The way to Make Press-On Faux Nails Final Longer: Skilled Suggestions

Whereas a press-on manicure is fast to use, it shouldn’t be fast to fall off. So, what’s the key to a longer-lasting press-on manicure? The quick reply: prep and persistence. When utilized accurately, a press-on manicure ought to final you not less than seven days. Nevertheless, mastering a method that may end in that sort of longevity and shield the well being of your nails requires some finesse.

That’s why we tapped nail specialists for a crash course on methods to get a press-on manicure to last more. Forward, superstar nail stylist Elle Gerstein and superstar manicurist and Kiss Nails model ambassador, Julie Kandalec, share their finest suggestions and tips for mastering a press-on manicure, together with nail prep, nail sizing, and protected removing to take care of the integrity of your nails, all within the identify of an extended lasting press-on manicure. Think about this your cheat sheet for the quickest, best at-home manicures possible.

The fundamentals of press-on nails

First, let’s be sensible. “A press-on manicure will not be meant to switch your common gel or acrylic manicure,” explains Gerstein, whose star-studded consumer roster contains the likes of Jennifer Lopez, Blake Energetic, and Kelly Rippa. As an alternative, in accordance with Gerstein, a press-on manicure is a short lived quick-fix manicure, good for once you’re quick on time (or funds) and wish professional-looking outcomes quick: a marriage weekend, final minute date night time, or spontaneous getaway. Though, we additionally know heaps of people that choose press-on manicures as their mani of alternative (over gels and acrylics) and that is completely superb, too.

Associated Tales

Basically, a press-on manicure ought to final about seven to 14 days. Nevertheless this differs barely relying on the kind of press-on nail: glue-on and adhesive tabs. “Should you use glue, I like to recommend removing each one to 2 weeks, relying in your way of life. Whereas for tabs, removing needs to be a couple of week,” Gerstein explains. Each glue-on and adhesive press-on nail varieties are quick, handy, and straightforward to use, nevertheless the peel-and-go adhesive tabs are likely to simplify the method even additional, with adhesive that’s already on the nail. Some nail kits additionally include the choice to use utilizing glue, or with adhesive tabs, so you possibly can select your personal press-on nail journey.

Understanding nail sizes and shapes

One other issue to bear in mind when choosing a press-on manicure package is the arch and curvature of your pure nail form. “Some folks have flatter nails, whereas others have curvier nails,” Gerstein explains, so it’s useful to discover a nail tip model whose merchandise align together with your arch and form. Kiss Nails, for instance, are nice for flatter nails, whereas OPI and Pink Fridays Nails have a stronger apex which makes them excellent for somebody with an even bigger c-curve, explains Gerstein.

The purpose is discovering a press-on that lays flush in opposition to your personal nail. “If it’s important to press down on the pure nail with the intention to match it, it is going to pop off prematurely,” warns Kandalec. Her knowledgeable tip: In case you have flat nail beds, go up a dimension and file down the perimeters to get a greater match.

Most press-on nail kits include an intensive number of nail tip sizes to select from as you dimension up every nail, however discovering and adjusting the guidelines to suit your nails will be difficult. “Match is essential,” Kandalec says. “Utilizing a nail that doesn’t match the arch (apex) of your nail will make it pop off too quickly, if it even lasts in any respect. It’s finest to dimension up, then file and taper the perimeters down to suit completely—it’s like a puzzle piece,” she explains.

The trick right here is to dimension the press-on to suit your nail sidewall to sidewall. “It’s higher to go larger and file down a nail to suit facet to facet, than to go shorter with a nail that doesn’t fairly match,” Gerstein explains. “However you need to additionally take into account that If the facet partitions are too huge, the glue will seep over and fall off.” The repair: take the time to file it down and tailor the press-on nail to accurately match the sidewalls of your nail earlier than making use of your adhesive.

The way to prep your nails for press-ons

The key to creating a press-on final, is the nail prep earlier than utility. “That’s the distinction between the tip popping off in a day or every week,” explains Gerstein. After getting your nail suggestions chosen and sized to suit your nails, it’s time to prep the nail mattress for utility. First, be sure that your cuticles are cleaned up, and your nails are dehydrated. “Do that by washing your palms and utilizing an alcohol wipe to dry the nail plate, which is often included in most press-on nail kits,” Gerstein notes. The trick right here is ensuring your nails are extraordinarily dry. “Use the pre-soaked pad to clean that alcohol into the nail plate—utilizing in a mild scrubbing movement to essentially dehydrate the nails,” she provides.

Subsequent “trim and file your pure nails quick so the guidelines adhere higher and don’t present beneath or on the corners,” Kandalec notes. Lastly, clear up any hangnails and calmly buff your nails to enhance adhesion.

The way to apply press-on nails

Whereas making use of press-on nails is fast and straightforward, making use of them accurately for longer lasting outcomes requires some persistence. Begin by taking one nail at a time, protecting it with a skinny layer of glue or an adhesive tab. When utilizing glue, apply the glue to the stomach of the nail, then take the underside of the nail and press it into the cuticle space at a 90 diploma angle. “Attempt to nestle the tip proper into the cuticle as this can make your manicure look extra pure and can stop the glue from seeping out,” Gerstein explains.

As for the quantity of glue to make use of: “Ensure you apply an excellent quantity of nail adhesive to your nails to make them totally adhere with out air bubbles, but in addition not utilizing a lot that it spills out as quickly as you press the nail down,” Kandalec says. Work your means from nail to nail, aligning every press-on alongside the cuticle line, making use of at a downward angle and holding firmly for not less than 10 seconds to safe in place.

The way to safely take away press-on nails

The golden rule of press-on nail removing: resist the urge to choose or rip off your manicure. “Improper removing like ripping them off can result in long-lasting harm and brittle and splitting nails,” Kandalec says. The nail removing approach differs barely relying on whether or not the press-on nails are utilized utilizing glue or adhesive tabs.

For glued press-on nails you’ll use an acetone soak that may break down the adhesive and help you gently raise off the nail. “Ensure you use one hundred pc Pure acetone; not simply an acetone-based polish remover as this isn’t robust sufficient and can solely make them gummy,” Kandalec explains. The specialists suggest utilizing aluminum foil to wrap your nails with small acetone-soaked cotton balls that may gently dissolve the adhesive.

In the meantime, adhesive tab press-on nails would require rubbing alcohol and a wood stick. “Begin by gently lifting alongside the sting of the press on tip to permit the alcohol to get to the adhesive. Because the alcohol goes to the adhesive, it is going to depart the nail, simply be affected person,” explains Gerstein.

There are additionally some nifty merchandise available on the market in the present day that assist to ease the ache factors that come from removing. For instance, Kiss Glue-Off ($7) will be utilized alongside the cuticle and “will soften and dissolve the nail glue build-up making it straightforward to make use of the chisel tip to raise off false nails, after which wipe off softened nail glue with paper towel,” explains Kandalec. She additionally recommends utilizing a coarse grit nail file to tough up the floor of the tip first, which permits the acetone to penetrate even sooner.

In both state of affairs, because the adhesives soften, use an orangewood stick to softly roll the softened nail tip off, then comply with with a nail file to softly buff the floor of the nails and take away any remaining nail or adhesive.

Closing takeaway

There’s a lot to like about press-on nails: they’re fast, handy, and look nearly as good as the true deal salon model. The laborious half is getting them to final by way of the night time, not to mention the over-promised seven to 14-day expectation. The key is taking a bit of additional time and care in prepping and making use of them accurately, to get your money and time’s price. Whereas this may increasingly make the quick-and-easy utility course of barely extra time consuming, it’s a small worth to pay for a DIY at-home manicure that may stay as much as its 14 days promise.