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When it comes to must-know beauty cheats, there is no quicker at-home fix than that of the press-on manicure. Press-on nails are the ultimate, easy solution for professional-looking, manicured nails in minutes; no dry time, no mess, no appointment. But if you’ve ever had a press-on nail pop off just hours after applying it, you know the struggle of keeping those babies in place.
While a press-on manicure is quick to apply, it shouldn’t be quick to fall off. So, what’s the secret to a longer-lasting press-on manicure? The short answer: prep and patience. When applied correctly, a press-on manicure should last you at least seven days. However, mastering a technique that will result in that type of longevity and protect the health of your nails requires some finesse.
That’s why we tapped nail experts for a crash course on how to get a press-on manicure to last longer. Ahead, celebrity nail stylist Elle Gerstein and celebrity manicurist and Kiss Nails brand ambassador, Julie Kandalec, share their best tips and tricks for mastering a press-on manicure, including nail prep, nail sizing, and safe removal to maintain the integrity of your nails, all in the name of a longer lasting press-on manicure. Consider this your cheat sheet for the fastest, easiest at-home manicures imaginable.
The basics of press-on nails
First, let’s be realistic. “A press-on manicure is not meant to replace your regular gel or acrylic manicure,” explains Gerstein, whose star-studded client roster includes the likes of Jennifer Lopez, Blake Lively, and Kelly Rippa. Instead, according to Gerstein, a press-on manicure is a temporary quick-fix manicure, perfect for when you’re short on time (or funds) and want professional-looking results fast: a wedding weekend, last minute date night, or spontaneous getaway. Although, we also know lots of people who prefer press-on manicures as their mani of choice (over gels and acrylics) and that’s totally fine, too.
In general, a press-on manicure should last about seven to 14 days. However this differs slightly depending on the type of press-on nail: glue-on and adhesive tabs. “If you use glue, I recommend removal every one to two weeks, depending on your lifestyle. While for tabs, removal should be about a week,” Gerstein explains. Both glue-on and adhesive press-on nail types are fast, convenient, and easy to apply, however the peel-and-go adhesive tabs tend to simplify the process even further, with adhesive that is already on the nail. Some nail kits also come with the option to apply using glue, or with adhesive tabs, so you can choose your own press-on nail adventure.
Understanding nail shapes and sizes
Another factor to keep in mind when selecting a press-on manicure kit is the arch and curvature of your natural nail shape. “Some people have flatter nails, while others have curvier nails,” Gerstein explains, so it’s helpful to find a nail tip brand whose products align with your arch and shape. Kiss Nails, for example, are great for flatter nails, while OPI and Pink Fridays Nails have a stronger apex which makes them ideal for someone with a bigger c-curve, explains Gerstein.
The goal is finding a press-on that lays flush against your own nail. “If you have to press down on the natural nail in order to fit it, it will pop off prematurely,” warns Kandalec. Her expert tip: If you have flat nail beds, go up a size and file down the sides to get a better fit.
Most press-on nail kits come with an extensive variety of nail tip sizes to choose from as you size up each nail, but finding and adjusting the tips to fit your nails can be tricky. “Fit is key,” Kandalec says. “Using a nail that doesn’t fit the arch (apex) of your nail will make it pop off too soon, if it even lasts at all. It’s best to size up, then file and taper the sides down to fit perfectly—it’s like a puzzle piece,” she explains.
The trick here is to size the press-on to fit your nail sidewall to sidewall. “It’s better to go bigger and file down a nail to fit side to side, than to go shorter with a nail that does not quite fit,” Gerstein explains. “But you must also keep in mind that If the side walls are too big, the glue will seep over and fall off.” The fix: take the time to file it down and tailor the press-on nail to correctly fit the sidewalls of your nail before applying your adhesive.
How to prep your nails for press-ons
The secret to making a press-on last, is the nail prep before application. “That’s the difference between the tip popping off in a day or a week,” explains Gerstein. Once you have your nail tips selected and sized to fit your nails, it’s time to prep the nail bed for application. First, make sure your cuticles are cleaned up, and your nails are dehydrated. “Do this by washing your hands and using an alcohol wipe to dry the nail plate, which is usually included in most press-on nail kits,” Gerstein notes. The trick here is making sure your nails are extremely dry. “Use the pre-soaked pad to scrub that alcohol into the nail plate—using in a gentle scrubbing motion to really dehydrate the nails,” she adds.
Next “trim and file your natural nails short so the tips adhere better and don’t show underneath or at the corners,” Kandalec notes. Lastly, clean up any hangnails and lightly buff your nails to improve adhesion.
How to apply press-on nails
While applying press-on nails is quick and easy, applying them correctly for longer lasting results requires some patience. Start by taking one nail at a time, covering it with a thin layer of glue or an adhesive tab. When using glue, apply the glue to the belly of the nail, then take the bottom of the nail and press it into the cuticle area at a 90 degree angle. “Try to nestle the tip right into the cuticle as this will make your manicure look more natural and will prevent the glue from seeping out,” Gerstein explains.
As for the amount of glue to use: “Make sure you apply a good amount of nail adhesive to your nails to make them fully adhere without air bubbles, but also not using so much that it spills out as soon as you press the nail down,” Kandalec says. Work your way from nail to nail, aligning each press-on along the cuticle line, applying at a downward angle and holding firmly for at least 10 seconds to secure in place.
How to safely remove press-on nails
The golden rule of press-on nail removal: resist the urge to pick or rip off your manicure. “Improper removal like ripping them off can lead to long-lasting damage and brittle and splitting nails,” Kandalec says. The nail removal technique differs slightly depending on whether the press-on nails are applied using glue or adhesive tabs.
For glued press-on nails you will use an acetone soak that will break down the adhesive and allow you to gently lift off the nail. “Make sure you use 100 percent Pure acetone; not just an acetone-based polish remover as this is not strong enough and will only make them gummy,” Kandalec explains. The experts recommend using aluminum foil to wrap your nails with small acetone-soaked cotton balls that will gently dissolve the adhesive.
Meanwhile, adhesive tab press-on nails will require rubbing alcohol and a wooden stick. “Start by gently lifting along the edge of the press on tip to allow the alcohol to get to the adhesive. As the alcohol goes to the adhesive, it will leave the nail, just be patient,” explains Gerstein.
There are also some nifty products on the market today that help to ease the pain points that come from removal. For example, Kiss Glue-Off ($7) can be applied along the cuticle and “will soften and dissolve the nail glue build-up making it easy to use the chisel tip to lift off false nails, and then wipe off softened nail glue with paper towel,” explains Kandalec. She also recommends using a coarse grit nail file to rough up the surface of the tip first, which allows the acetone to penetrate even faster.
In either scenario, as the adhesives soften, use an orangewood stick to gently roll the softened nail tip off, then follow with a nail file to gently buff the surface of the nails and remove any remaining nail or adhesive.
Final takeaway
There is so much to love about press-on nails: they’re quick, convenient, and look as good as the real deal salon version. The hard part is getting them to last through the night, let alone the over-promised seven to 14-day expectation. The secret is taking a little extra time and care in prepping and applying them correctly, to get your time and money’s worth. While this may make the quick-and-easy application process slightly more time consuming, it’s a small price to pay for a DIY at-home manicure that will live up to its 14 days promise.