One day I was going through my local Target and passed through the nail polish aisle. I remember I had an event coming up and I had yet to make a nail salon appointment for a manicure. The next thing I see is a box of what looks like faux nails in a variety of colors. These were the press-on nails that are making a huge come back. The clouds parted and the angels were singing. Maybe this time I didn’t have to get my butt to a nail salon after all!
And while I still enjoy a good salon manicure, I now own dozens of boxes full of press-on nails and I am definitely hooked.
So What Are Press-on Nails?
Press-on nails, also known as glue-on nails, are just artificial nails. They are made of an acrylic resin. There are many acrylic resins available and the specific ingredients can change between different brands and models. I did review my favorite brands of glue-on nails here, so check it out, too!
My personal opinion is that press-on nails are the next best thing since sliced bread! Gone are the times of tacky fake nails you would only buy for your teenage daughter. These are a great alternative when you just don’t have time for a nail salon appointment.
Where Can You Buy Glue-on Nails?
There are many press-on nail manufacturers on the market. Some of the most common brands you will find at your local Target, Walmart, and CVS are Kiss Nails and imPRESS. Static Nails are a slightly more expensive option and are sold online.
My personal favorites are by Kiss Nails and a newer player Ardell Professional Nail Addict nails (seriously, LOVE!) I find that they last much longer and do not show wear and tear nearly as much as imPRESS nails do. ImPRESS nails, however, might be an easier option to start with if you’re just learning and looking for something mess-free. These come with adhesive strips already on the nails, so no additional glue application is required.
Press-on nails come in a wide variety of colors, shapes, and designs making it easy to mix it up a bit. You can even get clear press-on nails and apply your favorite color and design yourself.
What Are the Benefits of Press-on Nails?
- First of all, press-on nails are extremely affordable! Prices average at about $8 per set, though you can certainly dish out closer to $20 for a set of Static Nails.
- It takes me less than 10 minutes to prep my nails and apply the falsies which makes getting ready for an even a snap (I have even applied them in the car on the way to an event twice!) Having said that, you might take longer the first couple of times, but not by much.
- They leave my nails healthier than before (make sure to use my tips below!!!)
- They are super-duper easy to remove without causing any nail damage.
- My favorite thing about press-on nails though is the wide variety of designs and colors to choose from.
How Long Do Press-on Nails Last?
Press-on nails can last up to two weeks, although for me one week or so is the average. In my experience, the key to make press-on nails last longer is proper preparation and care. I will discuss the specific steps I recommend further below.
Do Press-on Nails Damage Your Real Nails?
No, press-on nails will not damage your real nails, especially if you follow the proper application and removal processes outlined below.
Here is a good link to check out if you want to know more about the ingredients in nail glue and other nail products, including how they are regulated.
The most damage that happens to your nails really comes from water, soap, and acetone. In order to keep your natural nails healthy, use a cuticle and nail oil every time you use acetone. There are a few other things you can do to help your nails grow stronger and healthier.
However, if you still fear the ingredients in the nail glue, I recommend you use a really nice base coat on your nails before applying the glue or the adhesive strips. Follow the rest of the steps as outlined below. But the main message is that press-on nails should not ruin your natural nails.
Pro Tip #1
How to Apply Press-on Nails?
Press-on nails come in kits which include either
Each set comes with instructions explaining how to put on fake nails. It is actually quite easy.
Even if your kit comes with an adhesive, I recommend buying additional nail glue to have on hand. Below are the steps to give yourself a press-on manicure using one of these kits:
- Step 1: Pick the right nail for each one of your fingers. I typically figure out a pattern I like and lay the nails out on a flat surface in front of me. When you are selecting the nails, don’t forget to pay attention to your fingernail beds.
- Step 2: File the nails down for length and shape if needed. Because there is a wide variety of shapes and lengths available, once you know what brand and type work for you, you likely won’t need to do this too much.
- Step 3: Remove any left-over nail polish or residue off your nails (see removal methods below) and push back your cuticles. Wash your hands thoroughly.
- Step 4: This step is VERY IMPORTANT and KEY to keeping your nails healthy! Some kits will tell you to buff your nails, however, I would advise against this because it damages your natural nail over time. Instead, apply a coat or two of clear polish and let your nails dry. This will help protect the nail from any chemicals in the glue because it serves as another layer between your nails and the glue. You can lightly buff the surface of the polished nail, but I find it unnecessary.
- Step 5: Wash your hands again, or use an alcohol wipe to clean the surface of your nails. This step removes any residue and oils left on your nails. Dry thoroughly.
- Step 6: You are ready to apply your nails. When applying the press-on nails to your natural nails, make sure to start from your pinkies and work your way in. Always leave your thumbs for last. And just like that, you’re ready for the red carpet!
How to Make Press-on Nails Last Longer ?
You can make your press-on nails last longer by following these 4 simple tips:
- Tip 1: Whether using clear polish under the glue or not, always make sure to use rubbing alcohol to clean off any remaining residue and natural oils before applying.
- Tip 2: Use a strong adhesive nail glue by applying it both to the back of the press-on nail and your natural nail.
- Tip 3: Put pressure on every nail for 30 seconds as you are applying. This lets the adhesive spread across the full surface thus ensuring a stronger bond. This will, in turn, make press-on nails stick better.
- Tip 4: Do not wash your hands or come in contact with water for at least 2 hours after application to help your press-on nails stay on longer. I find that doing this overnight is the easiest (no risk of accidentally washing your hands).
- Tip 5: Use a top hardener coat to make your nails look polished and help them stick better. This also has the added benefit of hardening the actual nail surface which makes it more durable.
How to Remove Press-on Nails?
You can take off press-on nails without damage without much difficulty if you just follow a few easy steps. The one thing you should never do is try to physically pull them off.
Below I will outline the 3 easiest and best ways to get faux nails off and remove glue residue while keeping your digits healthy.
Pro Tip #2
1. Double-Boiler Method:
Fill a larger bowl with a couple of inches of hot water. Then place another smaller bowl filled with acetone inside it. Once the acetone is warm, place your fingers into the bowl for about 5-10 minutes. Because acetone is so drying, I recommend slathering your fingers in olive oil beforehand. I use a timer and just space out in front of a TV.
2. Cuticle Oil Method:
Use a queue tip to apply cuticle oil to your fingers all around the nail. A cotton ball soaked in cuticle oil works just as well. Let it work on your nails for a few minutes and you should see the falsies come off pretty easily.
3. Nail Clips Method:
You can buy these here. Nail clips are way easier to use to remove faux nails and even gel nails than the old foils. Your own body heat will speed up the process. You can use either acetone or oil using this method as well.
How to Make Press-on Nails Look Real or Like Acrylics?
The best ways to make sure your press-on nails look natural is to make sure you pick the right shape for your fingernails, match them well to each finger, and shape them when necessary.
Pro Tip #3
How to Reuse Press-on Nails?
Another great thing about press-on nails is that you can reuse them. I would recommend using the cuticle oil or non-acetone nail polish remover when you take them off if you plan to reuse, however, as acetone will eat away at the acrylic.
It’s also important to note that kits normally come with 20+ different nails. That means that even if you used half of the box, you can keep the rest of the nails to mix and match with other sets in the future.
Favorite Products and Accessories:
Here is a list of my favorite press-on nails and accessories discussed in the post:
- Ardell Nails – NEW in stores and quickly becoming my favorite!
- imPRESS Nails
- Kiss Nails
- Incoco Nail Art Polish Strips
- Nailene Nail Glue
- OPI Nail Hardener / Strengthener
- OPI Natural Base Coat
- ONYX Professional Acetone Nail Polish Remover
- My favorite Cuticle Oil from Bliss Kiss or this one from Bee Naturals
- Nails Clips for Gel Removal
- Professional Nail Care Kit with Travel Case in Rose Gold
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I get acrylic french tips on my nails and toes, it’s like my trademark. I never go with a color since french just goes with everything and so I never have to worry about anything clashing , it just makes life simple. Since I am in open toed shoes all summer I also get french acrylic tips added to my toenails and it’s just sooooo cute. Thank you for the article but I don’t see myself doing all of this at home with press-ons. First of all, my nail gal would go ballistic as she is used to seeing me in there every week, and I would never hear the end of it ! Lol. Furthermore I appreciate the pampering and I think all of us wives and mothers deserve some Me-Time every week just to unwind. Also I don’t think it’s possible to replicate that pristine salon look when attempting it yourself. It was an interesting article nonetheless! Thank you so much…
Ashley –
Thanks so much for visiting, reading, and leaving your comment! French tips are the best. I totes agree. A classic is a classic for a reason. I totally get the social aspect of going to a salon, as well. Not to mention that “ME” time!! I honestly just go to get away from the hustle and bustle of my household, listen to a podcast, and get pampered haha!
I will say though, that acrylic nail tips are a bit of a different animal than press-on nails. You certainly won’t get the same effect the nails tips will give you. Buuuuut….for those times when you want to try something different, maybe with some bling, or just a funky design and you don’t have a whole lot of time, press-on nails are truly a god sent. At least for me.
Also, for me personally, I have thin hair and nails. Frequent gel and dip powder manicures ruin my nails. Faux glue-on nails helped me truly grow healthy, strong, and long (for me) natural nails. I have not been able to find anything else that helps.
Hi I use kiss nails because I want to and they last long but sometimes the glue squeezes out the sides and then when I wipe in away the glue dries on the nail and around the cuticle making it look with and crusted.
Hey! Thanks for checking out the blog and my post! I really appreciate your comments. My best advice is to just use less glue. Having said that, it happens to me occasionally as well. You may want to use a queue tip to wipe off any excess. It is important, however, to do that as soon as you can, before the glue gets a chance to dry on the surface. Please let me know if this helps. Good luck!
Hi I love this post. I have a question… Do you have any press on nail recommendations for large nail beds. I tried impress but they don’t fit my nails
Lyenise –
I’m so sorry that Impress didn’t work out for you. Have you tried all their lines? The first other option that comes to mind for me is Clutch Nails. They sell them at Target around me, so I think you should be able to find them near you. They retail a bit higher at around $10. But I feel like they have a slightly larger nail bed. These nails are also higher quality in my opinion and I can actually reuse them more often than not. That’s not always the case with Impress nails.
Please come back and let me know if those work out or if you find something else. I know that Amazon sells a lot of nails, but I can’t speak to their quality or fit. I am sure that others looking for a wider nail bed would really appreciate your feedback as well! Thanks so much and good luck!
Marina
@nailsbycadely on Instagram they make custom sizes!!
Thanks, Magaly! I love that we can help each other out. Hopefully, Lyenise can see this comment and finds it helpful 🙂 Thanks for posting!
Lots of great tips here! I applied press on nails last night for the first time and I got glue everywhere. My fingers were sticking together, sticking to the tops of the nails, and I still have dried clumps glue on top of the nails this morning. I tried using acetone to remove it, and also tried to buff it away. Not only did that not work, but I didn’t realize that the french tip was actually painted on, so I removed some of that. It’s a real mess. Any tips on how to apply without getting messy with the glue? Thanks!
Amy –
Thank you for reading and leaving feedback. I truly appreciate it. I’m so sorry you had a bad experience with the glue. Believe me, I’ve been there!!! It’s NOT FUN gluing yourself to yourself! There are definitely a few things you can do to help prevent this. I plan to write another post summarizing other things I’ve learned since the original post. In the meantime, I highly recommend getting a different nail glue that is sold separately from the kits. The bottle that comes with the kits is terrible as it won’t stand on its own and thus makes it very difficult to apply without accidentally getting the glue on yourself. Another reason this might happen is if you apply too much glue to your nail. Try a bit less and see if that might be enough. If some of the glue still escapes on the sides, have a toothpick or something similar on hand to wipe off the excess glue before it dries or gets all over the nail. I hope these tips help. Ultimately, don’t despair and just try again. Practice really does help. And if you really don’t want to mess with it, you can buy the kits that have an adhesive tab on the back already applied. Good luck!
Thank you very much!
Kiss brush on nail glue will help with that. You just paint the glue on like nail polish.
Thank you, Kim! You’re absolutely right. I am not sure why I didn’t think of that. But the brush on glue really does help.
Hey! I don’t have the nail glue from my kit and I was wondering if just top coat would be able to hold them on? And also how I would go about taking them off because I don’t know if have some of those stuff at home! Thank you so much!
Sam –
Thanks so much for commenting. Unfortunately, the topcoat alone will not be enough to hold the press-on nails in place. Any pharmacy or convenience store should carry it. For removing the nails, I have a section within this post to remove. The best way is by soaking in acetone. If you don’t have acetone, you could try warm water with a bit of olive oil or any other oil. Soak for about 20 minutes and they should be coming off.
Thank you so much for writing this blog. I have been searching for info on press on nails for a while and this one is the most informative. I do have one more question… Have you ever had a problem with your real nail lifting from the nail bed? I see this sometimes and I wonder if its because of how I take them off, or if it might be I try to do too much physical work with my hands, or I am wearing them for too long. What do you think?
Thank you for saying all that! Hearing this reminds me why I put so much into this blog. What you are describing sounds like onycholysis, which from what I read can happen if you have a sensitivity or an allergy to one of the ingredients in the products used: glue, the acrylic nail, or even the nail polish remover. It may also be a symptom of nail fungus or psoriasis. However, I am not a doctor or medically trained in any way. I think you should see a dermatologist or your physician about this. Good luck and hope you can find your answer and a solution!
Hi how long does it take for the press on nails to grow your real nails
Hey Alize!
Thank you for reading the blog! Really hope you find it useful. I think that nail growth is a very individual thing. Some people’s nails grow faster than others. That’s genetic generally. It takes me 2 weeks…roughly. But when growing nails, the most important thing is to maintain the integrity and the strength of the nail. So…
I want to update the post a little as there are certain things I learned after using these nails exclusively for so long now. If you are aiming to grow your nails, I strongly advise adding two layers of a regular topcoat before glue (let the nail polish dry first). Topcoats that claim to harden nails generally are very drying to the nails, so I would avoid those. But ultimately any topcoat is better than applying directly to the nail.
Applying polish will likely cause your faux nails to detach sooner than if you attached it to the nail directly. However, to protect the nail and grow it out, I think this is the best way to go. I also would not buff the top of the nail. Buffing is generally not good for the nail as it thins it and creates micro-tears. Those tears may lead to infection and green nail syndrome. If a nail detaches, be sure to reapply two new layers of a top coat before gluing it on again.
Good luck! Let me know how it goes.
Hi i put fake nails on but I accidentally pushed them to far into my cuticles, should i be worried.
Thank you
No worries! This HAS happened to me before! If it still hurts an hour after or if the pain is really bad, I recommend just removing it using one of the methods described in the post and re-applying. Good luck and let me know how it goes.
Hello,
I glued on nails today and i see that I have water infiltration. Can this cause fungus? Should I remove them.
Thank you
Hello,
I glued on fake nails today and noticed water infiltration. Could it be dangerous to cause fungus? Should I remove?
Thank you
Stacey –
Thanks so much for visiting!! I’m not sure what you mean by water infiltration. However, if you mean water got under the surface of the nail, the largest issue is that the faux nail will not hold well. I would recommend removing this faux nail by soaking in hot water first (or one of the other methods) and reapplying a new one to a completely dry surface. Make sure to follow the prep steps on the packaging or in this post. Additionally, avoid getting your hands wet for an hour or two after application. This will let the nail adhere properly and ensure water does not get under the surface again. Good luck!
Thank you for such an informative blog! I was looking everywhere because I wanted to try a base coat before gluing nails on. I hoped it would work and then would be easier to get off without damage. I have one more thought. Would it help it to adhere if I slightly roughed up base coat?
Lee –
I’m so glad you found this informative! I keep wanting to update this post that yes, indeed the base coat is the best trick I’ve found so far to prevent any damage to the nails. It also helps the glue come off soooo much easier! I personally have not seen a need to rough up the base coat before application. My nails tend to stick for about a week if I don’t rush the process. But I would be very curious to hear what you think if you do try it. I can see the logic to roughing it up a bit for sure.
Marina
It’s awesome that press-on nails are easy to remove without doing any damage to your nails because I change my nails frequently. I love to do my nails because it’s a lot of fun for me. I wanted to try acrylic nails this time instead of just painting them, so this was a really helpful article. Thank you for writing it!
Awww…You are so welcome!! I must say it can damage your nails if you force them off. Similar to gels. However, painting a layer of regular clear polish first and then applying the glue really helps as well. And I really recommend the soak method when removing.
I used to do the Dip nails but after doing them for a few months I like to give my nails a break. My nails will split and look horrible until they grow out a bit sometimes taking months to get healthy . That is why I press on nails. I did, however, just peel them off and found that my nails are now unhealthy again and look like they did when I did the powder dip too much. I wonder if it’s because I just peeled them off?
Jan –
So I actually noticed this problem sometimes. Definitely way worse when I get impatient and peel a nail off. We’ve all been there.
What I found helps a lot:
1. Use two layers of a clear nail polish underneath the glue first.
2. Use the glue from Static Nails. I was testing it out and it’s actually much better at not leaving a residue and does appear to dissolve itself as you wear them. This also helps me reuse the nails more as they don’t have much glue residue left.
I think if you do two of these things, you will see a huge improvement. FYI, I don’t get anything from Static Nails. I actually just really like their glue. And it’s included with every set. I’m still trying to find a similar glue that’s available at a local store. But for now, I use theirs.
It certainly isn’t a bad idea to switch things up and just go bare for a week once in a while. Let me know if this helps!
Marina
Thanks for this quality post. Thumbs UP!
Oh, you are so so sweet! I really feel like it’s not an option most women are aware of, so I really wanted to write about it.