The Naked Nailist Charity Calendar: 12 UK techs bare all in aid of Mind

Twelve nail pros from across the UK have stripped off for a charity calendar shoot, to raise money for mental health charity, Mind. They’ve stepped outside their comfort zones, roped friends and family members in to take their photos and shown their support for mental health awareness – all thanks to conversation at Danny Manchip’s nail desk.

The Exeter-based nail pro, who scooped the Scratch Stars Home Salon of the Year title in 2022, reveals that it was a client who gave him the idea to create a charity calendar. “She told me that her husband, a fireman, created a naked calendar as a joke present for family and friends last Christmas,” Danny shares. “His fireman’s hat covered his modesty in each photo, and I thought a nail tech version would be fun. I was open to doing it, so knew that others in the nail community would be, too.”

The first step was to find 11 other pros who were willing to participate. “I contacted techs I’m closest to, and some swiftly declined,” Danny laughs. “Others thought my message was spam, and a few committed to the project straight away. I then reached out to members of the wider nail realm until every month of the calendar was assigned to a pro.”

Danny had initially planned to create the calendar for 2027, but excitement amongst the techs led them to taking photos in their own nail spaces over the summer months, meaning Danny had the content to publish a 2026 calendar. “I created a group chat and the 12 of us discussed ideas,” Danny continues. “Some techs used props relevant to their month, while others posed within their nail desks. I wanted everyone involved to feel comfortable – and the photos are amazing!”

Why Mind?

“I think we are all aware of the importance of mental health,” says Danny. “I deal with things that affect me by masking them with humour, but not everyone can do this – and shouldn’t have to. We need to make sure that people are talking about their challenges and being more open about their feelings.

“As nail techs, we experience clients offloading issues at their appointments, and don’t want them to feel like they can’t. However, we often take on these stresses and need to recognise that our mental health can be impacted.”

Danny continues: “The reason I chose to launch a naked calendar is to showcase people being brave. It catches attention, and being in aid of Mind, can spark necessary conversations surrounding mental health. I believe this to be the first naked calendar in aid of Mind. I like to think outside of the box, and hope it raises funds for the charity and awareness of mental health issues.”

The pros involved in The Naked Nailist Charity Calendar:

• January – Nicole Hoskins
• February – Leanne Golder
• March – Danny Manchip
• April – Becky Marlow
• May – Emily Woodman
• June – June Gilbert
• July – Sammie Wynter-Hamilton
• August – Sam Devereux
• September – Emma Newcombe
• October – James Reeve-Shillito
• November – Caroline Dovey
• December – Stephanie Staunton

Preorder the calendar by clicking here, and follow @thenakednailists on Instagram.

Watch Scratch’s interview with Danny Manchip about The Naked Nailist Charity Calendar below…