@scouts_sets: Senior Scout Jacobs has a nail business, Scout’s Sets, and does her family and friend’s manicures

Flinging open the front door of her house, senior Scout Jacobs greets her newest client from the doorway.

The 17-year-old nail artist only started her business, Scout’s Sets, last August, yet she sees five friends and family members weekly — with 25 monthly customers — and makes $150 on a good week.

“I love [doing nails],” Jacobs said. “It’s my favorite thing in the world.”

When a customer enters Jacobs’ dining-room-turned-nail-studio, she urges her clients to sit down on a padded, mustard yellow chair to get comfortable — they’ll be chatting about school and listening to 70s songs for the following two hours.

Strewn across her hot pink table are polishing drills, acetone bottles and handrests. 

At her desk, Jacobs pulls out her phone and clicks on the Pinterest photos her client has texted her. It’s how she starts all her appointments and how her clients send Jacobs inspiration for their designs.

Scrolling through the shiny, bedazzled and matte nails, Jacobs points out concepts that match best with her client’s requests. They discuss nail lengths and shapes, such as medium length and almond tips. Jacobs will create whatever her clients want. 

“I really want people to send me what they’re feeling and so many pictures,” Jacobs said. “When people text me and they’re like, ‘Oh, I don’t really know what I want’ I’m like, ‘Go on Pinterest, go wherever you want, and just send me a bunch of pictures.’”

Once the design is picked out, Jacobs settles down and selects colors from her book of acrylic hues. 

“They can look through the book, and I have different base colors and nude colors,” Jacobs said. “I have about 30 to 45 nude colors and about 40 to 70 just plain colors.”

Nude pink is senior Adelaide Basta’s go-to color. Basta was Jacobs’ first client, doing their nails together before prom, and has seen Jacobs’ business through its early stages. First, Jacobs did her friends nails, trying out an Amazon gel nail kit. Slowly, she began charging her clients and amassing “regulars.”

“Scout’s my best friend,” Basta said. “I love getting my nails done because we get to talk the entire time. I feel like most people can’t stick with a hobby to that level, especially with school, but she’s so crazy and awesome.”

Jacobs uses her refined art skills as she stares down at a fingertip, perfecting a lace-tipped nail or diagonal French tip.

She has been an artist since early childhood, according to Scout’s mom, Whitney Jacobs. Whitney would often find Jacobs creating her own art supplies out of existing materials instead of using conventional art kit chalks and paint.

“She would smash [chalk] up and make her own colors, because the colors that came from the manufacturer were just not doing it,” Whitney said. “She needed more of a variety and she had to have been like maybe six. She would grind the sidewalk chalk down and then make little mounds, almost like how you’d see, when you travel and see spices.”

Although she no longer specializes in concrete driveway chalk creations, Jacobs still enjoys the artistic process of her appointments. She plans on continuing her business by joining the Johnson County Community College’s Cosmetology Program post-high school.

“It’s one of those jobs that you have so much creative freedom and you can make such a good living off,” Jacobs said. “Because none of [the designs] are the same, I’ll never be bored.”

Jacobs finishes off the top layer of her client’s nails and blows off the nail-bit dust. Her product is finished, but there’s one more thing she must do: take pictures for her Instagram account.

Jacobs’ Instagram, @scouts_sets, has over 150 followers and 80 posts — featuring her latest client’s sets like color-changing polish and 3D acrylics.

As Jacobs’ clients step out of her door, she always hands first-time customers a complimentary goody bag — filled with supplies such as a bottle of cuticle oil, one-time use lotion packs and a nail file to keep their nails maintained. Jacobs waves goodbye to her clients as they walk away with a smile on their face and a new manicure.

“I just really like seeing everyone feel super confident after they get their nails done because it’s so important if it makes you feel confident,” Jacobs said. “If nails make you feel super confident, get your nails done.”