How Much to Tip Your Makeup Artists? Find the Answers Today!

appropriate tip for makeup artist

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Your makeup artist helps you look your best for special events. They work hard to make you feel confident and beautiful.

However, “how much to tip the makeup artist” might be the one important question that can pop up in your mind while making your tipping decision right?

Worry not! I am here to help you make the right decision. Go on and have a read!

Who are Those Makeup Artists to be Considered while Tipping?

Not sure who are those makeup artists that need to be tipped? Before justifying the tipping amount, let us take a look at our selected makeup artist categories for whom the tipping etiquette may differ as per the situation.

Wedding Makeup Artists

Like all wedding vendors, your makeup artists work really hard on your wedding day. They need to start early and have to stand for long hours on their feet getting the pressure to get things done just perfectly for the wedding photos. This is surely not an easy task to do! So, showing your thankfulness for their effort can go a long way and that gratitude can begin with gratuity. Since a lot of makeup artists need to do multiple jobs, your gratuity can also allow them to make up some of the money they might have lost from working a whole day for making you look picture-perfect.

Counter Makeup Artists

They are the makeup artists who have some makeup skills and sometimes a bit of training, but they are actually salespeople whose ultimate goal at the counter is to sell you a particular product. They cannot apply custom makeup according to your preference, they just give you an idea of how the application of a makeup item will look on your skin.

Generally, salespeople at the stores Sephora, Nordstrom, etc. may appear like these sorts of makeup artists. Their main objective is to test the makeup products on your face in order to sell them to you.

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Headshots/Portraiture/Commercial Shoots Makeup Artists

These makeup artists are usually booked through a salon or agency. When there is any project of commercial or another kind of shoot that requires some makeup expertise on the models for the photography or any fashion show, these makeup artists can work quite well. They can be sent from a company or can be freelancers by their profession as well.

Permanent Makeup Artists

Permanent makeup artists are those who work with permanent cosmetic products for their clients and apply them on the skin. They do some microblading, apply pigment or a tattoo, and some other procedures that are required for a particular cosmetic feature, i.e. permanent eyeliner or mascara.

So these are the selected categories of makeup artists who will be considered for our tipping etiquette discussions in the next part.

How Much Do You Tip A Makeup Artist?

Now let us get straight into the discussion – how much to tip these makeup artists? See, each makeup artist requires different considerations when it comes to tipping practice. Some deserve a sure shot tipping, while others may or may not be considered for tipping. Let us delve deeper into the category-wise discussion to know better!

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How Much to Tip A Wedding Makeup Artist?

The general rate is 15%-20% and you should also consider tipping up to 20 percent of the service as you do at the salon in most cases. Just make sure to have enough cash in hand as there might be chances that you have to tip for each of your bridesmaids as well! Before you start tipping, you should check your contract thoroughly. This is required to see if your vendor has already built a service fee into your total amount.

Also, if you find there is no guideline on how the amount should be distributed among the artists, consider tipping each artist individually based on the services they perform. For example, if there is one artist who does makeup for three of your bridesmaids at a rate of $150 per person, you should tip the artist at the usual percentage of $450. It is an ideal practice to divide the total tipping amount evenly amongst all of the artists present if you are billed one lump sum amount for the work of multiple artists. Moreover, you should provide the gratuity right after the services have been provided, not before that.

Do you tip the makeup artists for a trial?

Remember! Even if you consider doing several trials with different makeup artists before selecting the final one for your big day, you need to tip each one of them after every service as per the standard 15%-20% rule.

How Much to Tip A Counter Makeup Artist?

Do you tip a Sephora makeup artist? You may freak out at the point if you have just thought that you have never tipped the counter makeup artists at Sephora or Nordstrom for the time they spent teaching you about makeup techniques or applying some makeup base with the testers on your face.

Because, it is generally considered not to tip a counter makeup artist, and you will even find some stores prohibiting the practice. As we have stated in our earlier discussion that these makeup artists are unlikely to have the skill to do custom makeup as per your needs, and the products are also not specially made for photography. So it is generally a “no” when there comes to the question of tipping these artists.

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How Much to Tip the Makeup Artists for Commercial Shoots?

Okay, so here comes a confusing state when you need to tip the makeup artists for any commercial shoot or portraiture. For this category of makeup artists, there is no specific answer – “yes” or “no” – for tipping. Some prefer to tip them and some do not prefer that, especially those who are freelance makeup artists. So, both freelance and agency artists usually get their fees structured in such a way that they do not have to rely on a tip to make ends meet.

However, there are some people who are always more comfortable tipping anyone in the beauty industry; even you can be one of them! So in that case, feel free to tip this category of makeup artist as they will definitely be appreciative of it in most cases. Just follow the industry standard rule of 15%-20%.

How Much to Tip the Permanent Makeup Artists?

Do you tip the permanent makeup artists? Studies show that tipping your permanent makeup artist is always appreciated, but never required or expected. After all, when you give a tip, this shows your gratitude towards the artist; they receive 100% of that tip as well. Clients prefer to give a typical gratuity of 15-20%. Also, they can tip any amount that they feel comfortable with and as per the service.

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So if I summarize the total tipping idea in categories, it may look like the below scenario:

Category of Makeup ArtistsTipping Required?Percentage or Amount
Wedding Makeup ArtistsReasonably Solid “Yes”.15%-20%; often up to 20%
Counter Makeup ArtistsPretty Solid “No”Unjustified
Makeup Artists for Commercial Shoot/Portraiture/Headshots“Maybe”15%-20% in the tipping cases
Permanent Makeup ArtistsTypically “Yes”15%-20%; or any amount depending on the service

How Much to Tip Makeup Artist for Prom?

The appropriate amount to tip a makeup artist for prom can vary based on some factors, such as the quality of the service you received, the complexity of the look, and the time spent on the makeup.

As a general guideline, a tip of 15-20% of the total bill is a common range for makeup artists. However, some people may choose to tip more or less based on their experience. For example, if the makeup artist provides a good service and accommodates your requests or creates a particularly intricate look, you may want to consider tipping more.

How Much Should I Tip for a 50$ Makeup Artist?

If the makeup artist charged you $50 for their services, a common range for a tip would be $7.50 to $10, which is 15-20% of the total bill. You can choose to tip a little more or less. The key is to provide a tip that you feel is fair and show your appreciation for the work the makeup artist did for you.

Should I Tip My Personal Makeup Artist?

Tipping your personal makeup artist is a personal decision, but it is a common way to show appreciation for their services. If you have a personal makeup artist that you use on a regular basis, tipping can be a way to express your gratitude for their hard work and dedication to making you look and feel your best. A common range for a tip is 15-20% of the total bill.

What Else Can You Do For Your Makeup Artist As A Good Practice?

You can take a look at the following things that can commonly be considered as some of the good practices:

  • Come prepared for your artist. Be sure to follow their instructions to prepare for your session, which may involve coming with a clean and makeup-free face.
  • Communicate clearly with them. Be sure to express what you want and do not want before they start the application, trust them with their work, and give them your honest feedback for any minor changes before you get in front of the camera.
  • Give them a positive review online and their social media platforms. This will be good marketing for them.
  • Refer the artist to your friends and colleagues to encourage their amazing level of service.
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Concluding Remarks

To conclude, it is essential to tip your makeup artist fairly when it is genuinely required. In many cases, no matter whether you tip or not, writing a thank you note or leaving them a good review for their great service is always a thoughtful gesture and highly appreciated. This can go a long way in encouraging their efforts as well!

Mohammad Rubel

Mohammad Rubel

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