Revealed: Pedicures are more popular than manicures in the nail salon

Salon, spa, and fitness booking and management software, Vagaro, released its 2025 Vantage Report, revealing insights into the most popular beauty and wellness services of 2024.

Pedicures take the lead

With 21 million nail salon appointments booked between January and September 2024, pedicures have overtaken manicures in popularity, accounting for 59% of searches on the Vagaro Marketplace, with half a million bookings.

Manicures weren’t far behind, with 400,000 appointments booked and accounting for 41% of searches. Trends within manicure services were also influencing bookings, with Hard Gel (39%) and Polygon (25%) ranking highly. Salons should stay updated on industry trends and consider running trend-led or combo packages to encourage more bookings.

Capitalising off events

The data also highlights that popular events, like concerts, also present a significant opportunity for beauty businesses. On average, concertgoers spend $86 on nail services prior to the event. Vagaro recommends creating concert-themed packages, running special promotions and posting engaging social media content to boost bookings.

Seasonal trend-led opportunities

Data found that searches peak around seasons, such as the rise in ‘fall nails’ searches in September and November. Nail salons should be prepared with trendy, seasonally-inspired colours and nail art options to meet these demands. This is a practice already popular, with 54% of business owners offering special promotions, 45% organising themed events and 22% of businesses holding festive giveaways to ‘attract new clients and reward old ones’.

Industry trends and challenges

However, data reveals that these incredibly busy peaks also take a toll on industry professionals, with 38% struggling with chaotic holiday schedules and 27% feeling the pressure to meet sales goals. The main struggle though, according to 78% of respondents, is the rising cost of materials

Read the full 2025 Vantage Report here.