Julie Kandalec

What is your signature style/artistic expression of your work? 

Currently, my style stretches two very different ways – quiet luxury or trending nail art. Quiet luxury nails are, of course, just a gorgeous nail style that features a semi-sheer nail with impeccable cuticles – which is perfect for my celebrity clients that need to change their nail color frequently. I use a non-wipe (acetone resistant) gel top coat, and then we polish it over with lacquer-like CND Vinylux for the event, and the gel underneath is perfectly intact when my client removes the Vinylux.

Do you have a career turning point, big break, or person that has helped your career? 

The time that I spent as the Creative Director for Paintbox put me in front of every beauty editor in NYC and taught me so much about opening a physical salon and everything that comes along with it. I stepped down in 2019, but I will forever be grateful for my five years there. 

What was the scariest and proudest moment in your career? 

For many people, including myself, the lockdown was the scariest moment, but for me, I did what I could to turn lemons into lemonade. I took that time to finish my first product, my Nail Art Design Book and designed it. I opened my private atelier, Julie K Nail Artelier, which opened in April 2021 and sold out immediately with a 6+ month waitlist. 

What is next for your career goals? 

While I can’t give away everything I’m working on (wink), I can share that I am creating a Beauty and business Mastermind in Bali for summer 2024! More info is available on my website, Julieknailacademy.com. It’s not just for nail pros – it’s for all beauty sectors – hair stylists, makeup artists and estheticians. It’s perfect because I can combine three things I love and bring other beauty pros: teaching, entrepreneurship, and travel. 

What advice would you give to someone starting your business? 

Spend the time creating an authentic brand that will set you up for clients to find you and remember you from day 1. Avoid making a business name like “Nails by Julie” because you don’t know what else to call it. It’s not memorable, and you cannot protect it later because the words are too common. Use AI to help you create unique brand names and tweak them to make them your own. Then, choose branding colors to keep everything cohesive and professional. It’s something I love guiding beauty pros through in my course, and I have loved seeing every new brand stand out and thrive!

Instagram:  @julieknailsnyc