Dreaming of beautiful, well-groomed nails but don’t have time for a salon appointment? Press-on nails are a great alternative that lets you create a stylish manicure tailored to your needs without leaving home – and, best of all, in no time. You can count on long-lasting results, but only if you apply your press-on nails correctly. Which mistakes should you avoid? Find out!
The most common mistakes include:
- Not cleaning the nail plate thoroughly
- Gluing nails onto a shiny nail plate without lightly buffing it first
- Skipping the step of pushing back your cuticles
- Too much/too little glue
- Getting your nails wet right after application
Press-on nail application mistakes – prepping the nail plate
One of the most common mistakes when applying press-on nails is not prepping your natural nail plate properly. Without it, you can’t expect your manicure to last two or three weeks. Any leftover cuticle, dust or dirt will keep the nails from adhering smoothly to the nail plate. On top of that, the nail plate should be buffed matte.
First, take care of your cuticles. You’ll need a wooden stick to gently push them back. You can make this a bit easier by soaking your hands in warm water first. If your cuticles have grown a lot since your last manicure, trim them with cuticle nippers or special scissors after pushing them back.
Now it’s time to prep your natural nail plate. First, shape it with a nail file, then degrease it. This helps the glue or adhesive tabs hold really well on the surface of your natural nail. For this step, you can use, for example, the mini disinfecting wipe soaked in ethyl alcohol that comes in every Wink Beauty press-on nail set. You can also use a buffer block to make sure the nail plate is nicely matte – just remember to buff before you use the degreaser.
How to apply press-on nails correctly – the right amount of glue
You’ve applied your manicure, but after just a few days your press-on nails start falling off? The problem may be using too little glue during application. Many women are afraid of overdoing it, but too little glue means the press-on nail won’t adhere perfectly to your natural nail plate. And that’s an easy way for air or water to get into the space between them.
On the other hand, too much glue can also shorten the life of your manicure. The product will start to seep out from under the press-on nail. If you don’t properly remove the excess around your cuticles, you may end up with the same problem described above.
So how much glue is right? Apply it to the cuticle-side third of the press-on nail. Then also apply it to your natural nail plate, but remember to use a really thin layer. That way, you can be sure there’s enough product to enjoy long-lasting press-on nails for up to three weeks. Then press the nail down for about 10 seconds and you’re done. Repeat for each nail.
Common press-on nail mistakes – getting them wet too soon
Avoid getting your press-on nails wet right after applying them. Remember that the glue doesn’t dry as fast as you might think. It needs a little time to do its job one hundred percent.
If you want to be sure the product has dried and your nails will stay put on your natural nail plates, hold off on washing your hands, showering or doing the dishes for at least an hour – ideally a little longer.