Tipping With a Gift Card

Read the card, the packaging or the email that came with it. Some cards are loaded with a dollar amount and can be thought of as cash for the salon. Others are service vouchers that cover a specific appointment, such as a cut and blow-dry, and exclude anything extra.

When in doubt, ask the front desk when you book or when you arrive. A quick question — "Does this card include the tip, or should I plan to add one?" — is completely normal and saves confusion later.

The simplest approach is to pay the service with the gift card and the tip with a different method. Many salons process both in one visit: the card is applied to the service line, and your cash or personal card covers the gratuity line.

• Cash tip: hand it to the stylist or leave it at the desk clearly marked.
• Card tip: ask the front desk to ring the tip on your own card after applying the gift card.
• Split payment: some systems let the card cover part of the service and your card cover the remainder plus the tip.

Use the tip calculator to work out the exact amount before you reach the counter, so you are not doing math while the card machine waits.

If the gift card still has value after the service, you can ask whether the remaining balance can go toward gratuity. Some salons will apply it directly; others prefer that tips be paid in cash or on a card for record-keeping. If the balance is smaller than the tip you want to leave, cover the difference with another method.

A card with a tiny leftover balance — a few dollars — is often best used on a future product purchase. Applying a small balance to a tip can leave the stylist with an odd amount, so many clients simply round up in cash instead.

Digital gift cards work the same way as physical ones: the code covers the service, and the tip is separate. Prepaid packages and memberships are a little different. If you bought a bundle of visits, the tip is usually handled per appointment rather than rolled into the package price.

If the package was a gift, the person receiving the service is still the one who tips. A considerate giver can mention whether a tip is included, or include a small cash amount with the gift. Our guide to tipping after a discount covers similar ground for reduced-price services.

Occasionally a card is not activated, has expired or cannot be read. Handle this before the service whenever possible. If it fails at checkout, pay the bill however you can and still leave a tip for the stylist — the payment hiccup is not their fault.

For guidance on the normal range, see how much to tip a hairdresser, and for the mechanics of payment, read cash vs card tips.