At 19 years old, Juliana Pollard is doing exactly what she’s always wanted to do with her life—nails. She runs Glossé Studio, a serene, sleek, minimalist all-white space in Woodbrook, where the service menu includes builder gel (BIAB), manicures, and pedicures. Her signature service right now? Gel-X extensions. Lightweight, flexible, and natural, Gel-X has surged in popularity as it delivers length and strength without the heaviness or damage that traditional acrylic does. Clients love the durable yet elegant finish that fits their busy lives.
What truly sets Glossé apart, though, is the specialised experience. Every customer leaves with perfect nails along with a thoughtful after-care bag containing a nail file, cuticle oil, and even a lollipop. It’s those signature touches, like her loyalty cards, that she believes set her apart in a saturated market.
“People remember how you made them feel,” she tells WE during a recent chat at her studio. “I want every client to feel appreciated, pampered, and genuinely cared for. It’s my way of saying thank you for trusting me.”
Her favourite moments are the genuine relationships she’s built in the short time she’s been open. Clients come in as strangers, but quickly return as friends. “I love seeing how they will be like, ‘I really love it!’ or ’I’ll see you in three weeks,’ and I actually do!”
Juliana’s maturity far exceeds her age. After graduating from St Francois Girls’ College and earning her professional certification, she took a corporate job only long enough to fund her dream. She practised relentlessly on friends and family — including her brother — to refine her precision. By April, she had quit her nine-to-five to focus fully on Glossé. Last month, she moved into the shared Woodbrook location.
Building a brand from scratch, as you can imagine, isn’t easy and brings real moments of vulnerability and uncertainty. What if it doesn’t work out?
“The night before you contacted me for this interview, I asked God if this business isn’t for me, take it away,” she confesses. “I felt so frustrated, like I didn’t have the right answers. When I got the call, I was like, ‘Wow, He’s really listening! He knows how bad I genuinely want things to work.”
The teenager’s unconventional career path isn’t surprising to those who know her well. She started doing her own press-on nails at ten years old, bought by her late father, who was her biggest supporter. “Not long ones, just lil cute stuff,” she recalls, laughing. “They were a lot cheaper back then. He would buy a bunch for me. I would paint the press-ons, leave them for like two days, and put them on once they were done.”
During the isolated COVID lockdowns, the wellness philosophy behind her brand became evident. With plenty of extra time, she began creating self-care routines. They made her feel confident and comfortable in her own skin. “I loved it so much that I dedicated one day every week just to reset and refresh by doing my hair, nails, and skincare. Over time, I realised I wanted to help other women experience that same feeling, and that inspired me.”
When her father died in 2023, the loss devastated her, but it also motivated her to honour his memory by launching her beauty business, which she had spoken so much about growing up.
“He was literally my rock, so when I opened here, it felt like a gift to him,” she shares. “That shaped my perspective. Life isn’t only about one thing; there are so many things you can do.”
“I want to be a stay-at-home mom,” she shrugs. “People try to discourage young women from wanting that. But I want that life.”
