Start with six core services. Classic manicure and pedicure and gel polish and gel extensions and nail art and a spa upgrade. Add acrylics and dip powder and Russian manicure once demand proves out. Every service needs a chair time before it goes on the menu.
A long menu is not the same as a good one. Every service you add costs training and stock and diary complexity.
This guide covers what to offer first and what to add later. Each service carries a chair time and a rebooking cycle.
Your Menu at a Glance
| Service | Chair time | Rebooks every | Skill level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Classic manicure | 30 – 40 mins | 2 – 3 weeks | Entry |
| Classic pedicure | 45 – 60 mins | 4 – 6 weeks | Entry |
| Gel polish manicure | 45 – 60 mins | 2 – 3 weeks | Entry |
| Builder gel overlay | 60 – 90 mins | 3 – 4 weeks | Intermediate |
| Gel extensions | 90 – 120 mins | 3 – 4 weeks | Intermediate |
| Acrylic extensions | 90 – 120 mins | 2 – 3 weeks | Advanced |
| Dip powder | 60 – 75 mins | 3 – 4 weeks | Intermediate |
| Russian manicure | 75 – 90 mins | 3 – 4 weeks | Advanced |
| French finish | Add 15 mins | With base service | Intermediate |
| Ombre or baby boomer | Add 20 mins | With base service | Intermediate |
| Nail art per nail | Add 5 – 20 mins | With base service | Varies |
| Spa manicure or pedicure | Add 20 – 30 mins | 4 – 6 weeks | Entry |
| Men's manicure or pedicure | 30 – 45 mins | 4 – 6 weeks | Entry |
| Soak off and removal | 15 – 30 mins | With rebooking | Entry |
Start With These Six
1. Classic Manicure
Shape and cuticle care and a hand massage and polish. The service every other one builds from.
It is also your best first appointment for a new client. Low commitment and an easy route into add ons.
2. Classic Pedicure
Soak and callus work and shaping and polish. Higher ticket than a manicure and a longer gap between visits.
3. Gel Polish Manicure
Cured under UV or LED and chip free for two to three weeks. This is the volume service in most nail bars.
Always charge for removal separately. Free soak offs quietly eat a chunk of your day.
4. Gel Extensions
Length built with gel and shaped to the client's chosen style. Lighter and more natural looking than acrylic.
5. Nail Art
Price per nail rather than per set. A client wanting art on two accent nails should not pay for ten.
This is your highest margin add on and the one clients photograph.
6. Spa Upgrade
Scrub and mask and extended massage added to a manicure or pedicure. Twenty extra minutes for a meaningful price rise.
Add These as You Grow
7. Acrylic Extensions
Powder and liquid shaped into a hard layer. Strong and highly sculptable for dramatic shapes.
Needs proper ventilation and trained technicians. Do not add it without both.
8. Dip Powder
Colour built in layers with no lamp required. Popular with clients who want durability without UV.
Use a decanting method rather than dipping into a shared pot. Shared pots are a hygiene issue.
9. Builder Gel Overlay
Strength on the natural nail with no added length. Growing fast among clients moving away from acrylic.
10. Russian Manicure
Precision cuticle work with an electric file for an extremely clean finish. Polish sits closer to the cuticle and lasts longer.
This is advanced work. It requires specific training and carries real injury risk when done badly.
11. Men's Manicure and Pedicure
Cleaning and shaping and callus work with a buffed rather than polished finish. An underserved market in most areas.
12. Hybrid Polish
Applied like regular polish but cured for longer wear. A middle option for clients who find gel too committing.
Add Ons That Lift the Ticket
- French finish. Fifteen extra minutes and a timeless request.
- Ombre and baby boomer fades. Twenty extra minutes and highly photogenic.
- Chrome and cat eye finishes. Minutes to apply and clients ask for them by name.
- Paraffin treatment. Warm wax on hands or feet. Strong seller in winter.
- Nail repair. One broken nail fixed rather than a full rebalance.
- Take home cuticle oil. Retail attached to the service that needs it.
Track which add ons actually sell through your point of sale and drop the ones that do not.
One Service to Think Twice About
Fish pedicures using Garra rufa fish appear on some menus. They should be approached carefully rather than added casually.
- They are banned or restricted in many US states and in several other countries
- The fish cannot be sterilised between clients and neither can the tank
- Health authorities have raised infection transmission concerns
Check your state or local regulator before considering it. A service that is illegal in your area is not a menu gap.
How to Price the Menu?
Price on chair time rather than on what the salon down the road charges.
- Work out your cost per hour including rent and wages and product
- Multiply by the chair time for each service
- Add your margin then check it against local rates
- Charge separately for removal and repairs
- Price nail art per nail rather than per set
A ninety minute service priced like a sixty minute one loses money on every booking.
How to Decide What to Add Next?
- Check what clients ask for and you turn away. Log every declined request for a month.
- Look at the gap locally. Curly nail art and Russian manicure and men's services are often underserved.
- Count the cost properly. Training and stock and the diary time to learn it.
- Check the rebooking cycle. A service clients return for every three weeks beats one they book yearly.
- Review the numbers quarterly. Pull service level data from performance reporting.
Drop services that have not been booked in six months. A shorter menu books faster and stocks cheaper.
Running the Menu
- Set accurate durations so the diary does not slip
- Store shape and shade and any allergies against each client record
- Let clients book the exact service through online booking
- Link product usage to inventory so colours are never out of stock
Frequently Asked Questions
What nail services should every salon offer?
Classic manicure and pedicure and gel polish and gel extensions and nail art. Add a spa upgrade for higher tickets.
Which nail service is most profitable?
Nail art as an add on. It takes minutes and carries very little product cost.
How long should I book for gel extensions?
Ninety to one hundred and twenty minutes. Rushing extension work leads to lifting and free repairs.
Should I charge for gel removal?
Yes. Removal takes fifteen to thirty minutes of chair time and should be priced accordingly.
Is acrylic or gel better to offer?
Offer gel first. It suits more clients and needs less ventilation. Add acrylic once you have trained staff.
How many services should a nail salon menu have?
Enough to cover demand and no more. Drop anything unbooked for six months.
Final Thoughts
A good nail menu is built around chair time and rebooking cycles rather than around trends.
Start with six services done well. Add the rest once clients are asking and your team is trained.
Our nail salon software keeps durations and formulas and stock aligned so a growing menu does not break the diary.
