Important October dates for your nail & beauty business

Prepare your business for the month with our roundup of October dates to note…

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All month: Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Since 1985, every October has marked Breast Cancer Awareness Month – a campaign organised by major breast cancer charities to raise awareness and funds for the continuation of breast cancer research.

Encourage clients to sport pink this month, with accent nails, embellishments or all-over colour. You could even run an offer on pink nail services, donating a percentage of profits to breast cancer charities.

Check out our gallery of breast cancer awareness nail art ideas here.

All month: Black History Month

October marks the annually observed Black History Month. Remembering important people and events in Black history, the month amplifies the voices and journeys of Black people.

Black culture has contributed massively to the nail industry, and it is always worth highlighting the origins of certain trends, practices and techniques. Raise awareness via social media, highlighting inspiring stories of Black nail technicians and Black-owned salons.

Read Scratch‘s article celebrating the contributions of Black culture to the nail industry.

All month: Menopause Awareness Month

Established by the International Menopause Society (IMS) in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), Menopause Awareness Month aims to shed light on the symptoms of menopause, as well as break down the stigma surrounding it.

A little-known symptom of menopause, and hormonal fluctuations in general, includes changes to nail health. Brittle, peeling and weak nails are common, yet under-discussed effects. Research how you can best support clients and ensure comfort throughout treatments, also bearing in mind symptoms like hot flushes.

Read about how menopause can affect nails here, and how best to support clients here.

1st: National Pumpkin Spice Day

A staple autumnal flavour, pumpkin spice is the epitome of the cooler months. Accompanying gourd-esque motifs work well on nails, with pumpkin micro art and accent nails set to be popular in 2025.

Fall in love with our roundup of pumpkin nail designs here.

4th: World Animal Day

An international day of action for animal welfare and rights, World Animal Day raises awareness for our furry, scaly, finned and feathered friends. This is the perfect occasion to create animal accents for clients wanting to embrace their wild sides.

Check out our article spotlighting pet-friendly salons here, and for design inspiration, view our gallery of autumnal animal nail designs here.

10th: World Mental Health Day

This awareness day is an opportunity to talk about mental health: struggles, access to services and support, and how to reframe negative narratives. A lot of nail techs have spoken about mental health, facing loneliness, anxiety and other difficulties, and raising awareness of these struggles helps remove stigma and promote proper care.

Danny Manchip, Scratch Stars Award-winning home salon owner, has created the first ‘Naked Nailists’ calendar for mental health charity, Mind. Watch our interview with the nail pro about the calendar here.

20th: Diwali

Diwali, or Deepavali, is a Hindu festival celebrating ‘new beginnings and the triumph of good over evil and light over darkness’, according to the BBC. Widely know as the Festival of Lights, Diwali is celebrated using fireworks, intricate light displays, feasts and gifts.

Clients who celebrate the occasion may ask for Diwali-inspired nail looks, so take a look at our gallery of ideas here.

31st: Halloween

It’s spooky season! Due to the creativity that Halloween looks promote, this is a favourite time of year for many nail artists. There are endless hexquisite designs for frightfully fabulous inspo. From gory to ghoulish, creepy to cute, embrace the dark side of nail art and unleash your inner creative beast!

Take a look at some mix ‘n’ match Halloween nail designs to spook your creative spark to life.