Tipping on Hair and Makeup

It is a lot of money, but you admit that you wanted to the best. If you don't have the money to tip at an expensive restaurant, should you eat there? No.

If you like the way your hair and makeup turn out on the day, you should tip.

AMEN! You're totally right but unfortunately tipping is still necessary. However it would be nice if the wedding party tipped on their own. If they are the type of women that offer to pay (even if they KNOW you are) ask that they just leave a tip.

@Barbara - I hear what you're saying but when I go to a restaurant I'm paying the owner for the meal and the wait staff gets a small salary and most of their take home is from tips. That's not the case here. For two hours of work each one of them will be making about $300 before tip.

My hair & makeup just for the wedding day was $300. I gave her $30 because I thought she did a great job and I wrote her an awesome review. Also, she owns her own company, so it's not like a salon was taking a cut or else I would have tipped more.

@Melinda - The probably would offer but would tip $20 or so not realizing that's not 20%. I'm trying to decide what's more offensive (because I don't want to be) I just feel like this is such a rip off

Are you getting it done at a salon? Or is this person doing it themselves (aka the $1,000 that you're paying for this, is it going directly to them, or do they have to pay somebody else?).

To use the restaurant example..if this hairstylist/makeup artist is pocketing the full amount then I think a lesser tip/nice review is acceptable, but if they're only pocketing maybe half of it and are giving he other half to the salon they work out of then they deserve a bigger tip if you're satisfied with the service.

The girl doing our hair is my hair stylist but she is doing it on the side (not with the salon) she is charging $50 a girl, but she is getting that full $50 (minus any of her supplies) directly in her pocket. Same with the makeup artist I'm using.

(hope that makes sense..)

@Rachel - Thanks and I agree with you. The two girls work for a company that will be getting a portion of the money. I guess I just resent the idea that a tip is required. A tip is supposed to be for exemplary service or work. The fact that I'm walking into this already being expected to tip rather than choosing to do so if I'm extremely happy bothers me.

I totally get where you're coming from with that! I hate that sometimes peolpe don't give their full effort because it's almost like they know you're going to tip anyways.

I spent many years working a server so I appreciate generous tips BUT I also know how much I hate going places where they assume they don't have to work as hard because I'm going to tip anyway

Hi Stephanie,

Tipping for hair and makeup on-location is typically 20 percent. People tend to think that we pocket all the money that we make but just like any other business that is simply not true. After business costs I typically take home around 40 percent of what I am making sometimes less.

If you can't afford to tip than we always appreciate a good review on wedding wire and sites like Yelp. In fact I actually appreciate that more than a tip. lol

NOTE: we do not include gratuity in our pricing but some companies do. If tip is including in the pricing then of course it is not needed.

Here is an article from the knot on tipping

http://wedding.theknot.com/wedding-planning/wedding-budget/articles/wedding-vendor-tipping-cheat-sheet.aspx

@Rachel - When i get great service I've tipped up to 50%. I have no problem tipping. I've also left no tip when the service was horrible. But I'm not one of those people who under tip writes something nasty. However, I do have a problem with entitlement and assumptions, like you said. If their job is to come to my hotel (I pay for parking, as described in the contract and I'm fine with that) and they do a nice job with my hair and makeup...well...isn't that why I'm paying them to begin with? I'm paying more than the "going rate" because I want their talent. I'm really supposed to tip on top of that?

@Bloom - I understand you're a vendor but even The Knot starts off with "This is one area where a gratuity is definitely expected."

Turn the tables...if you were a MUA and you worked on 4 women how would you feel at the end not getting a tip?

If it's their business it might not make too much of a difference but if they are working for someone else than I think not tipping sucks.

If I'm turning the tables I'd be thrilled to be making $100-$150/hour after the company takes their cut

I think its courteous and good practice to tip. My tip depends on how much I like the job. If she does a fabulouys job then expect a nice tip. if its noit as great, or she was late or something else then it may be nothing. Just depedns. I am guessing since you have had a makeup trial and hair trial then you already know how great of a job she does. You do have to tip. 150 is a bit excessive and I wouldn't tip that much. I would tip what I had. As much as I could afford.

Yes, you should tip appropriately. If the price and tip for that particular MUA weren't in your budget, you should've gone with a less expensive MUA. That's one of those services where you're always expected to tip unless you get horrible service.

I think the suggestion to ask the others to tip for their own service is good. If I were the MOH and you were paying for the service itself, I'd be more than happy to at least cover the tip.

Assuming that's what they truly get after the company takes their cut.

I think if they do a good job they should be tipped...that's me. You can and will do what you can.

Sounds like you have made up your mind anyway.

Hair and Make-up for myself including the trials is $150. She does this as a little side job thing so she doesn't have a company taking her cut. I think $150 is more than plenty...