Julie Kandalec is a professional manicurist.
From the young age of 12, Kandalec knew her future was in nails. “When I grow up, I want to be a manicurist” she wrote in English class. Finishing beauty school at the top of her class at 17 was just the beginning of a prosperous career.
To Julie, nail care is far beyond just polish. Always the artist, she is also trained in painting, drawing, color, and dance.
Known for her gentle touch, calm demeanor, and precise attention to detail, Julie’s specialties vary from a clean, natural nail to elaborate, custom designed nails.
Julie’s work can now be seen in Allure, Vanity Fair, Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire, Shape, V, and multiple international issues of Vogue.
In 2017, she launched her popular travel and beauty blog, Julie Off Duty.
In 2019, she announced her new global nail academy, Masterclass Nail Academy, providing education to salons, spas, and hotel resorts worldwide.
2020 brought the launch of her first retail product, a 42-page creative workbook called “Nail Art Design Book”.
Julie lives in Brooklyn and is happily available to travel worldwide.
She has worked for photographers such as: Alexi Lubomirski, Arthur Belebeau, Arthur Elgort, Ben Watts, Chris Colls, Davis Factor, Diego Uchitel, Donna Trope, Eric Ray Davidson, Guy Aroch, Jamie Nelson, Kenneth Willardt, Lara Jade, Marc Baptiste, Matt Jones, Mike Ruiz, Norman Jean Roy, Pamela Hanson, Paola Kudacki, Patrick Demarchelier, Richard Burbridge, Russell James, Terry Richardson, Terry Tsiolis, Victor Demarchelier, Warwick Saint, Yu Tsai.
Directors such as Michael Bay.
Her roster of celebrity clients includes: Allison Janney, Amber Heard, Anna Faris, Ariana Grande, Ashlee Simpson, Aubrey Plaza, Brooke Candy, Camila Alves, Camila Cabello, Christina Hendricks, Christina Ricci, Debra Messing, Demi Lovato, Elisabeth Moss, Ellie Goulding, Emilia Clarke, Emma Roberts, Eve, Gina Gershon, Glenn Close, Grimes, Hailee Steinfeld, Hilary Duff, Jemima Kirke, Jessica Chastain, Jill Scott, Joan Jett, Jonathan Van Ness, Kaley Cuoco, Kate Walsh, Kate Upton, Kelly Ripa, Kim Cattrall, Kyra Sedgwick, Lea Michele, Lucy Boynton, Lucy Hale, Madelaine Petsch, Mariah Carey, Marion Cotillard, Mel B, MJ Rodriguez, Millie Bobby Brown, Olivia Munn, Olivia Palermo, Padma Lakshmi, Priyanka Chopra, Rami Malek, Rosario Dawson, Rose Byrne, Ruth Negga, Sally Field, Shay Mitchell, Stacy London, Taylor Schilling, Tori Kelly, Victoria Justice, Viola Davis, Zosia Mahmet.
Her advertising clients include: Almay, Altuzarra, Avon, Bloomingdale’s, Bobbi Brown, Clairol, Coca-Cola, Cole Haan, Dior Beauty, Essie, Fresh, Georg Jensen, Gloria Vanderbilt, Glossier, Isaac Mizrahi, JCPenney, John Hardy, Kiss Nails, Laura Mercier, The Limited, L’Oreal, Mary Kay, Maybelline, Monique Lhullier, Nicole Miller, Pamela Love, Presiosa, Proctor & Gamble, Rebecca Minkoff, Reem Acra, Saks Fifth Avenue, Sinful Colors, Static Nails, Swarovski, Target, Tiffany & Co., Urban Decay, Valentino, Verragio, Victoria Beckham Beauty, Victoria’s Secret, YSL Beauty.
Her work has graced the pages of magazines like: Allure, Cosmopolitan , Elle, Essence, Esquire, Fitness, Flaunt, Glamour (Germany, USA, Italy), Harper’s Bazaar, InStyle, Marie Claire, Muse, No Tufu, Paper, Real Simple, Scratch (UK), Self, Seventeen, Shape, Teen Vogue, Tush, W Magazine, V, Vanity Fair, Vogue (Italy, Mexico, Portugal, Russia, South America, Spain, Taiwan, Turkey).
Kandalec recently opened her own private nail studio in lower Manhattan, called Julie K Nail Artelier.
Now you can also join her Julie K Nail Academy, aimed at turning nail artists into Nailpreneurs who can then build a VIP service business in their local market.
She is represented by Bryan Bantry Agency and you can find her portfolio HERE
You can also visit her personal website HERE
