Asako’s Take:
In my experience, a standard tip for lash extensions is 15-20% of the service cost. For example, a $150 full set would mean tipping $22.50–$30. Leaving a tip is a choice. It allows the client to show a level of appreciation for the service received.
I was curious about how much clients actually tip, I decided to take a closer look at the numbers from my own studio.
So, I decided to do something never been done before…
I pulled all the transactions from the year at Divine Lashes and analyzed them.
In this article, I’ll dive into tipping etiquette in the lash extension industry and reveal the results of my case study.
How Much Clients Tip at Divine Lashes
| Tip for Eyelash Extensions | Classic Lashes | Volume Lashes |
| Average Tip | 19% | 21% |
| Minimum Tip | 0% | 0% |
| Maximum Tip | 36% | 47% |
Let’s review the main takeaways for each of the categories.
- Classic Lash extensions: The average tip for classic lashes is 19% while a minimum is 0% and a maximum is 36%.
- Volume lash extensions: The average tip for volume lashes is 21% while a minimum is 0% and a maximum is 47%.
If you do search online what is the standard tip for eyelash extension services, you might find various opinions with different ranges.
While they are interesting, I wanted to have a better understanding of how much clients tip their eyelash stylists on average.
Lucky for me, I happen to own an eyelash extension salon with a strong team of lash stylists!
The idea was born.
I decided to collect all the transactions from the current year and compiled the results in Excel. This looks like a lot of work at a first glance, but it isn’t. I simply extracted the transactions from my terminal, and voilà! Microsoft Excel did its magic.
Did these numbers surprise you?
After all these years in the lash industry, I expected something in the 15-20% range. Finding that clients tip 19% on average for classic lashes only confirms my intuition.
Removing Zeros
Now, I have something to tell you…
You probably noticed that the minimum in the above table is 0% for both classic and volume lashes.
It’s not a mistake.
Sometimes, a client might decide not to leave any tips. It’s uncommon, but it does happen. And it’s totally fine.
It doesn’t necessarily mean they were unhappy with the service received, either.
As you probably know, the average is a calculation heavily skewed by outlier numbers.
It’s hard to have a bigger outlier than 0%!
But by curiosity, if I were to remove the 0%, the average is about 3% higher in both cases.
The decision to leave a tip to your lash stylist is a personal one. You shouldn’t feel pressured to leave a tip. Tipping your lash stylist should reflect your appreciation for the service and care you received.
Classic vs Volume
Another interesting finding from my table is the fact that clients typically tip a little more for volume lashes when compared to classic lashes.
I’m not sure if this is due to the fact that volume lashes are recognized and perceived as a more difficult technique that requires more skills and therefore, should be tipped a little more.
Or maybe, that’s just a coincidence in my data.
Maximum Tips
Lastly, I want to discuss the maximum tips from my table. It looks impressive at first, but keep in mind that these are percentages and not absolute numbers.
For instance, the 36% maximum tip for classic was a 20$ tip on a 55$ refill. Ok yes, that’s a huge tip when compared to the value of the appointment. But it’s definitely not the biggest tip when you look at the dollar figures.
Should You Tip for Eyelash Extensions?
While tipping for eyelash extensions isn’t obligatory, it’s a thoughtful way to acknowledge the effort and expertise of your lash artist.
Depending on the situation, people will often leave a tip, sometimes not. But what tipping etiquette looks like varies widely from person to person, and even from state to state.
There are plenty of reasons why you may choose to tip your lash stylist or not.
Why You Should Tip Your Lash Stylist
When you book an appointment at an eyelash salon, you’re trusting that professional with more than just your lashes. You’re entrusting them with your time, too.
Here are 4 reasons why leaving a tip for a lash stylist is a good idea.
- Leaving a tip is a way of showing appreciation for the service you received.
- Leaving a tip shows that you appreciate how much time and effort was put into your lashes. Applying eyelash extensions is very meticulous work that requires years of training to perfect.
- Leaving a tip helps with the livelihood of the stylist.
- Leaving a tip helps build a rapport with your lash stylist.
The amount you tip should be relative to the value of the service you received. If you’re generally happy with the service, you can tip a little more.
Why You Shouldn’t Tip Your Lash Stylist
The idea of not leaving a tip can make some people feel awkward or even guilty – but there are a few reasons why you may choose not to leave one.
Here are 3 reasons you could decide to reduce your tip or not leave any.
- You’re broke. You should only leave a tip if you can afford it. Some people just can’t because they are going through a rough patch in their life. Some might say eyelash extensions are a luxury service and I generally agree. But for some women, lash extensions are a necessity!
- The service was bad. There’s nothing worse than getting terrible service. If you are unsatisfied with your lashes, if the stylist is rude or doesn’t listen to your needs, if the whole experience is not enjoyable, you can certainly let the stylist know by no tipping.
- It’s hard to know who receives the tip. A tip should always be directed to the lash stylist who performed the service and no one else. Also, it should be 100% allocated to the stylist. The salon shouldn’t take a cut under any circumstances.
Do You Tip for Eyelash Extensions at Home?
When you’re looking to get your lash extensions done, you can decide to go to a lash studio or a lash artist working from home.
It begs the question.
What is an appropriate gratuity for eyelash extensions when going to a home-based stylist?
While it is true that lash artists working from home will not have the typical salon overhead costs, they still have to pay for their products and tools.
Today, I’m a lash stylist who works in a salon (my own!) but I have worked from home for several years before that.
From my own experience, I can say that my clients were just as generous when I used to work from home. I was receiving roughly the same tip percentage as I am receiving today.
Most clients left between 15% to 25% when I worked from home. Of course, I can not speak about other lash stylists and these are only my experiences.
Bottom Line
Seeing the numbers confirmed what I’ve always known—most clients tip around 15–20%, which is such a thoughtful way to show appreciation. But honestly, what matters most isn’t the amount. It’s the gratitude behind it, whether it’s a tip, a kind word, or just seeing you leave with a smile, loving your lashes.
At the end of the day, the best part of this job is knowing I’ve helped you feel confident and beautiful. That’s the real reward!
Finally, I just wanted to leave you with a picture of a beautiful set of lashes I have done recently. Just because 😉
— Asako 🙂
Hi! I would like to know what type of tip you would expect from a client that provides their own products. I have a lash allergy and provide my own lashes & glue. I pay full service fee, just as a client who doesn’t provide the products. So while I do understand there are still other overhead costs, I’m curious what you might expect as a salon owner.
Thanks!
Hi Lacey,
That’s an interesting one as I’ve never had a client who brings their own products. In my salons, lash artists don’t have to pay for their products, we do. Therefore, I don’t think that should be a factor when considering the tip you would leave for the artist who performed the service.