In today’s beauty industry, professionalism is measured not only by the number of satisfied clients, but also by the ability to embrace new technologies and continuously expand one’s expertise. This is exactly the path our heroine, Yuliia Bondar, has been following for more than 10 years. Yuliia is a licensed beauty professional, an international championship winner, and a lash artist trusted by more than a thousand clients. After moving to the United States, she not only successfully adapted to a new professional environment but also continued developing her own business, implementing modern techniques and preparing to launch a new educational direction. Today, she is working to promote an innovative LED lash extension technology that is already changing the way people think about the safety, comfort, and longevity of the procedure.
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Yuliia, tell us how your professional journey began. When did you realize that the beauty industry would become your life’s work?
Before entering the beauty industry, I worked at a bank for three years, but I quickly realized that it simply wasn’t the right field for me. I wanted a creative career, opportunities for growth, and the freedom to work for myself. Back in 2009, my sister and I took our first lash extension course, so when I left the bank in 2015, I remembered that experience and decided to return to it professionally. I completed additional training, started working with clients, and gradually realized how much I genuinely enjoyed this profession. I was fascinated by the process itself, by the opportunity to create beauty with my own hands and see the result of my work. With each passing year, I continued to develop, learn new techniques, and shape my own style. That was when I understood that I had found a profession in which I wanted to keep growing.
You already have more than ten years of experience and have worked with over a thousand clients. How has your professional perspective changed over the years?
Over 11 years, my professional perspective has changed significantly because the industry itself has evolved so much. When I was just starting out, I was primarily focused on simply doing my job well. With experience, however, I realized how important it is to see every client as an individual. Quality has always been and remains my top priority, with speed coming second. I want my work to be done so well that the client feels completely comfortable and barely notices that she is wearing extensions. I always consider the shape of the eyes, facial features, age, and what exactly the client wants to emphasize or, conversely, correct. That is why I never work according to the principle of “one style fits everyone.” Some clients need short, natural lashes, while others prefer more volume, but even then, everything should look harmonious. Of course, I keep up with trends, but I would never do something simply because it is fashionable if it does not suit a particular person. What matters to me is that every client leaves feeling beautiful, confident, and genuinely happy with the result.
You have become a winner of international championships, which is a significant professional achievement. How important are these victories to you?
I had dreamed about competing in championships for practically all 11 years of my career, but I kept finding reasons why it wasn’t the right time yet. I felt uncomfortable about going to a major competition where many artists work simultaneously, especially when you cannot always choose the model you need. Once I was in the United States, I realized that if I kept postponing this step, I would never find out what I was truly capable of. So I decided to treat my first competition simply as a trial and entered just one category. And I took first place on my very first attempt! That became a huge source of motivation for me and encouraged me to keep moving forward, so the very next month I participated in a second competition. I entered three different categories and received three awards, as well as a special award from one of the judges. These victories gave me an incredible amount of confidence and showed me that I could compete not only on a local level. I realized that for many years, I had limited myself because of fear, even though I was actually ready for so much more.
Yuliia, what was moving to the United States like for you? What challenges did you face while adapting to the American beauty market?
The most difficult part was essentially starting over professionally because back home I already had a large client base and a reputation. In the United States, there were many highly skilled artists around me, so I had to do more than simply provide excellent service — I had to find a way to make people notice me. Language was another challenge. At the time, I was not confident enough in English to immediately focus on American clients. So initially, I worked mostly with Ukrainian and European clients and through referrals, while also handling the paperwork and obtaining my American license. Another major challenge was that my sister and I had always worked together, but eventually she returned to Europe, and I had to build everything essentially on my own. As difficult as that period was, it ultimately made me recognize my own individuality and understand that I was capable of creating my professional story independently.
One of your new areas of focus is LED lash extension technology. What makes it different from traditional lash extensions, and what advantages does it offer?
The main difference with LED lash extensions is that the specialized adhesive does not cure on its own, as it does with traditional extensions. Instead, it is cured under an LED lamp. In other words, the artist attaches the lash and then literally cures it with the lamp for a few seconds, allowing the adhesive to set. For clients, this offers a number of advantages, particularly for those with very sensitive eyes or reactions to conventional adhesives. In such cases, LED technology can be a good alternative because the adhesive cures extremely quickly and does not remain exposed to the air for an extended period. Another major advantage is excellent retention, meaning the extensions can last longer. As a professional, I also value the fact that this is a more modern technology that allows us to approach the procedure differently. I believe the industry cannot remain the way it was 15 years ago, so new technologies will gradually replace older methods. And if LED technology still seems unusual to some people today, I am confident that over time it will become a much more widely used approach.
Yuliia, in the near future, you plan not only to work with this technique but also to teach other lash artists. Why is it important for you to share your knowledge?
I had been thinking about teaching for a long time, but I kept postponing it because it is a huge responsibility. When you teach others, it is not enough to simply be good at what you do. You also need to know how to explain a technique, identify another person’s mistakes, and properly pass on your experience. Now I feel that I am ready for this next stage. I am especially interested in teaching LED technology because I do not see the point in training new artists using outdated methods when the industry is already moving forward. I want them to receive modern knowledge from the very beginning and be able to grow alongside the technology.
Your professional journey is truly inspiring. What advice would you give to artists who also dream of establishing themselves on an international level?
First and foremost, I would tell them not to be afraid to start, even if they feel they are not ready yet. Until you try, you will never know what you are truly capable of or what you can achieve. After moving to the United States, I had to start almost everything from scratch: rebuild my social media presence, find clients, obtain my license, adapt to a different market, and gradually establish my name. It was frightening and difficult at first, but every small step gave me more confidence. I always tell women: believe in yourself, because no one but you knows what you are capable of!
