you’re feeling extra generous?
“There are times where one may not be as happy with a service, so one may not feel obligated to tip and that's perfectly understandable,” says Samantha Hanby, owner of Polished Nail Salon in Oklahoma City. “And then some are overly satisfied with the services, and they could tip up to 50% or even 100% of the service.”
Let your budget and your level of satisfaction be your guide.
Why should you tip your nail tech?
Tipping is a way to show the nail technician how much you appreciate their service and how well they’ve taken care of you, Hanby says.
Nail salon services require workers to get up close and personal with customers (think massaging, waxing and exfoliating skin). A great deal of effort and care often goes into the experience, too. Hanby notes that her salon specializes in nail art, which involves intricate designs that not all technicians have the skills to do.
Tipping has also long been a common practice at nail salons.
“We're kind of all experiencing tipping fatigue, but in the service-based beauty industry, it has become quite customary and it's a mainstay,” Swann says.
What’s the best way to leave a tip?
If you have the option to choose between tipping with cash, a credit card or a payment service like Venmo, know that cash is generally preferred by the nail salon. Cash is instant, while electronic payments could take several days or weeks for employees to receive.
The nail salon may also pay a percentage of the total transaction in credit card processing fees when you use a card. That means less of your money goes to supporting the business and its technicians. “It hurts,” says Hanby, whose merchant service fees range from 1.5% to 2.5% or higher.
Have your cash ready in advance to avoid using the nearest ATM at the last second and paying the fees that may go along with it.
You might consider asking who exactly receives the tip, especially if you pay electronically. Does the nail tech who performed your service keep 100% of your tip or will it be pooled, then divided among all the techs? Getting clarification can help you make an informed decision about how you spend your money, Swann says.
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What if you can’t afford to tip or choose not to?
When you plan a trip to the nail salon, try to include the cost of tipping in your budget. But don’t fret if you can’t afford to tip as much as recommended or at all. You’re not obligated to pay for anything more than the base cost of the service.
“You didn’t steal,” Swann says. “People have to give themselves permission to occupy that space of being the authority of their own finances.”
Providing honest feedback can be valuable, whether it’s positive or negative.
“It's a learning opportunity for everyone. Maybe we learn better about that particular client’s preference or maybe we learn how that particular nail tech could improve on her skills,” Hanby says. She suggests speaking with a team member or reaching out through email or social media. You may also choose to leave a review on the business’s Google or Yelp page.
If you had a positive experience, you could make it a point to leave a generous tip the next time you visit the salon. Or you could simply smile and offer your technician a sincere “thank you,” Hanby says. “At the end of the day, they want to know that what they labored for is appreciated.”
Tipping at a nail salon for a manicure and pedicure is a common practice, and the amount can vary based on factors such as the quality of service
service
A service is an act or use for which a consumer, company, or government is willing to pay. Examples include work done by barbers, doctors, lawyers, mechanics, banks, insurance companies, and so on. Public services are those that society (nation state, fiscal union or region) as a whole pays for.
https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Service_(economics)
Generally, 15-20% of the total cost is considered standard for tipping in this industry. If we consider an example where your manicure costs $30, using this handy percentage calculator, that would mean leaving between $4.50 (for 15%) and $6 (for 20%).
The widely accepted minimum tip in the industry is 15 percent, Kandalec says, but the most common tip at a nail salon is 20 percent. This is similar to what's expected when tipping at a hair salon, or for a massage or spa treatment.
20% is the standard, and unless there is an extenuating circ*mstance, you shoulnd't tip less than that. If you're just getting a basic polish, it's still nice (and frankly, expected) to tip. "Tipping around 20% or more is still a good practice to show appreciation for the service," even if it seems basic, Correa says.
Regardless of whether you're getting a basic pedicure or you upgrade to the full-on spa treatment, you should still be tipping your nail technician. Even if you're just getting your polish done, remember that you're only paying for the product and service but the nail artist's time and performance.
How Much Should You Tip? Much like at restaurants and hair salons, the industry standard for tipping at the nail salon ranges around 15 to 20 percent, and it is generally recommended that if you've received extra services or specialty designs, a minimum of 20 percent is appreciated.
The amount you tip at the nail salon is ultimately up to you. However, the industry standard is 10% to 20%, experts say. For a $45 pedicure, that works out to a $4.50 to $9 tip. You can use a tip calculator to easily find an appropriate tip for your bill.
On average, a basic manicure at a salon can range from $20 to $50, with a national average of around $45. However, when opting for more specialized services like gel polish or French tip nails, the prices can escalate.
You can get a pedicure once every three to four weeks if you're considering the whole package: massage, scrub, cuticle removal, and all the work. But if it is just simple toenail cleaning, shaping, and painting, it's safe to do it every one to two weeks.
Should You Tip the Owner of the Salon? Post says that most small business owners don't expect a tip, and if the owner is present in the salon, but didn't work on your hair, there's no reason to tip. But if they worked on your hair they'd still appreciate it.
While $5 may be a tip, it is on the lower side for a pedicure service. Opting for a slightly higher tip, around 15%, would better reflect appreciation for the detailed work involved in a pedicure.
Tipping at a nail salon for a manicure and pedicure is a common practice, and the amount can vary based on factors such as the quality of service, location, and your own preferences. As a general guideline, it is customary to tip between 15% to 20% of the total cost of your nail service.
If you are paying 20% gratuity on a meal, it is understandable. But, technicians and shops provide more than a service, they provide expertise and tools that should be compensated through the number of hours billed, not a tip from the customer.
On average, a basic manicure at a salon can range from $20 to $50, with a national average of around $45. However, when opting for more specialized services like gel polish or French tip nails, the prices can escalate.
What customers do: The standard tip is anywhere from 15 to 20 percent of the cost of services, before taxes. Some customers tip more than 20 percent if it's a low-cost service where the tip would otherwise be less than $2, or if they're especially thrilled with the service, say our experts.
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