Ninety-two percent of girls between the ages of nine and 17 use some sort of nail product — making it the most popular cosmetic item among teen girls. “Similar to lip makeup, girls are introduced to nail products at young ages, often before their teen and tween years,” says Shannon Romanowski, beauty and personal care analyst at Mintel. “The popularity of nail products is partly due to the abundance of options these cosmetics offer — special effect polishes, nail art, etc. Girls can create a whole different look relatively easily.”

Nail product usage rises to 97% for girls aged 12-14, and 14% of all teen and tween girls use nail products on a daily basis. Mintel research found that the popularity of nail products among teens and tweens is consistent with the overall strong performance of the nail care and color category, which saw growth of roughly 72% between 2007 and 2012.

 “The affordability of nail polish, in addition to new product innovations, has made the category especially popular among younger girls,” says Romanowski. “Brands are also extending their appeal by offering products based on iconic characters like Hello Kitty and even popular childhood desserts like ice cream and sprinkles.”