Our Story
From one wedding to hundreds of hands — and a whole lot of Cape Cod sunshine.
It all started with a few “Can you do my nails for my wedding?!” texts.
I started doing manicures for my friends before their big days — then their sisters, moms, and bridesmaids would want in. It was fun, relaxed, and personal… and sparked an idea: what if this could actually be a thing?
I was a stay-at-home mom then, so keeping regular salon hours just wasn’t in the cards. Weddings made sense — I could work nights and weekends, be with my kids during the week, and make a little extra doing something I loved.
In 2016, Cape Cod Nail Co. officially launched as the Cape’s first mobile nail salon, bringing professional, natural nail services to homes, hotels, and wedding weekends across the Cape. I built the business on a stationary bike while training for a bodybuilding competition — cold-emailing Cape Cod wedding professionals during fasted cardio sessions at 5 a.m. to spread the word about my new service. It started to take off.
By our second year, our team grew from just me, "the nail girl", to a network of ten licensed nail techs, servicing more than 80 weddings and events.
As the business expanded, so did the vision. Inspired by one of my best friends, a spark ignited that would solve a few pain points — a short season, rising product costs, and underperforming generic products. I launched Cape Cod Nail Co.’s own 21-free, vegan, cruelty-free polish line: a long-wear, professional formula that stays put and gives our clients a little Cape Cod charm. Each shade is curated and named with a wink to the Cape, from Hello Hydrangea to Did The Rotary Confuschia?!
In 2019, we were selected for a pop-up shop through Mashpee Commons and EforAll — a retail space to spread brand awareness and meet customers face to face. I used to say I’d never open a brick-and-mortar salon. I honestly couldn’t picture it. The risk, the investment, the commitment...it terrified me! But the response to our product and our service was overwhelming. The community loved it, and even though I didn’t know it at the time, we were onto something bigger than I ever imagined. Conveniently, a nail salon vacancy opened just a street over as our pop-up term came to an end.
We were just about to sign the lease when COVID hit. Everything came to a freeze. We lost our healthcare accounts and our weddings overnight.
With a quick pivot, our polish line started to take off — people were stuck at home doing their own nails, and Cape Cod Nail Co. polish became part of their at-home routines. When salons began to reopen, being mobile worked in our favor. Our services were in high demand, and we could roll right to our clients’ driveways, porches, and patios — filling tubs in outdoor showers, chasing daylight, and offering safe outdoor manicures that kept our team working and our community connected.
As the daylight hours grew shorter and it became too cold to work outside, we decided to move forward with the Mashpee Commons. My dad and I — with the help of a few contractor friends — built out the salon ourselves, and in December 2020, we opened our doors in The Mashpee Commons. The vision was simple: a clean, bright, cheerful space focused on customer service, natural nails, quality products, and community connection.
Since then, we’ve had the opportunity to serve thousands of clients, build an incredible team, and give back in all the ways that matter — from local school fundraisers and raffles to featuring local artists, collaborating with Cape brands, and supporting other small businesses.
This past summer, Summer 2025, we reached one of our proudest milestones yet — the launch of Colors For Causes, our little sister 501(c)(3) nonprofit that turns polish into purpose. Each collection raises funds and awareness for scholarships, local programs, and charitable initiatives that make a difference in our community.
And now, as we approach our 5th Birthday at the salon and 10th year in business, a second brick-and-mortar location is on the horizon. We’ve set our sights on the Outer Cape and are chomping at the bit to share the details!
We’re endlessly grateful for the friends, family, clients, and community partners who’ve supported us every step of the way. Thanks for following our journey as we grow — with quality, connection, and a whole lot of Cape Cod sunshine. 💅🏼🌊
xx — Sarah M.