When your barber is done with an impressive haircut, you often find yourself thinking “Hmm should I tip him? But then you find yourself wondering, what is the rule on tipping your barber, or to be precise, what are the do’s and don’ts of tipping your barber? Tipping is simply a means to show good etiquette, a gesture of appreciation, and a way to maintain a positive relationship with your barber. Because it’s an unsaid, unwritten rule, the answer to the question “How much should you be tipping your barber?”,  isn’t one. It varies from person to person, place to place, and many more factors. This leads us to a question, which is:

Why Do We Tip Barbers?

The idea behind the need to tip barbers lies in the understanding of their source of income. Quite often, barbers don’t earn a fixed and regular income which is credited in their accounts on a monthly basis. They often rely on commissions from the services they provide, which in other words are “tips”. This means that they rely heavily on customers tipping them for the “above par” services they render. It is these “tips” that help them earn a decent living for themselves and their loved ones, that enables them to maintain their tools and upgrade their skills. 

While it may seem that these tips may go unnoticed, they definitely are! Not by the barber, not by nature! For good always makes way for those who do good. So, next time you visit your barber, will not only put a smile on his face, but will also make him deliver services above and beyond par for you! Therefore, before we get on the bandwagon of tipping our barbers, there are certain dos and don’ts of tipping your barber to keep in mind:

Do’s

You can choose to tip if you can afford to, around 15 to 20% of the cost of the services received. Or, can decide a flat rate for yourself. There is no specific barber tip calculator. 

Consider barbers who are owners too, as regular barbers. This is when you may consider this question, “do you tip a barber if he owns the shop?”. Because the owners, just like any barbers, need that token of appreciation too, that pat on the back too, after delivering a service that is beyond par! And the notion that an owner might consider a tip “offensive” is an old, obsolete one.

Tipping can also be non-monetary. Bearing the general tipping culture in UAE in mind, you may choose to tip in ways other than cash, if you can't afford to.  It can be reposting your barber’s hair-cut on their stories, tagging them behind that look, referring to other clients, and most of all, booking an appointment with them again!!

Tipping shall ideally be in cash, if affordability is not an issue. The question, “should I tip my barber in cash?” is a recurring one that always crosses our minds, when we purely intend to help our barbers, with an extra bit.

However, much like deciding whether or how much to tip, there is no fixed answer to this either. But choosing to tip your barber in cash will be an instant way to give your token of appreciation to your barber, and see that perfect, beaming smile on his face! Also, this way you will be sure that the tip goes to the desired person right then and there. 

Even though, people have moved far, far away from carrying cash on them after the card boom, many salons and businesses alike do accept tips paid through card. But, if you are paying via card, a double-check with the manager or owner of the salon is suggested to ensure that the tips will go to the desired person.

Don’ts

Don’t feel obliged to tip if you can’t afford it! It is often asked by newbies in town, “Is tipping customary in UAE?”. And the answer is yes. However, you don't have to give in to customs if it means going beyond your means. You may choose any non-monetary way to appreciate your barber.

Don’t feel obliged to tip if you have received poor quality service. It’s not always about affordability. Even if you can afford it, you may choose not to tip at all, if you receive poor service. However, it is important to communicate what did not make you a happy and satisfied customer to the barber. This feedback helps the barber understand where improvements are needed and enhances their services.

You may tip less, when the barbers don’t entertain your requests well, when the salon area is unkept, when they rush through the cut, or when they are constantly on their phone, are the times when you don’t need to pay a generous tip. Instead, you may choose to tip less or not at all! After all, tips are for services that are above and beyond standards, and not below.

Tip Even Before Tipping

Imagine if you go an extra mile for someone to get his job done, and the person doesn’t say thank you or even cares for a smile on his face, and simply walks away, how would you feel? Similarly, how would a barber think when he puts his heart and soul into giving you your best look, does some extra bits for you, and you don’t tip him?

 You might question yourself, “Is it rude not to tip your barber?” Well, yes that will be rude on your part and will show your ungratefulness. Therefore, it’s always best to tip, be it monetary or non-monetary. The method and the quantity are solely at the customer’s discretion. Last but not least, always enter the salon with a smile on your face and leave with one too, after thanking your barber and giving them a pat on the back. And here at BarbBros, you’ll surely get that smile, on entry and exit, both.