2025 Survey: The state of tipping in salons

Tipping used to be a simple gesture of appreciation. Now, it can be a source of stress, confusion, and tension for both guests and stylists. With digital prompts at checkout and service fees on the rise, people are rethinking what counts as a tip, when to give one, and how much is enough.

To understand 2025 tipping trends, we surveyed 900 guests and 100 stylists across the U.S. If you're a salon provider wondering what your guests are thinking, here's a closer look at the state of tipping in salons today.

Tipping is more than a nice-to-have, with many stylists seeing it as essential. Here's a look at how much stylists depend on tips and how disconnects around tipping expectations can create tension with clients.

Three in five stylists (67%) said most clients don't realize how much they rely on tips to supplement their income. While tips may seem like a bonus to guests, for many providers, they represent a meaningful portion of take-home pay. In fact, one in five stylists said tips account for 20% of their annual income.

That financial reliance is becoming harder to navigate. More than half of stylists (56%) said tipping culture has worsened over the past five years. Many are ready for change, with 55% saying they would prefer higher service prices instead of depending on tips.

This disconnect between guests and stylists can create tension, especially when service fees come into play. Over one-quarter of stylists (29%) said they've lost a client after enforcing a mandatory service fee. And to make matters worse, 42% said they rarely or never receive any portion of those fees. The result? Stylists are often left to explain or defend policies they don't benefit from, while also trying to maintain client relationships.

As for how stylists prefer to be tipped, cash is still king. Nearly three-quarters (72%) said it's their top choice. Beyond that, 36% said they're happy to go with whatever's easiest. Digital options followed: Venmo (21%), card (19%), Apple or Google Pay (14%), Zelle (13%), tablet tip screens (13%), and CashApp (11%).

Americans may agree that tipping is part of the salon or spa experience, but there's a wide range in how they actually approach it. We'll next explore how guests feel about tipping, how much they usually offer, and how those tipping habits differ by age and gender.

Even if they don't use the services themselves, most Americans said they believe haircuts (80%), massages (71%), and manicures or pedicures (71%) deserve a tip.

Nail art, hair coloring, extensions, waxing, and blowouts also ranked high. But support dropped off for facial treatments (53%) and significantly for medspa services like Botox and fillers (28%).

Interestingly, older Americans often tip more for a trim at the salon. Nearly half of baby boomers (47%) said they typically tip 20% or more for a haircut, compared to just 1 in 3 Gen Zers (33%). Women were slightly more likely than men to tip at this level (41% compared to 38%).

While some guests are generous tippers, others skip tipping altogether, especially for certain services.

Tipping etiquette can be just as emotional as it is confusing. Americans shared their payment method preferences and how tipping prompts on tablets make them feel.

Cash topped the list for guests, with 62% saying it's their go-to tipping method. Credit cards came next at 53%, but only 19% of stylists said they prefer receiving tips that way. Venmo revealed a similar disconnect (21% for stylists vs. 9% for guests). Guests may mean well, but it appears they're often unaware of how their stylists prefer to be tipped.

With this in mind, ensure your salon offers diverse, easy tipping options — cash, cards, and digital platforms — to cater to all generations. Clear communication helps align guest convenience with stylist preferences, creating a smoother, more inclusive experience for everyone.

Top tip: By automating same-day tip payouts with software like Zenoti, salons can better satisfy stylists who prefer immediate access to their tips, while also streamlining operations.

Tipping habits are shifting, with dissatisfaction and changing attitudes reshaping how Americans approach gratuities.

Miscommunication around service charges added to the confusion. Almost one-quarter of Americans (24%) admitted they've mistaken a service fee or "wellness charge" for a tip. Gen Z was the most likely to mix this up (28%), followed by millennials (23%) and Gen X (22%). Another 36% of guests said they reduce their tips when they see a service fee on their bills.

Tablet tipping prompts also stirred strong reactions. Baby boomers were the most likely to call them manipulative (53%), while Gen Z was over 7 times more likely than baby boomers to say they make them feel anxious (22% vs. 3%).

Tipping remains an important income source for many stylists, but the rules around it have become less clear to consumers. As new service fees and checkout prompts enter the mix, confusion (and frustration) can follow. Generational and gender differences add even more complexity, with younger Americans both more likely to feel pressured and more likely to skip tipping altogether. 

What's clear is that salons and spas have an opportunity to rethink how gratuities are handled and how those expectations are communicated.

We surveyed 900 Americans and 100 stylists in 2025 to explore attitudes toward tipping in salons. Among guests, the average age was 38; 50% were female, and 50% were male. Generationally, 3% were baby boomers, 28% were Gen X, 50% were millennials, and 19% were Gen Z. Among stylists, the average age was 37; 48% were female, 50% were male, and 2% were non-binary.

Zenoti provides an all-in-one, cloud-based software solution that empowers salons, spas, medspas, barbershops, and fitness studios to seamlessly manage every aspect of the business in a comprehensive mobile solution.

These insights may be used for noncommercial purposes with proper attribution through a link.