Tipping culture in Bali is not the same as it is in America, or London, or most of Europe. People ask us about this every week, usually in a slightly awkward tone while they're paying, because they want to do the right thing without guessing wrong.
The short version: tipping is not expected, but it is genuinely appreciated.
What people usually do
Locals almost never tip unless the service was exceptional or they've built a relationship with a specific barber over many visits. That's completely normal and no one will think anything of it.
Travellers tend to round up the bill or leave somewhere between 10% and 15%. Again, this is never required — but if you liked the cut, rounding up is a straightforward, low-fuss way to show it.
Cash vs card
If you are going to tip, cash directly to the barber is the cleanest way to do it. Most barbershops in Canggu — us included — distribute tips to the barber who did the work, but cash in hand removes any ambiguity about where it goes.
We take cards and QR payments for the bill itself, but we always keep a tip jar at the counter if you'd rather drop something in there after your service.
What actually matters more than tipping
Repeat visits and recommendations. Running a small local studio in Canggu is a word-of-mouth business. A regular who comes in every three weeks and brings a friend does more for us than any single tip ever could.
If you had a good experience, the single biggest favour you can do a local barbershop is to tell the person you're eating dinner with that night. Or post a story. Or leave a Google review that mentions the barber by name.
The only real rule
Don't stress about it. We're happy you sat in our chair and we did our best work. Whether you tip or not doesn't change that.
The barbershop relationship is a simple one: you show up, we cut your hair well, and you leave sharper than you walked in. Everything beyond that is a bonus.