Tipping etiquette when it comes to spa treatments

lucille

What is it?

lilbangladesh

I think it depends on the service. I generally tip a dollar per service, so if say, I were to get a pedicure, manicure and a wax, that would be $3. That's of course, for the basic services. If I were to get something more complicated than a french manicure, I would think I ought to tip more.

It also depends on the kind of spa. Generally, one tips more in the fancier places, but that's often because they put more thought into their services and have little touches that the cheaper ones don't have. And if they don't, then you're not getting your money's worth.

lucille

Thanks, LilB. I actually found a tipping etiquette site that said to tip 15-20% for everything except hair removal. I'm accustomed to tipping that much for a haircut, but had no idea a facial required that kind of tip. I've got a gift card, so I'll probably over-tip anyway, but I just wondered what the protocol was.
Anyone else have thoughts?

alafairnadia

I usually get my mani/pedi's on (rare) lunch breaks in midtown and tend to tip around 20% - the prices are high and the women working there are basically working for the tips. I use that formula in brooklyn, too. but I tend to tip on the high side - I don't like the idea that I just monopolized someone's time for 45 minutes and all they're getting out if it is $5 or something. and, sometimes, at the cheaper places in brooklyn I'll tip more than the 20% just cause that number comes out too low - sorta like when you go out for breakfast at a diner and your bill is $5. 20% is pretty low.

lilbangladesh

Well, yeah, I go to the cheaper places, and so a dollar per service generally works out to be 15-20%. Of course, if I were to get something more complicated than a basic manicure/pedicure, particularly if it's something that takes a lot of time, I would tip more than that.