Tipping in Thailand: how much to tip your hairdresser, barber and nail master

Tipping in Thai salons is appreciated but not mandatory: there is no law, no fixed percentage and no obligation to leave anything. Common practice is to round up or leave a small amount in cash for the master — often ฿20–100 for a regular service, sometimes more after a long or complex one. If you are not sure how tips work in a particular salon, simply ask at reception.

Is tipping expected in Thailand?

Tipping is not a traditional part of Thai culture in the way it is in North America. In tourist areas such as Phuket, though, it has become a common way to say thank you, and for many people who work in service a tip is a welcome addition to their income.

A few things are useful to know before your first appointment:

• Salon prices are fixed. Bargaining over a price list isn’t done; the price you see is the price of the service.
• Service charge. Hotels and upscale restaurants often add a 10% service charge plus 7% VAT, shown as “++” next to prices. If a service charge is already on the bill, an extra tip is entirely optional. Some hotel spas and salons do the same, so check the bill.
• Not tipping is not rude. A tip is a personal gesture, and politeness matters far more than the amount.

How much to tip: common amounts, not rules

Amounts vary widely, and none of them is an obligation. As a practical guide, this is what many guests leave in Phuket:

Situation	What many guests do	Notes
Haircut, beard trim or shave	Round up or ฿20–100	A little more if the result is exactly what you asked for
Manicure or pedicure	฿20–100	A little more for detailed nail art
Long services: colouring, extensions	฿100–300	Some guests leave more after several hours of work
Two masters at once (four hands)	A tip for each master	Or leave it at reception for both
Hair wash by an assistant	฿20–50	Only if someone other than your master washed your hair
Massage and spa	฿50–100 per hour	A widespread custom in Thailand
Restaurants and cafés	Small change or round up	Optional if a 10% service charge is on the bill

If you are used to adding 15–20% at home, there is no need to carry that habit over to a Thai salon — the amounts above are a better guide. And tip in baht rather than dollars, euros or other foreign notes, which are awkward for staff to exchange.

The Thai baht comes in notes of 20, 50, 100, 500 and 1,000 and in coins of 1, 2, 5 and 10. Coins are fine for rounding up; for a proper tip, notes of ฿20, ฿50 and ฿100 are the easiest.

Cash or card?

• Cash is the norm for tips. Card terminals in Thailand usually have no tip option, and adding a tip to a card payment isn’t always possible.
• Carry small notes. ATMs often dispense ฿1,000 and ฿500 notes. Break them at a 7-Eleven or when you pay for coffee, so you have ฿20, ฿50 and ฿100 notes ready.
• QR payments. Many locals pay with Thai QR codes, but foreign cards and apps often can’t use them — for visitors, cash is simply easier.
• At ERA, if you are not sure how to leave a tip or who it should go to, ask at reception.

How to tip in a salon, politely

• Give it at the end. A tip is a thank-you for the result, so it comes after the service, not before.
• Hand it to the master directly, with a smile and “khop khun khrap” (if you are a man) or “khop khun kha” (if you are a woman) — “thank you” in Thai.
• Use your right hand, or both hands. Offering money with the right hand while the left lightly touches your right forearm is a respectful gesture in Thailand.
• If two people worked on you — during a four-hands manicure and pedicure, say, or when an assistant washed your hair — tip each of them, or leave the tip at reception and say who it is for.
• If the master has stepped away, leave the tip at reception with their name, not on the chair or the table.
• A kind word counts too. If you were happy, say so. A review that mentions the master by name is appreciated as much as a tip.

Thai etiquette that matters more than the tip

• The wai. Palms pressed together at chest level with a slight bow — the traditional Thai greeting and thank-you. Staff may greet you this way; a smile and a nod, or a light wai in return, is perfect. As a guest you don’t need to wai first.
• Keep calm. Thais value “jai yen”, a cool heart. Raising your voice or showing irritation makes everyone lose face. If something isn’t right, say so calmly and privately. At ERA, a Russian-speaking curator works on the floor, translates your request to the master and controls the process — the right person to talk to if you want something adjusted.
• Head and feet. In Thai culture the head is considered the most respected part of the body and the feet the lowest. In a salon, a master touching your head or feet is simply part of the job, but avoid pointing your feet at people or resting them on furniture.
• Straight from the beach? Rinse off the sand and change out of a wet swimsuit before your appointment — it is noticed and appreciated.
• Be on time. If you are running late, message the salon so the master can adjust the schedule.

How to book at ERA

ERA Barbershop & Beauty Space is in Bang Tao (Choeng Thale), a few minutes by car from Laguna Phuket, Boat Avenue and Bang Tao Beach, and is open every day from 10:00 to 21:00. Thai masters work to ERA standards, and a Russian-speaking curator is always on the floor.

• Book online with the booking button on this site, in our Telegram bot, by phone on +66 96 961 0777 or in Instagram Direct at @era.phuket.
• Prices on the site come from our online booking, so you know the cost before you arrive: see the price list, or browse services for men and women.
• Directions are on the contacts page. If you are unsure about anything — tipping included — ask at reception.

If you prefer to explain your request in Russian, read our guide to a Russian-speaking salon in Phuket.