Remember the golden rule: "You should tip 20% on the entire service cost, not per individual," says Schweitzer. So if your haircut and blow-dry cost $40 total, and your color was $60, your total service cost comes to $100. That means you should tip $20 divided between the colorist and stylist.

In the United States in 2026, a $5 tip is generally considered insufficient for anything other than a very basic, low-cost service like a quick bang trim or a child's buzz cut. The modern industry standard for a hair stylist is 15% to 20% of the total service cost. For example, if you are getting a $50 haircut, a $5 tip represents only 10%, which may be seen as a slight or an indication that you were unhappy with the service. If you are receiving a more complex service like color, highlights, or a blowout, which can easily cost $150 to $300, a $5 tip would be significantly below etiquette standards. However, if an assistant helped with your shampoo or toned your hair, a separate $5 to $10 tip specifically for them is a very kind and appropriate gesture. Ultimately, if $5 is all your budget allows, most stylists will still appreciate the gesture of gratitude, but for a standard appointment, the percentage-based rule is the best guideline to follow.