Island Girl Nails Manicurists

Vicki Thompson

Owner/Licensed Manicurist

After spending my twenties and early thirties on a couple of different careers, I fell upon the idea of becoming a manicurist. I attended school and became licensed in January 2005, and opened Island Girl Nails immediately after. I love the challenge of managing a small business, as well as taking care of my clients! 
My husband and I have lived on Whidbey since 1998, have an amazing daughter (who works at the salon), an awesome son-in-law, and a spunky granddaughter. We are also servants to our dogs and cats...

Sarah Wasser

Assistant Manager/Licensed Manicurist

In the summer before my junior year of high school, I took a cosmetology course through a local community college, and decided that I didn't like hair or skin nearly as much as I liked nails! In my senior year, mom felt the nail salon calling as well, and it was a given that this was what I was I meant to do. Upon graduating high school, I took two weeks off for myself, and enrolled in nail school as soon as I could. I graduated in November of 2005….and have been loving my job ever since!
I have lived on Whidbey since 1998, with a few years spent in Virginia supporting my husband in his military career. We are happily settled back on the island, raising our beautiful daughter! We also share our house with a dog, a cat, and a few fish.

Lynn Murphey

Licensed Manicurist

I grew up in Kirkland and was blessed to spend my days at the barn riding and showing horses.  I still have the love for horses!
I worked in retail selling clothes where I met an incredible friend who one day asked me what my fantasy job was... I said I want to be a nail tech, she handed me the phone and said what’s stopping you? I completed school and was issued a cosmetology license in 1985. I feel blessed to have found a career that I love to this day!
I moved over to the island June 2018 for the summer and never left.. I split my time between working at Island Girl Nails, helping my friend at horse shows, and caring for my dogs and cats.

Sherry Mejico-Hochenedel

Licensed Manicurist

I was born and raised in southern California and worked in the medical field for most of my adult life. My husband and I and our furry kids moved to Whidbey Island in September 2015. His parents have lived here for close to 20 years and gave us the opportunity to build a house on a lot in Scatchet Head that we couldn't pass up. I've been a client of Sarah's for a couple years now and when she asked me if I was interested in going to school to become a manicurist, I thought that it would be a good career change. I'm happy to say I completed my apprenticeship in 2022 and I'm now a Licensed Manicurist!

Tasha Hornshaw

Licensed Manicurist

I have lived on Whidbey Island almost my whole life, planted here in 1986. I’ve had a few different careers here on the island, most of you probably recognize me from my years at Payless!

I got my license in 2014 and have worked at a couple different salons but then some life changes happened and I couldn’t practice nails anymore.

And then one day I got a message from Vicki asking me if I’d like to come work for her! So I did!! I worked with her and the girls one day a week while I was still working my full time job at Payless! I did that for a few years before Covid struck and I had to step down once again from nails.

Fast forward a couple more years and Vicki asked me again if I’d like to come work for her part time in the summer and I again said yes!! That’s when I decided this is my career path I want to be on!

I am happily married to an island boy since 2021, we love our very extended family, camping, and our dogs!

Cassidy Van Tryfle

Apprentice