GITNUXREPORT 2025

Nail Industry Statistics

Global nail industry valued at $15.2 billion with growing eco-friendly and tech trends.

Jannik Linder

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: April 29, 2025

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Statistic 1

Approximately 60% of nail salon customers are women aged 18-34

Statistic 2

The average price for a basic gel manicure in the U.S. is around $45

Statistic 3

The demand for vegan and cruelty-free nail products has increased by over 40% in the past three years

Statistic 4

The percentage of women getting weekly manicures has decreased from 19% in 2019 to 15% in 2022

Statistic 5

The average lifespan of a gel manicure is about 2 to 3 weeks

Statistic 6

The most popular nail color choices in 2023 are nude, soft pink, and deep reds

Statistic 7

Nail art sales have increased by 25% in the last two years

Statistic 8

45% of consumers prefer long-lasting gel or acrylic nails over regular polish

Statistic 9

The average cost for a full set of acrylic nails in the U.S. is approximately $50 to $70

Statistic 10

The use of environmentally friendly and biodegradable nail products has grown by 35% in the past two years

Statistic 11

The average customer visits a nail salon 8 times per year

Statistic 12

Approximately 30% of nail salon clients opt for at-home services instead of visiting salons regularly

Statistic 13

The rise of online booking platforms has increased appointment scheduling efficiency in 78% of salons surveyed

Statistic 14

The average tip left for nail technicians is approximately 20% of the service cost

Statistic 15

The adoption rate of mobile and at-home manicure services has increased by 50% over the past three years

Statistic 16

More than 70% of salons report using social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok for marketing

Statistic 17

The average price for a French manicure in the U.S. is around $60

Statistic 18

The popularity of nail extensions like acrylics and gels has resulted in a 15% growth in related supply sales over two years

Statistic 19

Approximately 27% of nail salons are open past 8 PM, catering to after-hours clients

Statistic 20

The average customer spends around $65 on a manicure-and-pedicure combo in the U.S.

Statistic 21

The use of 3D nail art has increased by 18% in beauty salons over the last year

Statistic 22

80% of salon owners prioritize sanitation standards to meet regulatory compliance

Statistic 23

The average length of a gel manicure appointment is approximately 45 minutes

Statistic 24

The demand for vegan nail polishes increased by 55% from 2021 to 2023

Statistic 25

Over 90% of nail salons reported adopting contactless payment options during the COVID-19 pandemic

Statistic 26

The most common nail diseases treated in salons include fungal infections (40%) and bacterial infections (20%)

Statistic 27

The average lifespan of acrylic nails in good condition is about 3-4 weeks

Statistic 28

The motivation to start a career in nail industry is driven by passion for beauty (65%) and flexible working hours (25%)

Statistic 29

The trend of natural and “clean” nails has led to a 20% decline in demand for artificial nail enhancements in 2023

Statistic 30

The use of phototherapy in nail treatments has increased by 30% over the last two years, mostly for fungal and psoriasis treatments

Statistic 31

The use of organic and natural cuticle and nail oils has increased by 45% over the past three years, reflecting consumer preferences for health-conscious products

Statistic 32

The number of eco-friendly nail salons has increased by 22% from 2020 to 2023

Statistic 33

The percentage of salons offering eco-friendly services increased to 48% in 2023, up from 30% in 2020

Statistic 34

Approximately 58% of nail technicians are women, with men making up about 42%

Statistic 35

The median hourly wage for nail technicians in the U.S. was $12.50 in 2022

Statistic 36

Approximately 35% of nail salons in the U.S. are owned by minorities, including Asian, Hispanic, and Black entrepreneurs

Statistic 37

The number of licensed nail technicians in the U.S. surpassed 250,000 in 2022

Statistic 38

Nail industry employment is expected to grow by 7% from 2022 to 2030, faster than the average for all occupations

Statistic 39

Over 35% of nail technicians report receiving ongoing training annually to stay updated with new techniques

Statistic 40

The average duration of a professional nail technician career is approximately 10 years

Statistic 41

The most common reason for nail technician job change is seeking higher wages, reported by 45% of surveyed technicians

Statistic 42

The number of mobile nail technicians increased by 60% between 2020 and 2023, driven by convenience trend

Statistic 43

The number of licensed nail technicians with advanced certifications increased by 12% in 2022, indicating a growth in skill specialization

Statistic 44

Approximately 40% of nail salons report challenges with staff retention, citing low wages and high physical demands as primary reasons

Statistic 45

The median age of nail technicians in the U.S. is around 30 years old, indicating a relatively young workforce

Statistic 46

The global nail care market was valued at approximately $15.2 billion in 2021

Statistic 47

The U.S. nail salon industry generates over $8 billion annually

Statistic 48

There are over 50,000 nail salons operating across the United States

Statistic 49

The use of LED and UV light for gel drying accounts for approximately 65% of salon gel manicure processes

Statistic 50

The growth rate of the nail polish market is projected at 4.5% annually through 2027

Statistic 51

The number of new nail salon establishments increased by 8% from 2019 to 2021

Statistic 52

The majority of nail salons reported a revenue decline of 15% during the COVID-19 pandemic, but most have recovered by 2023

Statistic 53

The global demand for dip powder nails is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6% through 2028

Statistic 54

The global acrylic nails market was valued at $2.4 billion in 2020 and is projected to grow at 5.2% CAGR till 2028

Statistic 55

The average annual revenue per salon is approximately $250,000, with top-performing salons earning over $1 million

Statistic 56

The profitability margin for nail salons ranges from 10% to 25%, depending on location and services offered

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Key Highlights

The global nail care market was valued at approximately $15.2 billion in 2021
The U.S. nail salon industry generates over $8 billion annually
There are over 50,000 nail salons operating across the United States
Approximately 60% of nail salon customers are women aged 18-34
The average price for a basic gel manicure in the U.S. is around $45
The demand for vegan and cruelty-free nail products has increased by over 40% in the past three years
The percentage of women getting weekly manicures has decreased from 19% in 2019 to 15% in 2022
The use of LED and UV light for gel drying accounts for approximately 65% of salon gel manicure processes
The average lifespan of a gel manicure is about 2 to 3 weeks
The growth rate of the nail polish market is projected at 4.5% annually through 2027
Approximately 58% of nail technicians are women, with men making up about 42%
The median hourly wage for nail technicians in the U.S. was $12.50 in 2022
The number of new nail salon establishments increased by 8% from 2019 to 2021

The booming nail industry, valued at over $15 billion globally and showcasing rapid growth in eco-friendly services, advanced techniques, and digital marketing, is transforming beauty routines and creating new opportunities for entrepreneurs and technicians alike.

Consumer Preferences and Behavior

Approximately 60% of nail salon customers are women aged 18-34
The average price for a basic gel manicure in the U.S. is around $45
The demand for vegan and cruelty-free nail products has increased by over 40% in the past three years
The percentage of women getting weekly manicures has decreased from 19% in 2019 to 15% in 2022
The average lifespan of a gel manicure is about 2 to 3 weeks
The most popular nail color choices in 2023 are nude, soft pink, and deep reds
Nail art sales have increased by 25% in the last two years
45% of consumers prefer long-lasting gel or acrylic nails over regular polish
The average cost for a full set of acrylic nails in the U.S. is approximately $50 to $70
The use of environmentally friendly and biodegradable nail products has grown by 35% in the past two years
The average customer visits a nail salon 8 times per year
Approximately 30% of nail salon clients opt for at-home services instead of visiting salons regularly
The rise of online booking platforms has increased appointment scheduling efficiency in 78% of salons surveyed
The average tip left for nail technicians is approximately 20% of the service cost
The adoption rate of mobile and at-home manicure services has increased by 50% over the past three years
More than 70% of salons report using social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok for marketing
The average price for a French manicure in the U.S. is around $60
The popularity of nail extensions like acrylics and gels has resulted in a 15% growth in related supply sales over two years
Approximately 27% of nail salons are open past 8 PM, catering to after-hours clients
The average customer spends around $65 on a manicure-and-pedicure combo in the U.S.
The use of 3D nail art has increased by 18% in beauty salons over the last year
80% of salon owners prioritize sanitation standards to meet regulatory compliance
The average length of a gel manicure appointment is approximately 45 minutes
The demand for vegan nail polishes increased by 55% from 2021 to 2023
Over 90% of nail salons reported adopting contactless payment options during the COVID-19 pandemic
The most common nail diseases treated in salons include fungal infections (40%) and bacterial infections (20%)
The average lifespan of acrylic nails in good condition is about 3-4 weeks
The motivation to start a career in nail industry is driven by passion for beauty (65%) and flexible working hours (25%)
The trend of natural and “clean” nails has led to a 20% decline in demand for artificial nail enhancements in 2023
The use of phototherapy in nail treatments has increased by 30% over the last two years, mostly for fungal and psoriasis treatments
The use of organic and natural cuticle and nail oils has increased by 45% over the past three years, reflecting consumer preferences for health-conscious products

Consumer Preferences and Behavior Interpretation

As nail salons embrace eco-friendly, vegan, and contactless innovations, the industry is polishing its image for the modern, health-conscious, and Instagram-obsessed consumer—while the classic gel manicure remains a staple, proving that when it comes to nails, beauty and longevity are still top priorities.

Environmental and Sustainability Practices

The number of eco-friendly nail salons has increased by 22% from 2020 to 2023
The percentage of salons offering eco-friendly services increased to 48% in 2023, up from 30% in 2020

Environmental and Sustainability Practices Interpretation

With nearly half of nail salons embracing eco-friendly services in 2023—up from just 30% in 2020—the industry is not only polishing nails but also making a greener statement, proving that sustainability is finally clicking with both consumers and salons alike.

Industry Employment and Workforce Trends

Approximately 58% of nail technicians are women, with men making up about 42%
The median hourly wage for nail technicians in the U.S. was $12.50 in 2022
Approximately 35% of nail salons in the U.S. are owned by minorities, including Asian, Hispanic, and Black entrepreneurs
The number of licensed nail technicians in the U.S. surpassed 250,000 in 2022
Nail industry employment is expected to grow by 7% from 2022 to 2030, faster than the average for all occupations
Over 35% of nail technicians report receiving ongoing training annually to stay updated with new techniques
The average duration of a professional nail technician career is approximately 10 years
The most common reason for nail technician job change is seeking higher wages, reported by 45% of surveyed technicians
The number of mobile nail technicians increased by 60% between 2020 and 2023, driven by convenience trend
The number of licensed nail technicians with advanced certifications increased by 12% in 2022, indicating a growth in skill specialization
Approximately 40% of nail salons report challenges with staff retention, citing low wages and high physical demands as primary reasons
The median age of nail technicians in the U.S. is around 30 years old, indicating a relatively young workforce

Industry Employment and Workforce Trends Interpretation

With a growing, youthful workforce of over 250,000 licensed nail technicians seeking higher wages and specialization, the industry’s booming growth and increasing diversity reflect both the artistry and economic vitality of a profession that balances creative flair with ongoing challenges.

Market Size and Revenue

The global nail care market was valued at approximately $15.2 billion in 2021
The U.S. nail salon industry generates over $8 billion annually
There are over 50,000 nail salons operating across the United States
The use of LED and UV light for gel drying accounts for approximately 65% of salon gel manicure processes
The growth rate of the nail polish market is projected at 4.5% annually through 2027
The number of new nail salon establishments increased by 8% from 2019 to 2021
The majority of nail salons reported a revenue decline of 15% during the COVID-19 pandemic, but most have recovered by 2023
The global demand for dip powder nails is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6% through 2028
The global acrylic nails market was valued at $2.4 billion in 2020 and is projected to grow at 5.2% CAGR till 2028
The average annual revenue per salon is approximately $250,000, with top-performing salons earning over $1 million
The profitability margin for nail salons ranges from 10% to 25%, depending on location and services offered

Market Size and Revenue Interpretation

With a $15.2 billion global market and over 50,000 U.S. salons thriving through UV gels, dip powders, and acrylics—despite pandemic setbacks—the nail industry proves that a good lick of polish is not only trendy but a resilient pillar of beauty economics.