Nail Salons
Industry Profile Report
Dive Deep into the industry with a 25+ page industry report (pdf format) including the following chapters
Industry Overview Current Conditions, Industry Structure, How Firms Operate, Industry Trends, Credit Underwriting & Risks, and Industry Forecast.
Call Preparation Call Prep Questions, Industry Terms, and Weblinks.
Financial Insights Working Capital, Capital Financing, Business Valuation, and Financial Benchmarks.
Industry Profile Excerpts
Industry Overview
The 32,000 nail salons in the US provide nail care services, such as manicures, pedicures, and nail extensions. Manicures and pedicures account for over 85% of industry sales. Nail salons may also offer skin care, hair removal, or other spa-related services. Specialty services include waxing, eyebrow shaping, massage, wraps, reflexology, and eyelash services. Nail technicians may be employees or may rent booth space from the salon and act as independent operators.
Competition From Alternative Service Providers
Nail salons face competition from a variety of alternative service providers, including full-service beauty salons, spas, and clients themselves.
Health Risks For Workers
Nail care services expose workers to chemicals from polishes, removers, and glues, such as formaldehyde, toluene, and methacrylate compounds.
Industry size & Structure
The average nail salon operates out of a single location, employs 4-5 workers, and generates around $430,000 annually.
- The US government reports over 32,000 firms that employ 148,000 workers and generate $12.9 billion in annual revenue.
- Non-employer statistics, which cover the self-employed and businesses with no paid employees, report over 252,200 establishments and over $5.5 billion in annual sales. Non-employer statistics cover nail technicians who rent booth space from individual establishments and act as independent operators.
- The industry is highly fragmented; the top 50 companies account for less than 3% of industry revenue.
- The nail salon industry includes small chains, franchises, and independent operators. With 900 locations, Regal Nails is the largest franchise in the US and operates locations in Walmart stores.
- Many business owners are immigrants. Vietnamese and Vietnamese-American owned salons dominate the industry, although Korean immigrants have established a stronghold in New York City. Vietnamese and other Asian-owned salons account for about 75% of the industry's employer establishments.
Industry Forecast
Nail Salons Industry Growth
Recent Developments
Mar 31, 2025 - Nail Salons a Top Growth Category
- According to a report in Salon Today, nail salons were one of the beauty care categories expanding in 2024. Leading the expansion in 2024 was medspas (increasing locations by 15%), followed by waxing centers (8%) and nail salons (7%). The 2025 Beauty and Wellness Benchmark Report by Zenoti analyzed performance data from its database of 30,000 businesses, including salons, nail salons, barbershops, waxing centers, and spas. Online booking correlates with higher revenue and shows customers embracing integrated tech systems, according to the Zenoti report. Nearly 8 out of 10 appointments at leading nail salons were booked online. The beauty and wellness industry showed a 2% increase in growth in 2024 compared to 5% in 2023, and nail salons that focused on adding locations in 2024 saw a 7% increase in revenue. Customer loyalty also stood out as a vital income generator, with 42% of loyal clients driving 80% of revenue.
- Personal care services, included in the “Other Services” category, is one of the 14 industries reporting growth in February’s Services ISM Report on Business. Executives in the industry reported increases in business activity, new services, and employment, while reporting decreased inventories, lower order backlogs, and higher prices paid for materials and services. Other services industries reporting growth during the period included Finance & Insurance; Wholesale Trade; Utilities; Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting; Mining; Real Estate, and Rental & Leasing. The three services industries reporting contraction during the period were Management of Companies & Support Services; Retail Trade; and Educational Services. Overall, economic activity in the services sector expanded in February, with the Services PMI registering 53.5%.
- High profile Manhattan-based nail salon chain Glosslab LLC filed for bankruptcy in December 2024 and plans to sell itself to VD Brand Holdings, according to Bloomberg reporting in LiveMint. The company known for its membership-based model had been struggling after a rapid expansion and bad publicity. The nail salon chain, run by CEO Rachel Apfel Glass, had raised $20 million from an assortment of businesspeople, celebrities, and influencers. Once the operator of some 20 locations, the company closed all but two locations in 2024 and let go of its entire corporate management team, per the report. If the deal to sell the company to VD Brand Holdings is approved by the bankruptcy judge, the company says it will provide payment to some creditors and continue to employ some 50 workers.
- According to the latest Statista Market Forecast, revenue in the global nails market is projected to reach $12.9 billion in 2025 and grow at an annual rate of 3.2% from 2025 to 2029. Regionally, China accounts for the highest revenue in the market followed by the US, India, Germany, and Brazil. The nails market forecast by Statista covers beauty products for the nails including polishes, gels, and top coats.
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