Ep. 23 | Nailing It: Celebrity Manicurist Julie Kandalec’s Impact on Beauty and Glam
julie"IT’S ABOUT DOING YOUR RESEARCH ON THE CLIENT BECAUSE WE CAN’T PUSH A CLIENT TO DO SOMETHING THAT’S OFF BRAND"
Julie Kandalec is a top celebrity manicurist, educator, and founder who’s made chic, on-trend nails accessible for everyone. You’ll hear us talk about the business of being a manicurist, building your brand, assisting on set and more.
description:
In this episode, we step into the captivating world of nail artistry with celebrity manicurist and educator Julie Kandalec. As the founding creative director of Paintbox NYC, Julie transformed chic, trendy nails into a mainstream sensation and now shares her expertise globally through her Nailpreneur™️ course. From working with stars like Jessica Chastain, Emily Blunt, Selena Gomez, and Joe Jonas to gracing major beauty campaigns and New York Fashion Week, Julie’s impact on the beauty industry is undeniable.
We explore Julie’s journey discovering her passion for nails, becoming an educator, and navigating the social media landscape, including the rise of press-on nails. She shares the importance of rest and separating work from personal life, the unwavering support from her father, and the art of building and managing the right team and relationships. Julie also discusses nails as part of the glam team, what it means to be a creative director, and the significance of health insurance and legal support in her career.
Whether you’re an aspiring nail artist or beauty professional, this episode offers invaluable insights into building a lasting, successful career.
Show Topics:
Discovering a passion for nails and becoming an educator
Navigating social media and the press-on nail trend
The importance of rest and work-life balance
Building a supportive team and managing assistants
Nails as part of the glam team at major events
Cultivating strong professional relationships
Understanding the role of a creative director
Prioritizing health insurance and legal representation
Planning for future goals and opportunities
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Introduction
3:59 Discovering my love for nails
7:48 Becoming an educator
8:48 Entering the social media world, press-on nails
15:45 Rest, separating work from personal life
23:50 My dad, my support system
26:29 Building an exceptional career and portfolio
36:23 Nails and aligning with one’s brand
37:31 Managing and finding the right assistants
48:42 Nails as part of the glam team
51:18 Building relationships in this business
56:38 What makes somebody a Creative Director?
59:33 The next big goal
1:00:59 Health insurance, taking care of your body
1:05:58 Attorney and agent relationships
1:11:21 Openings and opportunities
ABOUT JULIE KANDALEC
Julie Kandalec is a celebrity manicurist, educator, author, and salon owner known for her work on major beauty campaigns and backstage at New York Fashion Week. As the founding creative director of Paintbox NYC, she made chic, on-trend nails accessible to a mainstream clientele and now teaches beauty professionals worldwide through her Nailpreneur™️ course. Her celebrity clients include Jessica Chastain, Emily Blunt, Selena Gomez, Joe Jonas, Mariah Carey, Camila Cabello, AJ McLean, and Hailee Steinfeld. Julie’s work has been featured in Allure, Cosmopolitan, Elle, Glamour, Harper’s Bazaar, InStyle, Vogue, WWD, and on campaigns for Chanel, Essie, Dior Beauty, Gucci, Tiffany & Co., Glossier, Bobbi Brown, Urban Decay, and Maybelline.
Follow Julie on all social media platforms
Instagram | TikTok | X (Twitter) | YouTube
Join and explore her Nailpreneur course here: https://www.julieknailacademy.com/
wHAT’S IN JULIE’S BAG?
CND Solar Oil Cuticle Oil (Keeps cuticles hydrated and prevents lifting or peeling of enhancement)
Chanel LE ROUGE DUO ULTRA TENUE in Bright Raspberry (A bright lip color that instantly elevates your look)
The One Thing (book) (It has been such a helpful tool in productivity, which many entrepreneurs struggle with because we want to do it all!)
Apple AirPods (for calming nerves with classical music or sleep playlists in stressful or noisy situations)
Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen (protects skin and preserves skincare progress as the sun returns)
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