Short answer: create a tip page in an app such as TipIns, print the QR code and put it on the vanity or shelf beside the treatment bed. Customers scan it with their phone camera and tip by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay. They do not need an app or an account.
Small, frequent services such as a brow wax are where clients are least likely to carry cash and most likely to skip the tip altogether. If you rent a room, you also have no front desk to handle it for you.
How a QR code tip jar works
You create a tip page once and get a personal QR code and link. A customer points their phone camera at the code, a secure payment page opens in their browser, and they pay with Apple Pay, Google Pay or a card. The tip shows in your balance straight away and is paid out to your bank account.
Where estheticians put the code
- On the vanity or shelf beside the treatment bed.
- By the mirror where clients check their brows or lashes.
- On your aftercare card.
- In your booking reminder text.
Size the code for the distance: a phone reads one from about ten times its width. The measurements are in how to make a tip jar QR code sign.
What to write on the sign
Happy with your results? Scan to leave a tip for [your name].
Put your own name where the brackets are. You can export a print-ready design from the app in business card, A5, A4 or A3 size.
How to mention it
While they look in the mirror: "If you would like to tip by card, there is a code just there."
Your own code or a shared one
A personal code suits a solo room. A studio that shares tips with a receptionist can use a group with set percentages.
What customers usually tip an esthetician
For facials, waxing, lashes and brows in the US, 15 to 20% of the service price is customary.
| Situation | Usual tip |
|---|---|
| $25 brow wax | $4 to $5 |
| $90 facial | $14 to $18 |
| $150 lash extensions | $22 to $30 |
Customers looking for the etiquette can read how to tip an esthetician without cash.
What it costs
TipIns is free to download and has no monthly fee. Each tip carries a 10% platform fee plus a small card processing fee, and by default the person tipping covers both, so you receive the amount they chose. Weekly payouts to your bank are free. The details are in the FAQ.
Common questions
Where should an esthetician put a tip QR code?
On the vanity or shelf beside the treatment bed. By the mirror where clients check their brows or lashes.
What should an esthetician's tip sign say?
Try: "Happy with your results? Scan to leave a tip for [your name]." Give a reason, show a large code and include your name.
Should I use a personal code or a team code?
A personal code suits a solo room. A studio that shares tips with a receptionist can use a group with set percentages.