Fall & Halloween Nails: Trends & Marketing Tips for Your Salon

If you’re a nail tech or own a nail studio, you already know people will pay top dollar to have the hues of Autumn, literally, at their fingertips, or to turn each one into a mini jack-o-lantern. But did you know that interest has been ramping up since... July? That’s right, according to trending internet searches. Fall nail fever starts in the summer and is expected to reach a fever pitch at the end of September. Current and future clients are scanning social media as we speak for cool, colorful, delightfully kitschy nail designs.  

A wave is coming. In fact, according to Vagaro’s research, it’s already here. Fall into some eye-opening fall and halloween nail trends below, then learn how and when to market your nail studio so you can enjoy all that sweet and (pumpkin) spicy revenue. 

(Check out our 2024 Fall & Halloween Nail Stats

1. Post Seasonal Content

Social media is central to your nail salon’s marketing strategy, and your social media calendar should already be marked to post fall and Halloween nail content. You should be primed to post mix of trending visual content, like the following: 

a. Fall Nail Design Showcase: Create a carousel post featuring various fall nail ideas and Halloween nail designs, including popular fall colors, textures, and patterns like: 

• Warm tones: burgundy, rust, deep orange, and gold 

• Cool tones: navy, charcoal, and deep green 

• Textures: matte, velvet, and glitter 

• Patterns: leaves, pumpkins, and plaid 

b. Before & After Transformations: Share before-and-after photos of clients' nails to showcase the transformation from their original manicure to a stunning fall-inspired design. 

c. Nail Art Tutorials: If you’ve got the time and the kind of following that demands it, create short video tutorials showing how to achieve popular fall or Halloween nail art looks. 

d. Behind-the-Scenes Glimpses: Share behind-the-scenes photos or videos of your nail technicians creating fall or Halloween nail art.

e. Seasonal Nail Polls: Conduct a seasonal poll asking followers their favorite fall nail color, pattern, or texture. 

Make sure to post all content consistently throughout peak periods and always include relevant seasonal hashtags. You’ll need to research trending hashtags, but they may look like: #octobernails, #fallmanicures; #halloweennailart, #spookynails, etc. 

You’ll no doubt inspire fall and Halloween nail enthusiasts to take immediate action, so make sure they have a convenient way to book appointments on your social media pages, (a button, say, or booking widget, as we like to call them). 

2. Run Sales & Promotions

Limited-time deals and promotions create a sense of urgency that motivates already-interested clients to act. They also help build customer loyalty, generate excitement and engagement on social media, and can be useful in clearing out excess inventory. 

Offer limited-time discounts or promotions on fall and Halloween nail services. A few simple examples include: 

a. Fall Nail Promotions 

• "Autumnal Bliss" Package: Offer a discount on a package that includes a fall-themed manicure, pedicure, and paraffin wax treatment. 

• "Leaf-Peeping" Special: Provide a discount on any fall-inspired nail design, such as leaf patterns, pumpkin colors, or cozy textures. 

b. Halloween Nail Promotions  

• "Spooky Savings" Deal: Offer a discount on any Halloween nail art, including ghosts, pumpkins, or spiders. 

• "Trick or Treat" Promotion: Offer a "buy one, get one half off" deal on a Halloween manicure or pedicure. 

With promotions and flash sales, the “what” is the easy part, while the “when” is a bit trickier. Running them in mid-September to late September coincides with the peak of internet searches for fall nails and allows you to capitalize on the growing interest. 

In late October, as a surge in demand for Halloween-themed nail services occurs, releasing a Daily Deal could attract customers looking for last-minute appointments. Moreover, utilizing the Vagaro Marketplace's Get Featured option in these peak periods will shine the spooky spotlight on your business at exactly the right time. Just be sure to have your nail service consent forms ready to go.

3. Sell Seasonal Product Bundles

If you aren’t taking advantage of eCommerce at your nail salon, you’re likely to leave a lot of potential revenue on the table, especially at this time of year.  

Highlight fall-themed nail products, such as polishes, stickers and charms, in your online store. Get creative and offer fall and Halloween-related product bundles, as well. There are plenty of people who would jump at the chance to DIY their own Halloween nail designs.

Be sure that you are stocked to sell, and that these items and bundles are front and center in your store.  

4. When to Post Fall Nail Content

In 2024, internet searches for “fall nails” have steadily increased by over 50% since the first week in August. This is expected to reach a fever pitch at the end of September as it did in 2023, when internet searches for “fall nails” peaked on September 30 (based on search trends from Pinterest, TikTok and Google). Okay, so, what does this mean for you? 

Based on Vagaro data, actual nail color appointments typically occur about 5-7 days following such a peak in internet search interest. If you want the week of October 5-7 to be busy, then you want to strategically publish fall nail-related social media content we mentioned above in advance of such a peak. 

Post around the end of September or the first week of October, which gives clients time to plan what they want in that lag between the peak and the appointment. By following this approach, you can effectively target your social media content to reach the maximum number of potential customers interested in fall nail art. 

If you were late in riding this initial fall nails wave, don’t worry, as you’ll get another chance. A second, albeit smaller peak in fall nails search interest is expected for the first week of November, after Halloween. 

Speaking of Halloween... 

5. When to Post Halloween Nails Content

Halloween deviates from the norm a bit (some might call it...paranormal), but, boy, people get excited for Halloween nail art! In 2024, there’s been a 38% weekly increase in searches for Halloween nail designs since August 2, with a surge expected in the first week of October! Nail appointments increase 2-4 days after such a spike.  

Searches for Halloween nail designs are expected to peak two weeks before the actual holiday, or, around October 17. By posting content by the second week of October, your nail business can effectively capitalize on the heightened online interest and potentially attract more customers looking to book appointments. 

6. When to Market Your Seasonal Nail Services

If you plan to run special sales or any seasonal promotions, you want to ready your Daily Deals ahead of time and prep your email and text marketing campaigns. 

Given what we know about the peak search times for fall and Halloween nails, here are some specific timing suggestions for releasing automated emails and texts: 

• End of September: Send a pre-Halloween email or text campaign highlighting fall nail trends and offering early-bird discounts or promotions. 

• First Week of October: Follow up with another email or text campaign emphasizing the popularity of fall nail designs and providing a limited-time offer. 

• Mid-October: Send a final campaign reminding customers about the upcoming Halloween holiday and offering last-minute appointments or exclusive deals. 

By strategically timing your email and text marketing campaigns, you can effectively reach your target audience and drive sales for your fall and Halloween nail services. Be sure to include links to your online store, social media and Daily Deals in corresponding emails and texts. 

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Never underestimate the power of perennial nail trends, especially those connected to holidays. Of course, when those appointments start flowing in, you’ll need software that is flexible enough to take prepayment, and accommodate last-minute shift changes, cancellations, no-shows and rescheduling. And probably one that enables smooth and seamless client check-in and lets you effectively manage rooms and other resources. Vagaro is a booking software designed for all seasons and all business sizes. Start your 30-day FREE trial now and give yourself the advantage you deserve!