Press on nails have come a long, long way. No need to spend a fortune at the nail salon for beautiful nails! However, you’ll want to follow our advice to make your press-on nails last!
I love the freedom to do my nails at home. I taught myself how to do dip powder nails at home, and I loved it! However, it takes so long!
Enter: Press on nails. Trust me that these are not your mama’s press on nails! I find that with proper prep I can get them to last about ten days.
Prep Matters – Prep Your Nails Before Press Ons!
Step One: Clean Up Your Cuticles
Start by pushing your cuticles back. This works best on cuticles that have been softened by washing in warm water.
You want your nail to be completely clean, so be sure to get rid of any cuticle that has grown up onto your nails.
Supplies You’ll Need
- Cuticle Pusher
- Cuticle Remover – optional, but this stuff is magic!
Step Two: Buff Gently
The key word here is gently! You just want to remove to shine from your nails, giving the glue a way to grip onto your nail.
Supplies You’ll Need
Step Three: Wipe it Clean
Use rubbing alcohol to remove any oils from the surface of your nails. Don’t skip this step!
Supplies you’ll need:
- Rubbing Alcohol
Use Nail Glue Correctly
There’s an art to gluing nails on. (For what it’s worth, I don’t find the ones with sticky backs to work well. It’s nail glue or bust.)
Tips for Applying Nail Glue
Too little glue and your nails will pop off quickly, but too much and you’ll have a mess on your hands.
There’s a little bit of an art to applying nail glue. I suggest a small amount in the center of both your nail and the press on nail. This will allow the glue to spread to the edges without overflowing.
What if My Nail Glue Overflows?
Speed is the key! Keep an orange stick nearby to quickly wipe up extra glue. Or, a cotton swap dipped in rubbing alcohol will also work.
Practice Patience to Make Your Nails Stay
Once you have the nail in place you’ll want to hold it there for 30 seconds to let the glue set. Keep firm, but not extreme, pressure on the nail.
Removing Press On Nails
Firstly, don’t apply press on nails if you’re going to want to remove them immediately. This is a surefire way to damage your nails.
Second, if it’s been at least 5 days and you’re ready to remove your nails, start by soaking them in warm, soapy water.
Next, I like to apply cuticle oil and gently work the tip of an orange stick under the nail to loosen it. If the nail isn’t ready, try soaking for a bit longer. Don’t force the nail or you’ll damage your natural nail!
Where to Buy Press On Nails
Personally, I really like Red Aspen Nails. All of the nails pictured above are from Red Aspen and many are from the loyalty box, which ships you two special edition nail sets every month!
I have heard good things about Impress, Olive and June and Glamnetic (which claims to be reusable) as well!
The key to making all of these nails work for you is all in the prep!
Let’s Talk Nails!
Looking for more nail inspo? Look no further than these popular posts!
Throwback – the first time we tried press on nails
Valentine’s Nail Designs to Try
We’re Your New Best Friends
Hi, we’re Megan and Wendy your midlife besties! Join us on Patreon every Monday where we’re talking everyday life, pop culture, and more!
You can also find us on “Girls Gone Hallmark” on Tuesdays and Thursdays where we review new and fan-favorite Hallmark movies and ask the question: Did you see that?
