Julie Kandalec is a celebrity go-to manicurist for red carpet events, openings and just about any and everything in the A-List world.
Mariah Carey, Camila Cabello, Emma Roberts,Hailee Steinfeld are just some of her celeb clients, and essie, Chanel, Dior Beauty, Urban Decay, Coca-Cola and Victoria’s Secret have used her for advertising campaigns and promotion materials. Her tasteful finishes have been seen at the Academy Awards, Golden Globes, Grammys, and within top publications including Vogue, Cosmopolitan, Harper’s Bazaar.
MODERN tracked her down to ask Kandalec for her insider scoop on working with celebrities.
5 Tips for working with celebrities:
1. Having flexibility and adaptability with your schedule is key - and a necessity. No more 9-5 hours, and it’s not Monday-Friday.
2. Know how to do everything -hard gel, gel polish, acrylic, etc. Many celebrities wear acrylic or hard gel. And although it seems obvious, know how to polish PERFECTLY!
3. Be ahead of the trends - celebs are the ones who set the trends so it’s pertinent to be able to recognize and forecast trends ahead of that curve.
4. Be FAST! Celebs have a crazy schedule and simply don’t have the time to have a relaxing 3-hour appointment. But be prepared for what’s needed. One client needed five hours for a complicated, full re-do including removal, fill, the whole works.
5. Be able to work everywhere but at a nail station. Recently I was working with a well-known vocalist and was balancing my monomer on a nail file bridged between my knees!
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