If you’re like me, you love having your nails done but hate paying salon prices. Or maybe you have commitment issues and can’t bear the thought of one design on your nails for more than a few days. Perhaps it’s tough to squeeze a whole nail appointment into your day. Lucky for you, I have a solution that’s budget-friendly, easily changed, quick and will leave you with a glamorous manicure. I’ve also been experimenting with these since middle school, so believe me when I say I have a few tricks up my sleeve. I invite you to the world of press-on nails.
Application Tips
Tip 1: Know where to buy
You can get press-on nails from any makeup store, but I recommend hitting up your local discount stores or even 5 Below. These stores have credible brands like L.A. Colors or Kiss and won’t cost you over $5.
Tip 2: Read the box
Some nail sets come with nail glue and prepping materials, but others don’t. Certain press-on nails don’t require glue because there’s already an adhesive on the back. If a set doesn’t come with glue, even if no glue is required, I suggest buying some anyway. Be sure to buy a nail file and acetone if you don’t have any off hand.
Tip 3: Decide what nails work best for your lifestyle
Long? Short? Coffin? Rhinestones? Neutral? Consider your job and the activities you do on a regular basis. I struggle using my hands when I have longer nails and pointed nails would be dangerous for me since I wear contacts. Figure out what works best for you.
Tip 4: Size your nails
Take the time to fit each press-on to your natural nails. If you have a nail that doesn’t seem to size correctly with any of the press-ons, I recommend taking a slightly larger nail and filing it down to the appropriate size. The fake nail should cover your whole nail bed.
Tip 5: PREP YOUR NATURAL NAILS!!!
This is where the magic happens. First, file down your natural nail tips to a shorter length and then file your whole nail bed, almost as if you were buffing the nail. You want to create a rough surface. The traction will allow the press-ons to stick longer. Dust off the excess and clean with acetone. Allow your nails to fully dry.
Tip 6: Apply glue correctly
Careful! This glue can stick your fingers together and hurts to take off your skin! Not that I know from experience… When you apply the glue to the press-on, place a small glob about a centimeter away from the bottom. Quickly apply another small glob of glue on your natural nail. Doing both makes the glue hold better. You want the nails to look as natural as possible, so as soon as you’re done applying glue, gently place the bottom of the press-on right at the edge of your cuticle. You’ll know there’s too much glue if it spills out the sides when you apply the nails.
Tip 7: Hold the nails down!
After you apply each nail, press it down for at least 20 seconds. This ensures that the glue will stick. Even after all your nails have been applied, keep pressing down on them for the next hour-two hours as often as you can. You really want those nails to stay in place!
Tip 8: Avoid getting the nails wet for 2 hours
This one’s a tough one but it really makes a difference when it comes to how long those nails are sticking. Try using the bathroom before you begin doing your nails. I also try to do my nails earlier in the day since I’m a night shower type of gal. While avoiding getting your nails wet, gentle activities like driving, reading, or typing are best. The more you leave your nails alone, the better off they’ll be.
Maintenance Tips
Tip 1: Do your nails at least 24 hours before you have an event
If you want nice nails for an event you’re going to, try to have your nails done 24 hours before. Usually, within the first day, you’ll figure out if you didn’t glue any of your nails down strong enough and will have time to reglue them. The last thing you want to worry about at your event is a nail popping off!
Tip 2: Bring your nail glue everywhere
You never know when you might ram your finger into a wall and your press-on will snap right off! Having glue on you allows you to make a quick fix.
Tip 3: Keep your nails dry
Getting your nails wet isn’t the biggest deal, but if you’re someone who’s constantly submerging your hands in water, you might want to consider wearing gloves when possible. When your natural nails are covered and water gets trapped underneath the press-on, it can lead to fungus. (EW!) Another great way to prevent that is by using tea tree oil. I rub tea tree oil on my cuticles after every shower to keep the area dry and disinfected.
Tip 4: Follow the removal instructions
It can be tempting to just pick off your nails when you’re over them, but believe me, you will damage your natural nails! Save yourself some trouble by following the removal procedure on the box.
There you have it! Some great tips for making the most out of your press-on mani. Enjoy!
Love,
Camryn