The short version: tip 18 to 22 percent on mobile beauty services. That's the median Made Glow client tip in 2026, slightly higher than the 15 to 20 percent that's standard at brick-and-mortar salons. The "why" comes down to a few things mobile pros pay for that salon employees don't, and once you understand the math, the right number stops feeling like a guess.
Why mobile baseline is higher
Salon employees usually have their tools provided, share an overhead with the shop, and split commissions in the 50-to-60 percent range with the salon owner. A mobile pro is paying for everything themselves: the kit (a quality nail kit runs $1,500 to $4,000; a full hair color kit is $3,000 to $6,000; a portable massage table plus linens is $800 to $1,200), gas and parking, business insurance, software, and the time spent traveling between bookings (which they don't bill for).
The upside for them is they keep more per booking — Made Glow takes 8 percent of the service price, vs. the 40 to 50 percent a salon owner typically retains. The downside is everything moves through them, including the costs you don't see. The tip is how the math actually balances out for the client experience to be sustainable.
How much for which service
These are 2026 medians from real Made Glow bookings, broken out by service type:
- Hair (cut, color, blowout) — 18 to 22 percent. Bridal services usually get 22 to 25 percent.
- Nails (mani, pedi, gel, art) — 18 to 20 percent. Custom art usually gets a few extra dollars on top.
- Makeup — 20 to 25 percent. Bridal and editorial get 22 to 25 percent because the artist usually shows up an hour earlier than the contract calls for.
- Skincare (facials, peels, microneedling) — 18 to 22 percent.
- Lashes & brows — 18 to 22 percent. Lash fills (which take less time than a full set) often get 22 to 25 percent because the per-hour rate works out lower than a full set.
- Massage — 18 to 22 percent. Adjust up if the LMT spent extra time on a chronic problem area.
How the tip flow works on Made Glow
After your pro marks the appointment complete, you'll get a notification to leave a review and add a tip. The tip screen presents 15%, 20%, 25%, custom, or no tip. You can take your time — there's no pressure to tip in front of the pro the way there is at a salon counter.
100 percent of the tip goes to the pro. Made Glow takes nothing on tips. The amount you select is exactly what lands in the pro's account, minus only the standard Stripe payout fee that the pro pays as part of running their business — same fee they'd pay on any other digital tip.
When a higher tip is warranted
Use your judgment, but here are situations where a 25 to 30 percent tip is genuinely earned:
- The pro showed up early to handle setup before a tight event window.
- You added services last-minute and the pro accommodated without a fuss.
- The pro fixed a major problem from a previous appointment with someone else (a botched color, a bad set).
- It was an early morning (pre-7am) or late evening (post-9pm) booking.
- You hosted a group (2+ clients at the same address) and the pro stayed extra to coordinate.
- The pro went deep into problem-solving territory — a 90-minute massage that found and worked through a chronic knot, a peel consultation that included a custom take-home routine.
When a lower tip is appropriate
Tipping is optional, and a low or no tip is the right call when the service didn't meet a reasonable standard. That said, talk to the pro first — most are willing to fix issues on the spot or offer a partial refund. If a quality issue isn't addressed, message support in the app within 24 hours rather than relying solely on a low tip to communicate the problem; the platform's satisfaction policy guarantees a free fix or refund for legitimate quality issues, and it's a stronger signal than a tip change.
What about cash tips?
Cash tips are fine if you prefer them, but they're rarely necessary. Pros generally prefer the in-app tip because it lands in their bank account on the same payout cycle as the service price (1 to 2 business days), and it's automatically tracked for tax purposes — both the pro's and yours, if you're paying through a business or expense account. Either way, the pro keeps the full amount.
The taxes question
Tips are taxable income for the pro and not deductible for the client unless the service is a documented business expense. Made Glow files all required 1099-K paperwork annually for pros earning $5,000+ on the platform. If you're paying through a business and need a clean expense record, the in-app tip line item shows up on your monthly statement separately from the service price.