Do you tip for a facial at a medical spa? (2023)

FAQs

Do you tip for a facial at a medical spa? ›

Tips are never expected, but they are certainly appreciated when you feel that your aesthetician has provided outstanding service during your spa visit. Examples of spa services you may leave a gratuity for include procedures like facials, brows, lashes, microblading, microdermabrasion, or chemical peels.

Tipping Etiquette at day spas that offer facials and massages or hair salons is simple: Tip. Typically 10%-20%. Tipping etiquette at doctor's office or medical clinic is also simple. Don't tip.

How Much to Tip for Facials, Waxing, and Other Spa Services. “It's customary to provide an 18 to 20 percent gratuity for any spa service, no matter if it's sugaring or a Biologique Recherche facial,” Angela Rosen, owner of Penelope & The Beauty Bar in Seattle and Daphne in New York City, tells Allure.

“Rule of thumb: If your injector own the practice, no tipping necessary. If they are an employee it is customary to tip. That being said, no one expects 20% tip of their service. … $20 goes a long way in making your provider feel appreciated, in my experience.”

Likewise, at a medical spa, tipping an esthetician may be acceptable after a cosmetic procedure such as laser hair removal or a chemical peel; while at the very same facility, tipping the cosmetic dermatologist after a medical procedure such a Botox may be discouraged.

The standard hospitality rate for massage tipping is 20 percent. For example, if a massage or body treatment costs $100, a 20 percent tip would be $20.

Essentially, a facial treatment usually includes steaming, exfoliation, and extraction. Other providers will incorporate facial masks, peels, and facial massages. It essentially depends on the package you purchase and your provider.

In general, the 20% rule applies to tipping your massage therapist. So, if you're wondering how much to tip for a $100 massage, you'd want to tip $20. If you're considering how much to tip for a 60-minute massage (that costs $100) – you'd still tip $20. However, generosity is generally very appreciated.

Moisturizers help restore the skin barrier, which is why you apply them towards the end of the professional facial treatment. Moisturizer is followed by sunscreen.

Setting those factors aside, the general recommendation is for a facial every three to four weeks or once a month. That's how long your skin's life cycle is. After three or four weeks, your skin cells grow back. Facials help this process and assure your skin always glows.

Are you supposed to tip for Microneedling? ›

Tipping also doesn't apply to any medical spa service like Botox, laser hair removal, microneedling, or anything performed by a medical professional. The main reason why these services don't require tips is that they usually cost hundreds of dollars, so following the standard 15% to 20% is costly.

$100 service = $20 tip. $150 service = $30 tip. $200 service = $40 tip. $300 service = $60 tip.

Remember the golden rule: "You should tip 20 percent 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.

What to tip for a facial is much like tipping a server at a restaurant. A 20% tip is good, but base it off the esthetician's performance.

If you are getting a very expensive treatment, such as Great Lengths Hair Extensions, it is recommended to tip 10-20%, or for the technicians time spent on the service.

Turns out most salon owners welcome gratuities. "Not tipping the owner is an old tradition that's dying out," Post says. She recommends 15 to 20 percent of the fee, whether or not the stylist owns the place.

Do You Tip a Massage Therapist? Although a tip is never required, if your massage is at a spa or hotel in North America, a 20 percent tip is standard if you were pleased with the service. (The exception is all-inclusive spas that have a no-tip policy.)

Yes, you should tip at least 20% based on the regular cost of the service, even if you're using a coupon or gift certificate, says Sokolosky. So if a massage normally costs $100, tip $20 even if you have a coupon that discounts the massage to $90 or a gift card that covers the full cost.

Other tipping considerations at a nail salon

Try not to tip less than $5. If you're only getting a nail polish color swap for $20, consider rounding up the tip to $5. If you're using a coupon, discount voucher or gift card, base your tip on the normal price for the service.

Facial treatments vary from salon to salon. Typically, during a one hour session, the esthetician examines and evaluates your skin's type and condition. Next, she cleanses, massages and moisturizes your skin before giving it a gentle steaming to open pores. The facialist then unclogs pores and may apply a toner.

What is the difference between spa facial and regular facial? ›

Spa facials only treat the superficial layer of the skin and offer a quick and relaxing treatment. Longevity of results: While facials can remove dead skin cells and leave your skin looking fresher and younger, they only affect the surface layer of the skin.

Answer: $10-$20 or 20%

“If a client is extremely happy, usually they'll leave $10 for small areas and $20 or more for large areas,” says Karavolas. “Tips are always appreciated but voluntary. A client will get the same service whether they tip or not.

15-20% of the bill, including drinks.

What's more, despite their variety, which can include prescription, deep-cleansing, nourishing, brightening and anti-aging, most full facials will usually last between only 60 and 90 minutes with taster or express facials lasting about 30 minutes.

Best time of day to schedule a facial? "The best time to book a facial is late afternoon, early evening if you work full-time, since this will allow the products to absorb into the skin and achieve the great benefits that a facial provides.

Should you talk during a facial? This is entirely your call. “It's your time to spend it however you feel,” says Rouleau. “If you want to talk about your skin or have an aesthetician be an ear for whatever is going on in your personal life, it's up to you.

If Your Main Concern Is Signs of Aging…

To address and prevent signs of aging, I suggest going in for a facial every 4-6 weeks. The esthetician can analyze your skin to discover which ingredients and treatments your skin could benefit from most.

A facial is one of the oldest treatments in the world for good reason – the results of this treatment can last for several weeks and enhance the tone, texture, and overall appearance of your skin. Usually, the results of the facial will last for about four to six weeks for most skin types.

How deep does microneedling go for wrinkles? ›

Fine lines and scaring may be treated with a medium needle depth (approximately 1.0 mm). Deep acne scarring, surgical and deeper scars, wrinkles, pore size and skin texture can be treated with the deepest needle depth (approximately 1.5mm to 2.0mm).

Knowing what to expect on the day of your microneedling treatment will make this procedure as comfortable and anxiety-free as possible for you. Your skin will be cleaned so it's free of lotion, oil, makeup, powder, or sunscreen. If you wish, you can wash your face in the office upon arrival.

According to Consumer Reports, you should tip at least 15% of the service fee, even if the service wasn't the best. Consumer Reports also says to “never skip a tip.” But, it adds, if your service was really bad, speak to the manager.

A general guideline for tipping hairdressers is 15-20% of the total bill. Based on a $500 bill, you would tip anywhere between $75 and $100. Of course, this amount can vary depending on the level of satisfaction with the services provided.

How much should you tip on a $200 hair service? You should start at a 20% tip as a fair baseline. And if the service and the result are exceptional, you should tip 25%.

Not sure how much to tip on a $200 hair service? A 20 percent tip is $40 and a 25 percent tip is $50. Searching for how much to tip a $50 hairdresser service? A 20 percent tip is $10 and a 25 percent tip is $12.50.

Today, salon owners are often classified as master stylists, but their rates are not much different than other stylists in the salon. Because of this, owners should be tipped using the same scale of 15-20% of the final bill.

Should You Tip With Cash or on a Card? “Cash is still king,” says Hegdahl. In general, hairdressers prefer receiving their tips in cash, she adds, mainly because they'll get to keep more of it than they would with tips added to credit card payments.

For years the rule of thumb has been “don't tip the owner of a salon or spa — they get 100% of the service revenue and a cut from all the other employees.” This is a tough point, because opinions vary wildly and have changed. Many spa and salon owners will graciously turn away a tip, but many accept them.

If you do decide to leave a gratuity for this treatment, a tip of 15-20% of the service cost would be considered a good gratuity for excellent service.

What to expect after a facial? ›

Following deep cleansing, extractions, and exfoliation, your skin may be a bit sensitive after a facial. For that reason, it's important to stick to gentle cleansers (and you might want to skip the toners for a few days, too).

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.

Our four celeb stylists all agreed that they don't expect clients to tip if they are not satisfied. "If a client is still unhappy after I've tried fixing their haircut, I wouldn't expect them to tip. I would expect little or no tip until you redeem yourself the next time," says Abrio.

First, the bottom line: How much should I tip my hairstylist during the holidays? The general rule is to double the 15 to 20 percent you usually give, says colorist Sharon Dorram-Krause of Sharon Dorram Color at Sally Hershberger Uptown salon in New York City.

On tipping: "It's not expected, but it is quite common to tip. Most people do 10% rounded up to the nearest pound, but if your budget is stretched, there's no need."

But what about medical spas? They may have the feeling of other personal services businesses that welcome tipping, such as salons. However, most medical spas are regulated as medical practices, and there certainly isn't an expectation to give your doctor or nurse a tip when you go in for a checkup.

According to Saime Demirovic, co-founder of GLO Spa NY, 18-20% is customary when seeing an esthetician for a facial. “The industry standard is pretty much the same as tipping at a restaurant,” she says. “It also depends on how much you enjoyed your treatment.

Do You Tip a Massage Therapist? Although a tip is never required, if your massage is at a spa or hotel in North America, a 20 percent tip is standard if you were pleased with the service.

Plastic surgeons, dermatologists, and other doctors

While laws vary from state to state, a good rule of thumb is to never tip your doctor.

“Tips are always appreciated but voluntary. A client will get the same service whether they tip or not. Because laser hair removal takes multiple sessions, Karavolas advises that tipping is typically done after each visit.

How much do you tip an esthetician for waxing? ›

How much should you tip for a wax? While most people tip between 10 to 20 percent for a wax, staff would really like you to tip anywhere from 15 to 25 percent for a job well done, Grochowska said. For a quick brow wax (that may be priced at $10 or less), a couple of dollars for tip is fair and appropriate.

A good rule of thumb to go by is tipping your aesthetician 18 to 20 percent. "It also depends on how much you enjoyed your treatment," said Saime Demirovic, a cofounder of Glo Spa NY. "The amount someone leaves as a tip can really send a message of how they felt about their facial."

Remember the golden rule: "You should tip 20 percent 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.

$100 service = $20 tip. $150 service = $30 tip. $200 service = $40 tip.

In general, the 20% rule applies to tipping your massage therapist. So, if you're wondering how much to tip for a $100 massage, you'd want to tip $20. If you're considering how much to tip for a 60-minute massage (that costs $100) – you'd still tip $20. However, generosity is generally very appreciated.

For instance, a regular massage may be $50 for 60 minutes, in which case you would tip $10, making your total cost $60. The same spa may offer a 90-minute deep-tissue massage for $200, making your tip $40 and your final cost $240.

How much do you tip for a 90-minute (1.5 hour) massage? A 90-minute massage costs about $120 - $150. So, if you follow the general 20% gratuity rule, you'll tip about $24 - $30.

Tipping also doesn't apply to any medical spa service like Botox, laser hair removal, microneedling, or anything performed by a medical professional. The main reason why these services don't require tips is that they usually cost hundreds of dollars, so following the standard 15% to 20% is costly.

You don't need to tip medical professionals

“You just pay for the service because it's considered medical,” she says. The same's true for alternative health pros with a clear medical focus—acupuncture included, says Lisa Levine, founder of Maha Rose wellness center in New York City.

As a guide, resources like TripAdvisor, The Today Show, and Real Simple advise 15 – 20% as a customary tip amount for spa services. At Wake, services include both the soak and any added massage.