Fresh off their CIF SoCal Regional Division I Championship win in June, JSerra Catholic High School’s Varsity Baseball Team is back in the classroom and looking forward to another memorable season ahead. But performing on the field is not their only challenge. Academic excellence, personal development, spiritual growth, and social maturity all play key roles in solidifying their confidence and success as champions. And looking the part is important too!
JSerra Lions’ Head Coach, Brett Kay, knows the importance of developing the whole player. He is the longest-tenured head baseball coach in Southern California’s Trinity League (arguably the best prep circuit in the country). On top of that, his program has been ranked among the nation's top 10 in three of the last six seasons, and the JSerra Lions are regularly listed among Orange County's top baseball teams. You don’t achieve a record like that by simply running drills on the baseball diamond.
Not only has Coach Kay lifted JSerra Baseball to peak performance on the field, but his leadership off-field ensures these young men will succeed in the game of life as well.
For the players, being part of a roster of this caliber requires a tremendous amount of talent, hard work, and uncompromised discipline. While Coach Kay’s leadership creates outstanding young athletes both on and off the field, Laguna Niguel Lifestyle and Ocean Ranch Village-based Hammer & Nails Grooming Shop for Guys thought it would be a great idea to team up in support of these fine young men. We decided to provide a little grooming session of our own.
Hammer & Nails owners, Mike and Beverly Shepherd, turned on the hospitality. They opened the salon exclusively to the team, brought in their top licensed stylists, and gave these champion athletes the royal treatment they deserve! This included all the world-class premium haircuts and nail treatments that Hammer & Nails is so famous for—including high-grade essential oils, aromatherapeutic lavender-infused hot towels, reflexology, and massage.
The Hammer & Nails Story
Complete with oversized leather chairs, big-screen TVs, and noise-canceling headphones for privacy and comfort, Hammer & Nails is the ultimate in grooming for guys.
The Hammer & Nails story dates back to 2013 when the company’s founder, Michael Elliot, urgently needed some help grooming his hands and feet. After heading into a local nail salon, he knew immediately that the place was not for him, and he walked out. Not only was the décor and ambiance not suitable for men, but the judgmental stares he received from other clients in the salon made it very uncomfortable for him.
That’s when the lightbulb went off! He knew he needed to create a place for guys to go and get the kind of grooming care they want and need—in an environment that suits them. He envisioned a place where every guy, regardless of the color of his collar, would feel at home.
Enter an appearance on Shark Tank in September of 2014. That episode, featuring Elliot and his Hammer & Nails concept, was the most-watched season premiere in the show’s history. And, while the company did not get its launch that night from the Sharks, this spirited entrepreneur did receive dozens of calls from others who saw the vision and wanted to support him and the concept. The rest is history. Currently, there are over 25 Hammer & Nails locations in operation and several more in the pipeline.
For Laguna Niguel franchise owners, Mike and Beverly Shepherd, the opportunity was love at first sight! They immediately saw potential in the brand, embraced its business plan, and—lucky for us—brought this amazing concept to Ocean Ranch Village in Laguna Niguel.
The goal at Hammer & Nails Grooming Shop for Guys is to give any guy a place to go where he can take care of his hands, feet, and hair in a true “man cave” environment. The signature services offered are top shelf—and the ingredients used in many of the service offerings have medicinal properties that can help improve your health as well.
Initially, for these JSerra athletes, this afternoon together merely meant a missed baseball practice. However, by the time we were finished, it was so much more than that. This was yet another great life experience; it was an opportunity to share some laughs, deepen their bond, and grow tighter as a team. After all, as Coach Kay says, “Success on the field all comes down to how much these kids love each other.” Go Lions! jserraathletics.org
Special thanks to Mike and Beverly Shepherd--and the entire crew at Hammer & Nails Grooming for Guys. For more information on services or memberships, call (949) 340-3559 or visit hammerandnailsgrooming.com
