How Much Should You Tip Your Lash Tech?

We have all been there. That excruciatingly awkward moment at the end of an appointment when your client clearly does not know how much they should be tipping you. While we are waiting politely nearby or beginning our clean-up, chances are numbers begin to float around the client’s head. They are probably asking themselves, how much should I tip them?! 

Although this is sometimes unavoidable, we can do our best work when doing lash extensions and lash lifts in order to make sure we receive the best tip possible.  

Tipping in the Beauty Industry

From getting manicures and pedicures at your local nail salon to getting lash lifts done by a fellow professional, one thing is for certain: you should always tip. Since we are professionals ourselves, we know just how much work goes into each and every one of our clients. 

However, it is no secret how confusing it can be for clients to calculate gratuity when it comes to beauty appointments, especially when you are seeing your clients for regular lash refills. 

When it comes to going out for a nice meal, there is usually a clear calculation at the bottom of the receipt on how much you should tip. Or, there is a simple math equation you could do in order to figure it out. 

Unfortunately, there is no straightforward guide when it comes to the beauty industry. Since this is supposed to be a moment of relaxation and not stress out the client, we have put together a mini-guide to tipping in the beauty industry. 

Tipping Varies by Service

Most of the time, tipping varies depending on what kind of service you are receiving. As professionals, we know that it takes time and effort; plus, we put a lot of our heart into each and every client. 

That being said, it only makes sense that the longer the treatment, the more the client should be tipping. For example, if a client is getting a simple manicure and pedicure at a local nail salon, they should typically tip at least $10, if not more. 

When it comes to other treatments like a tricky hair-dye job or a 90-minute full-body massage, the client should be tipping more than they would at the nail salon. Hair treatments, especially dying hair, can take anywhere from two to four hours to complete. Because of the amount of time it takes, clients should always remember to take that into consideration and leave a generous tip. 

The same could be said for an eyelash extension appointment. We know that putting a fresh set on a new (or regular) client can take between an hour or two depending on the circumstances. 

Even having a client coming in for a simple lash refill can take at least an hour. Remember to inform clients that time plays a huge part in how much they should be tipping, regardless of the treatment. 

As professionals, we know that different beauty treatments require different amounts of time, supplies, and effort. You can kindly remind your clients that, as always, it is up to them to decide how much they would like to tip but to consider how time-consuming the treatment was and how happy they are with the final finished look. 

How To Provide Top-Notch Service

We are professionals in the beauty industry; we know just how much you love what you do. Being an eyelash technician and taking care of our clients’ needs is something that we genuinely enjoy doing. 

Although we are passionate about what we do, we are also doing it to make a decent living for ourselves. 

Set prices for a service do not usually include tipping and some clients could feel like it is expensive enough already. On our side, we know that it costs that much because of the price of materials and the amount of time it will take to complete the treatment. However, like we previously mentioned, clients may not always know or realize the behind-the-scenes work that goes into their 90-minute appointment. 

Is it frustrating? Absolutely. Is it avoidable? Yes and no. We can do multiple different things that will ensure that our client is happy and satisfied from the minute they walk into our business, to the minute they get into their car and head home. 

We want them to not only adore the finished product but also gain their loyalty and make sure they come back and see us. 

Word of mouth plays a huge part in the growth of small businesses. With that being said, we do not want a client of ours going around saying how rude we are or that we deserved the minuscule tip they left us. 

For that reason, we have put together a few simple suggestions for fellow professionals, that will leave your clients with a big smile and leave you (hopefully) with a proper tip! 

Have Open Communication

The first and, in our opinion, the most important suggestion, is making sure you properly communicate with your clients. It seems very basic and obvious, but how you communicate with your clients and/or potential clients can really make or break your business. 

Having clients talk to your voicemail box more than they talk to you is probably not the best idea. Clients prefer to speak with you about any and all concerns or questions they may have. 

If you are constantly sending clients to your voicemail, or you leave an email unresponsive for a while, this can put them off. We know how hard you worked for your business, so make sure they know it too! Even if you are too busy at the current moment, a quick text or email saying so is always better than the alternative. 

Make Them Feel Special

Have you ever walked into a nail salon and almost immediately have wine or some water offered to you? Didn’t that extra step make you feel taken care of and special? Well, you should be doing that to your clients too! 

Having a case of water bottles on deck or even some miniature wine bottles can make such a difference. If you offer something to drink to your client as soon as they are settled in, this will immediately make them even more relaxed. Not only that, but chances are they will remember it for years to come. 

Other quick tips you can do to make your client feel special is:

• Put on some relaxing music 
• Have some granola bars or trail mix pouches out in case they would like something small to eat
• Use an oil diffuser to help relax the mood 
• Offer small pillows or blankets in order to make sure they are comfortable 
• Engage in genuine conversation (if they seem to be in a talkative mood) 

Handle Issues With Grace

If you have ever been in the food, retail, or service industry you have probably heard the words ‘the customer is always right.’ Although this can sometimes feel completely inaccurate, it is a really good rule of thumb when it comes to dealing with issues that the client brings to your attention. 

Sometimes they may be right and sometimes they may be wrong, but you can always make sure that you respond in a respectful manner to ensure the situation does not escalate. 

If a client is unhappy with their finished lash extensions and they complain about them in a rude manner, it is very important that you do not react in the same kind of way. It is really easy to get defensive over those kinds of things, but in the end that will only make matters worse. Instead of being defensive over the matter, you can offer your genuine apologies and fix the issue as soon as possible. 

Most of the time, clients are just looking to be heard. If you listen to them, apologize, and solve the issue, then you and your client can walk away with a good attitude. These kinds of things are unavoidable, but getting ahead of the problem and having a game plan is what is best for you and your business! 

Summary

We all know just how frustrating the beauty industry can be, but at the end of the day, it is our job and our passion. We can’t always help what the client will tip us, but we can help in what we do to get there. Making a few slight changes to your business can be the difference between a 15% tip or a 25% tip. 

Sources:

Tipping Etiquette: How and How Much to Tip in Every Situation | Real Simple

How To Handle Criticism From A Client | Novus Collective

Attention to Detail Skills: How to Become Detail-Oriented | Career Karma