If you’ve never had a lash lift before, you may be wondering how much to tip your lash technician. Tipping etiquette in the beauty industry is generally around 20%, but what about for a lash lift and tint?

To find out, I did the same case study I did for eyelash extensions. I compiled all the transactions of my eyelash salon DivineLashes for a complete year. The results were very interesting!

So, what is the standard tipping amount? How much do you tip for a lash lift and tint?

The average tip is 22.59% for a lash lift and tint service. 95% of clients leave a tip between 17$ and 27$. Tip remains a completely optional act of kindness and is not expected by your lash technician.

In this article, I will share the exact results I got from my case study so we can better understand the tipping etiquette in the lash lift industry with real-life data.

How Much Do Clients Tip for a Lash Lift and Tint Service?

First, I will preface by saying that there was almost no difference between a lash lift and a lash lift and tint appointment. For simplicity, I’ll just say lash lift going forward.

Pro Tip: A lash lift and tint is simply the combo of two appointments into one. It’s one appointment where the client gets both a lash lift and a tint. Most clients opt to get both treatments at the same time since it’s more cost and time-effective this way.

So what did I do?

From my booking software, I pulled all the transactions for the current year and imported them in Excel.

Excel is a wonderful tool to get statistical data!

The results?

• Clients tip 22.59% on average for their lash lifts services.
• The vast majority of clients leave a tip between 17% and 27%.
• The standard deviation was 4.96%

Honestly, these results are very much what I excepted intuitively. After all these years in the industry, it corresponds to what I’ve seen with my own two eyes.

Card Tips vs Cash Tips

A lot of people have asked me if there’s a difference between cash and card tips.

The answer is no. There is no statistically significant difference between the two.

This was actually really reassuring to me because it shows that clients are tipping based on the quality of the service and not on convenience.

Why You Should Leave a Tip (And Why Not)

Tipping culture is definitely on the rise, so it’s easy to feel obligated to leave one. Despite that pressure, I want to be the one to remind you that tipping is an entirely voluntary decision.

You might one day find yourself in the throughs of a poor lash appointment, and you shouldn’t feel indebted to the idea of leaving a tip behind.

However, when appointments go by smoothly, or when your technician does a particularly excellent job, tipping is one of the best ways to show your appreciation for their hard work.

The general rule of thumb when it comes to tipping is to pay in relation to how much you like the finished product (your lashes, in this case), and how much time you spent in the chair.

Leaving more than a 20% tip is also extremely normal during lash appointments. Anything involving an area as sensitive as your eyes means the procedure tends to be a bit more intimate and complex, so it’s common to want to reward your technician with a higher tip to let them know you care. Choosing to tip more than the standard is also entirely voluntary.

When lash technicians put care into their work, the results truly speak for themselves! Here are some reasons why you might want to leave a tip for your lash tech:

• Building A Relationship 
• Showing Appreciation
• For Any Accommodations
• Your Tech Deserves It

I’ll break each of these down so you have a better understanding of what sets a tippable lash experience apart from a “meh” one. 

1- Building A Relationship

Before your appointment, you likely did some research about where to get your lashes lifted, and how reputable their stylists were. This is expected, and I deeply encourage it for those of you interested in getting regular lifts. 

While it’s not necessary, I personally believe that building a healthy professional relationship with your lash technician is worthwhile. You can do this by holding a conversation, recommending them to your friends, and of course, by tipping them fairly!

This is not to say that all lash techs deserve your money, but if the service was high quality, and they put effort into making you feel beautiful, a tip is a great way for them to remember you as a client! This builds trust, and you can ask for corrections or try out new styles with the confidence that your tech will put their heart into it. 

2- Showing Appreciation

Have you ever left a beauty appointment and couldn’t shake how beautiful you felt? If you haven’t, I am manifesting that it happens for you soon! I can attest that there’s a real difference between a lash lift that went well, and a lash lift that kind of changes your life for a while.

If you’re lucky enough to find a technician so skilled at their craft that they make you feel like that, a tip of at least 20% would be a fabulous way to show them how much you appreciate their hard work!

3- For Any Accommodations

During peak seasons like Valentine’s Day or the holidays, lash technicians are likely swamped with back-to-back appointments. It’s a stressful time, so it’s always noteworthy when your technician puts effort into making sure you look and feel your best.

Regardless of the time of the year though, tipping your lash technician for squeezing you in during a busy time, fixing any mistakes, or for any other stellar services is only expected. 

4- Your Lash Tech Deserves It

Your technician is likely working through a salon or beauty headquarters. With that being the case, you can only assume that they’re not getting the full amount of the service in their pockets. 

With them having done all that hard work, tipping them money that goes directly into their pocket is a gesture they will deeply appreciate. I recommend going to the receptionist and asking how tipping works- make sure it goes solely to your technician!

Tipping For A Lash Lift By A Home Technician

These days, some incredible beauty connoisseurs are doing salon-quality work from the comfort of their own homes! If you decide to go to one of these lovely stylists, you may be wondering if the tipping game is a little different due to the environment.

I would say that tipping 20% is still customary. If anything, I would recommend giving a bigger tip if you’re able. Remember, these techs are paying for equipment out of pocket, so they’re spending more money than a technician at a salon would.

One thing to keep in mind for home technicians is the quality of service. The finished result may look fantastic, but keep an eye out for the cleanliness of the location, their tools, and the professionalism of the experience overall.

These are all factors that could warrant whether your tech deserves a tip (or a second appointment!).

How Much Do You Tip for a Lash Lift – Key Takeaways

The feeling of being pampered is hard to beat, and feeling gorgeous afterward only adds to the experience.

Tipping your lash technician after a successful appointment is normal practice, and now you’re armed with the knowledge of how much is the perfect amount to thank them for your now lengthy lashes based on real data from previous clients.

Stay beautiful!

– Asako