“Most people will do $5.” Others said people should leave a similar tip to what they would leave at a restaurant. “I would say around 20% is fine,” said Adam Quintero, owner of Up Hair in the Castro. Stong Guo, the owner of Russian Hill's Tulip Salon, gave similar advice for what amounts to a good tip.

General Tipping Guidelines The recommended tipping standard for barbers is 15-20% of the total cost of the haircut. This means that if your cut costs $40, you should tip between $6-$8. Of course, tipping is always at your discretion. Feel free to tip more or less, depending on those considerations above.

Salons often use high-quality, professional-grade products that are more expensive than the ones you might find in a supermarket. These products are designed to be gentle on the hair, offer better results, and are often ethically sourced and produced. The use of such products is factored into the haircut prices.

While barbering can be a rewarding career, it can also be physically and mentally demanding. Long hours of standing, high levels of concentration, and dealing with difficult customers can lead to stress and burnout. Some barbers may quit due to these challenges, or because they want to pursue different career paths.