A Hair Salon Owner’s Honest Advice
If you’ve ever stood at the hair salon till wondering whether you should leave a tip—and if so, who should receive it—you’re certainly not alone.
As a salon owner, this is a question I’ve been asked many times over the years. The truth is, there isn’t one right answer.
Unlike countries such as the United States, where tipping is expected, tipping in South Africa has always been completely optional. However, I’ve noticed a definite shift over the years. International visitors have always been generous tippers because it’s part of their culture, and increasingly South Africans are following suit.
The most important thing to remember is this:
Tips are never expected, but they are always appreciated.
So… Who Should You Tip?
If you’re only leaving one small tip, my advice is simple:
Give it to the assistant.
If you’re leaving a more generous tip, consider sharing it between the assistant and your stylist.
Why?
Because while your stylist creates the beautiful haircut or colour you walk away with, your assistant is often the unsung hero behind your entire salon experience.
The People You Don’t Always Notice
Many clients don’t realise just how much assistants do behind the scenes.
They’re constantly keeping the salon clean and organised, washing and folding towels, unpacking deliveries, shopping for salon supplies, preparing colour stations, tidying up after stylists and, of course, welcoming clients, shampooing hair and giving those relaxing head massages everyone loves.
They’re the backbone of any busy hair salon.
Without them, everything slows down.
So if you’ve enjoyed being looked after from the moment you walked through the door until the moment you leave, they’re a wonderful person to recognise.
How Much Should You Tip?
There are no hard and fast rules.
From my experience, if you’d like some guidance:
- Around 5% of your bill is a thoughtful tip for the assistant.
- Around 10% of your bill is a generous tip for your stylist.
But please don’t feel pressured.
The amount isn’t nearly as important as the thought behind it.
A Client I’ll Never Forget
One experience has stayed with me throughout my career.
A lovely client once handed me a tip that was actually more than the cost of her service.
I genuinely thought she’d made a mistake.
I smiled and asked, “Are you sure?”
She simply smiled back and said,
“You deserve it.”
I’ll never forget those words.
I also shared the tip with my assistant because I knew the appointment had been a team effort.
That experience reminded me that generosity isn’t just about money—it’s about making someone feel appreciated.
The Best Clients Aren’t Always the Biggest Tippers
Here’s something that might surprise you.
Some of our favourite clients never leave a tip.
And that’s absolutely okay.
If they leave happy, love their hair and treat everyone in the salon with kindness and respect, that’s incredibly rewarding.
Seeing a client walk out smiling is one of the biggest compliments we can receive.
A Few Things Hairdressers Secretly Wish Clients Knew
While we’re sharing honest advice, here are a few things that really make a difference to your hair salon team.
Please arrive on time.
When one appointment runs late, every appointment after it is affected. Being punctual helps us give every client the time and attention they deserve.
Trust our professional advice.
It can be a little disheartening when someone asks for product recommendations, photographs the products we’ve recommended, and then immediately buys them online elsewhere. Our recommendations come from years of experience and are part of the service we provide.
Bring inspiration photos—but keep an open mind.
We genuinely love seeing pictures of hairstyles and colours you like. They help us understand your vision. Just remember that many of the images online have been heavily edited, filtered or photographed under perfect lighting, so they aren’t always realistic or achievable on every head of hair.
Kindness Costs Nothing
If there’s one thing I hope every client remembers, it’s this:
A smile.
Asking your stylist or assistant how their day is going.
Remembering their name.
Showing appreciation.
These simple gestures often mean just as much as a tip.
My Final Thoughts
If you’re wondering whether you should tip at a hair salon in South Africa, ask yourself one question:
How did we make you feel?
Were you looked after?
Did you leave feeling more confident?
Did someone go the extra mile to make your visit enjoyable?
If the answer is yes, then remember that even a small tip can make someone’s day.
And if tipping isn’t possible, don’t worry.
Leave with a smile, recommend the salon to a friend, write a lovely review, and come back again.
For those of us who work in salons, happy clients are still the greatest reward of all.
Find out why your hair looks so dull in winter and how expert hair highlighting can bring it back to life – read our recent article here…
Article by Constanze Nunes