Why Press On Nails Are Your Lockdown Savior
2021 hasn’t started off the way most of us hoped and lockdown 3.0 means beauty salons could close again. But it’s not all doom and gloom! If you’re missing your fresh set, press on nails are the answer.
If you’ve read our Online Beauty Treatments to Book Right Now or New Year, New Nails blogs before, you know we LOVE press on nails are stylish, durable and customizable – aka, all round fab. You can order all kinds of shapes and styles from our Pros. But if you’ve never used press-ons before, you might be apprehensive. That’s why we’ve created this handy guide on everything you need to know about press on nails.
How To Apply Press On Nails
Press on nails mean no more applying nail varnish and no chipping – it’s no wonder they’ve seen a resurgence. Even better, they are probably easier to apply than you think. We’ve spoken to our Beauty Pros and here are their four top tips for applying press on nails, so they last longer and look natural.
1. Size Up
Make sure you send our Pros your measurements so they can create press ons designed perfectly to fit you. Or if you’ve got a set with multiple sizes, try them on for size without the glue first. Sometimes Beauty Pros add little numbers on the back of their nails (1= thumb, 11= pinky) so you can easily figure out which size works best. The press on should line up with the edges of your natural nail, but always go smaller rather than bigger because you don’t want the press ons to overlap with your skin.
2. Preparation Is Key
Firstly, push back your cuticles to remove excess skin. Next, make sure to remove any oil or dirt – it’s as easy as using a cotton wall pad and some nail varnish remover. Both of these will make your press on nails last longer.
3. Get Sticking
When you buy press on nails from our Pros, they typically come with glue or double-sided tape. For a quick fix tape is better, and for something more durable, go for glue (more on how long press on nails last later). With glue, leave a little space around the edges of the press on so it can spread without getting on your skin and wait a couple of seconds for it to air-dry. Then, when applying both tape and glue press-ons, bring the nail up to your cuticle line and apply at a downward angle. Add pressure to the middle of the nail and pinch at both sides so it sticks properly.
4. File away
Once your press on nails are on, if they look too big you can file them down – but only after you’ve got a full set. Contour the nails from the side to get the most natural look.
How To Remove Press On Nails?
You’ll be pleased to hear that removing press on nails is pretty straight forward. Tape especially can be simply removed with warm water and a little oil. Sometimes just being in the shower is enough! Pull the nail down and outward, not side to side. If you opted for glue, clip the excess length, put an acetone-based remover in a bowl and soak your nails for around 10 minutes. You could also try a removal set like Quick Soak Off by the American brand KISS.
How Long Should You Wear Press On Nails?
As mentioned, press on nails typically stay on for anything between one day and two weeks depending on how you stick them on. We advise taking them off before two weeks is up to preserve your natural nails. What’s more, space between the nail plate and the artificial nail can trap moisture, where bacteria, yeast, and fungi can grow (gross) so best not to have them on for ages. They are perfectly safe if you treat them with care.
