In today's nail art world, the preference for press-on nails is steadily rising. The majority favour gel polishes and acrylic nails. It used to be a sign of great toughness if someone acknowledged wearing press-on nails. There are several reasons why some nail specialists rely on them. Some people use it to show off their famous and stylish side.

Because press-on nails are so popular, other people also like them. Additionally, they are common for achieving a simple and quick manicure, whether for long or short nails. Press-on nails may only last a few hours or over a month, depending on their application and the preference of the one putting them on. The good news is that applying press-on nails is easy.

You do not necessarily need a professional. You can do it yourself! Read on to discover how to undertake this beauty act in the comfort of your home. However, before we delve into the substance of the article, let us note some essentials we need to apply press-on nails. Some basic materials for the press-on application include a nail polish remover with acetone, cotton pads, Q-tips, an orange stick, a pack of nails, a nail buffer, a nail file, nail glue, and a pair of scissors (optional).

Below is a guide on applying, caring and removing press-on nails yourself.

How To Apply Press-On Nails By Yourself

1.    Preparation Stage

Before applying press-on nails, the first thing to do is work on clean hands. Your hands must first be washed and dried before applying press-on nails. Ensure cuticles and nails are dry by paying close attention to them. Next, wipe off any remaining nail polish with a nail polish remover.  If you have bare nails, you should use a nail polish remover to wipe away any excess oil from the surface of your nails, whether it is natural or not.

Oil may come from your skin or the cream you applied. This aims to guarantee the glue's durability and prevent chipping. So the nail polish remover helps to keep it dry. To make things simpler for you when you start applying the press-on nails, you should take the press-on nails from the pack by arranging them according to nail sizes.

Some nail polish companies place little numbers on the back of their press-ons so you can identify which sizes match. It will be absurd to start layering fake nails from a pack after applying glue. In the end, it will affect the process and make it disorderly.

2.    Trim Your Natural Nails

Make sure to clip your natural nails to the tips. A short shape will not hamper the press-on application. However, long nails can. If you don’t want to clip your long natural nails, press-on nails may not be for you. Rather, you can shape those nails with a nail file and apply nail polish so that it looks as presentable as possible.

However, if you want to trim your nails for this purpose, you can proceed to the next step. The next step involves using an orange stick and carefully pressing the cuticles back. Your cuticles may be sensitive. Hence, treat them with kindness. When you handle them harshly, you risk cutting them, making it difficult or impossible to put your press-on nails.

If you have any hangnails, treat them carefully, so you do not cut any living tissues and hurt yourself.

3.    Choose Your Right Nail Size

There are many sizes for press-on nails. We can maintain the most natural-looking nails by selecting the proper nail size. Durability is also guaranteed. The press-on nails may come off in a few hours or days if they are too small. But, because it is overly large, it will look odd on your fingers. It is a good idea to press the press-on nail against your natural nail to ensure a proper fit.

Taking any press-on name and stamp on your finger would be wrong before realizing it does not fit your finger. This is especially after applying glue to your nails. The outcome will be untidy, so try fitting it against your finger before applying glue. The fact that it conceals your true nail is one thing to consider when determining whether it fits against your natural nail.

When you can, you should file your artificial nails so that the edges match those of your natural nails.

4.    Consider Your Personal Preference.

Usually, nail packs contain nail glue, double-sided nail tapes, or even both. Whatever your choice depends on why you want to apply the press-on in the first place. If you want to change your nail appearance after a few hours, it is prudent to use double-sided tapes because they are very easy to remove. Not everyone wants to put on press-on nails for a long time.

Someone just wants to make a fashion statement by matching the colour of her clothes to the colour of the press-on nails. Once the day ends, such a person may not see the relevance of keeping these nails. But if you want to maintain the nail appearance for a while, for up to two weeks, you can use nail glue to apply your fake nails.

That way, you can have it on for a while. You determine the “why” factor.

5.    Applying Glue and Press-on

When applying adhesive, leave a tiny space on the exposed edges of your nail to prevent the glue from getting on your skin. To avoid over-gluing, use a minimal amount of glue. Once the adhesive has had a chance to dry naturally for a little while, align the fake nail with the natural nail's tip and press down on the nail bed. So the idea is to give the illusion of a sew-saw from the free edge.

Instead of using your fingers, press the artificial nails firmly into the nail bed of the real one using the orange stick. Doing this lets, you keep your finger from sticking to your nails. To prevent air bubbles from penetrating the nails and ruining the entire procedure, maintain pressure on the nail for 10 seconds.

This procedure cannot be taken for granted since nail fungus may develop if the press-on nail is not firmly connected to the nail bed. I doubt you intend for your nails to experience that.

6.    Apply Final Touches

After applying the press-on nails, take a Q-tip, and wipe it around the cuticle to clean any glue that may have escaped from under it. Also, if you want, you can use a nail file to set your nails to your preferred size or shape. If you want your nails in a pointed shape, flat, or rounded, you can file your nails to whichever you prefer. After this application, keep the surface of the nail glue clean as much as possible.

So, keep the bottle in an upright position and airtight place so that you can reuse it another time.

7.    Aftercare Nail Tips

So you finally put on some fake nails without entering a salon. Congratulations! Now that you have these fake nails on, you need to consider some aftercare tips to ensure your fake nails will last as much as possible. If you want your press-on nails for last, the best you can do is to avoid contact with water as much as possible. You must forfeit your swimming sessions when you get your press-on nails so that they can last long.

Weird right? But that is the price to pay, meaning you need to minimize using soap and water to wash your hands and adopt hand sanitizers when appropriate. When doing the dishes, use gloves. Also, you must postpone washing your hair as much as possible. Also, be careful not to indulge your fingers in strenuous tasks that will cause your press-on nails to break.

When that happens, you will be forced to take it off.

8.    Nail Removal Tips

The removal process where you use nail tape and nail glue is different. Nail tapes are easier to remove than press-on nails attached to nail glue. All it requires is to soak your fingers in warm water with nail oil and a gentle tug. Or, you can just rip them off after a long shower. The water will weaken the tape's effect, so you can easily take them off.

Do not try to rip the fake nails off from side to side, as it can damage your natural nails. Rather, pull the nail down and outward. When removing glued-on nails, remember that patience is a virtue and not a vice, else you may weaken your natural nails. You can begin by trimming any excess length at the tip and soak off the effect of the glue with acetone-based remover, foil and cotton.

With a proper application and removal procedure, press-on nails guarantee your nails will be in better condition. Compared to glue or acrylics, the effect is superior. One must be cautious of nail allergic reactions and possibly develop a nail infection.

This happens when moisture from the air gets trapped between the natural nail and the artificial nail, creating an ideal environment for the growth of bacteria, yeast, and fungi. Also, when done removing the press-on, throw them away, and pick out a new pair when you want to apply another set of press-on nails again. This is necessary for the health of your nails.

FAQs

1.    Can oil remove fake nails?

Yes. Aside from an acetone-based remover, cuticle oil can help you quickly remove fake nails. You only need to get some cotton wool, soak it in cuticle oil, and wrap it in tape or tin foil around your nails for some minutes. It will loosen the nail then you can use an orange stick to remove it.

2.    What things should you not do with your nails?

If you want healthy nails, do not bite your fingernails or pick at your cuticles. These actions can damage your nail bed. Also, as much as you are tempted to pull off hangnails, do not! You may rip live tissue when pulling off the hangnail. A proper option is to cautiously clip off hangnails. Again, limit the use of harsh nail products. An example of a harsh nail product is a nail polish remover.

Lastly, do not ignore unusual signs on your nails. Whenever your body is undergoing distress due to any sickness, there are physical signs which show up. When you ignore these signs, you do so at your peril.

3.    What makes nails grow super fast?

Research has revealed that biotin, a type of vitamin B, has proven to increase nail thickness by 25%. It also enhances the overall smoothness of the nail and reduces nail splitting, thereby supporting the quick growth of nails.

4.    How can I make my hands beautiful?

If you want to make your hands beautiful, consider the following:  use hand sanitizers before applying hand creams. Ensure that your hand creams moisturize your hands. Also, use gloves when doing chores like laundry, gardening, cooking, etc. Exfoliate your hands and manage your cuticles. Do not bite your nails or cuticles.

Also, apply sunscreen to your hands, and choose the right nail polish for your fingers.

5.    What colour are normal fingernails?

Healthy fingernails and toenails should look pink. A healthy nail plate should be pink, and the nail should be white as it grows off the nail bed. The colour and condition of the fingernails indicate that something is wrong with the body. For instance, blue nails prove insufficient oxygen in the bloodstream.

Extra white nails are indicative of diabetes and liver disease. At the same time, pale nail shows the presence of anemia.

Conclusion

In a nutshell, nails are one of the body's underappreciated organs. Yet, you must also take care of it and make it attractive. One method of doing such is by applying press-on nails. Since you can do it at home, breaking the bank is unnecessary to make this happen. To ensure that your nails stay in good condition, this article offers the ideal instructions on how to apply, take care of, and remove press-on nails.