At least one publisher is looking to capitalize on the nail phenomenon.

Creative Age, the publisher of NAILPRO magazine, a leading trade publication covering nail trends for the salon industry, is planning to launch a consumer magazine covering fashion, beauty, and yes, nails. The magazine, to be titled Nail It!, is slated for a February launch on newsstands nationwide. Stephanie Yaggy, Editorial Director for Creative Age, which also publishes Launch Pad, Beauty Store Business and Dayspa trade magazines, is aiming for the debut issue to reach between 140 to 150 pages. Distribution will be 200,000.

Nail It! will start as a bi-monthly, published six times a year. Deborah Carver, who serves as publisher for Creative Age’s other titles, will oversee Nail It!, as well. It will retail for $5.99.

Yaggy presented mock ups of the consumer magazine at Cosmprof North America, where she said dozens of nail and beauty manufacturers showed interest in the book.

“The idea is that it’s a fashion beauty magazine about nails and how nails are fitting in with makeup, fashion and accessories. We showed it to companies who we currently work with at NAILPRO. They were very positive about it.”

Yaggy said the time is right for a consumer magazine targeting the white-hot nail category. According to NPD, nail experienced the largest growth of all beauty segments with a growth of 68 percent in first half 2012. All sub-segments of nail gained in sales, including color enamel (+70%), nail care (+36%), and base/top coats (+100%).

“We’ve always said that nails are recession proof but we felt a little pinch in 2008. But our pages are back up and each magazine is a good 25% larger. With NAILPRO and the category growing so much recently, anyone can see how much nails are in the forefront.”

Yaggy cited how popular nails are during the Olympics, with manufacturers such as Minx setting up a “nail sanctuary” in Olympic Village. And, she said, “Consumer mags are covering nails like never before.”

Content for the February issue will include a mix of Fashion Week nail trends, how to maintain healthy nails, celebrity nails, how to find a hygienic salon, and accessory and fashion spreads.