Halloween Nail Art: What Clients Spend and How to Get Your Share

Hey Nail Bestie! Your clients are not being dramatic when they say they love Halloween. The numbers back them up, and nails are a big part of the look. Here is what people are spending, how to get your share of it, and the spooky-season tools I keep stocked.

🦇 🕸️ 🎃 🕸️ 🦇

HALLOWEEN IS COMING FOR YOUR CALENDAR

How Much Do People Spend on Halloween?

The National Retail Federation's 2026 Halloween survey shows just how much the season means to people:

$115

average spend per Halloween celebrator

74%

of consumers plan to celebrate

$13.5B

expected total Halloween spending

Costumes alone are expected to bring in about $4.4 billion, and nearly half of shoppers (49%) start before October even begins. Your clients are planning their looks right now, and their nails are part of the look.

Source: National Retail Federation 2026 Halloween survey, released September 22, 2026. The $115 figure covers all Halloween spending, not nails specifically.

How to Get Your Share as a Nail Tech

A $20 nail art upgrade is a small slice of a $115 average Halloween budget. And Halloween lands on a Saturday this year, so party weekend appointments are about to fill up. Here are three easy ways to put that to work:

Offer one-time Halloween sets. Post carousels, Reels, or Stories announcing limited Halloween appointments. These are great for bringing in new customers without any discounting.
Ask every client. "Want a little spooky art on your accent nails today?" One simple question can add to every ticket.
Keep a display board stocked. Clients cannot want what they cannot see, so show your best Halloween looks where they can point and say "I want that one."

Watch the Halloween Airbrush Nail Art Series on YouTube 🍎

Want easy, repeatable airbrush nail art for your Halloween menu? The full series is on YouTube, and it is free to watch, starting with the Poison Apple Nails tutorial.