top of page

How to Apply

Here you have 2 methods to apply your Press on nails. The period of time you can keep them on will depend on the type of glue used for application.

ADHESIVE TAB METHOD

This method will allow you to wear your nails for 1-2 days.

​

What you’ll need:

  • Set of Press on Nails

  • Cuticle stick

  • File

  • Buffer

  • Cuticle nipper or cuticle scissors - optional

  • Little brush - recommended

  • Alcohol pads (99% isopropyl alcohol for best results)

  • Adhesive tabs

  • Tweezers - optional

*Make sure english subtitles are turned on*

Step by step:

​

1 - Wash your hands. Make sure your nails are free of polish or any residue.

 

2 - Check the Press on nails sizes for each finger. If necessary, file any excess on the lower part of the false nail for a better fit, like shown on video. Some people may have round or square cuticle area shape. Try to align them with the artificial nails in case there are some differences between them.

 

3 - If your natural nails grow upwards (known as ski jump nails), or downwards, I’d recommend to file down the length for a better fit as well.

 

4 - Using the cuticle stick, gently push back the skin from the cuticle area, if possible, creating a small pocket under it to clean the nail plate properly and this will help you to achieve a natural look later when applying the Press ons.

Pay attention to the cuticle residues attached to the nail surface (thin and translucent tissue layer - it turns white once pushed). Residues left on the nail surface will result on short lasting application, this is because the glue will get attached to the debris instead of the natural nail.

 

5 - With the buffer, gently buff your natural nail surfaces in order to remove all the natural oils from them, include the free edge. Make sure there are no shiny areas left, as this indicates oil presence. This will allow the glue to bond better too.

 

6 - Use the cuticle nipper or scissor if needed - optional.

 

7 - Using the cuticle stick again, remove all the residue left after buffing (like shown on the video).

 

8 - It is highly recommended to dust off your nails with a clean little brush. Motion should be from cuticle area to free edge.

 

9 - Wipe your nails with isopropyl alcohol (hopefully over 80%, which can be found bottled). From now on, DO NOT touch them so you do not transfer your natural oils back into your nail beds.

 

10 - Choose an adhesive tab that fits your nail. Apply the tab on the natural nail (as close as possible to the cuticle area), and remove the plastic layer (you can use tweezers to help you out). If the adhesive tab is shorter than your nail bed, apply part of another tab to fully cover your nail size with the glue.

 

11 - Slide your Press on nail (under the pocket left previously on the cuticle area) for best results. Firmly press the false nail on your natural nail for about 30 seconds; put enough pressure on the whole surface to make sure there are no air pockets left. Repeat procedure on the other nails.

NAIL GLUE METHOD 

This method will allow you to use your Press ons for 5-14 days.

​

What you’ll need:

  • Set of Press on Nails

  • Cuticle stick

  • File

  • Buffer

  • Cuticle nipper or cuticle scissors - optional

  • Little brush - recommended

  • Alcohol pads (99% isopropyl alcohol for best results)

  • Liquid nail glue

 

​

Step by step:

​

1 - Repeat steps 1 to 9 from previous method.

 

2 - Hold the Press on nail from the free edge, with the gel polish facing mostly up (a little bit angled) and add the glue in that position with a ‘brushing’ motion in order to apply just a tiny bit without releasing too much of the liquid from the tip of the bottle, as shown on video.

 

Do exactly the same on your nail plate. Make sure all the nail surface is covered with glue without overflow it.  Avoid touching the skin with it. Use the orange wood stick to remove glue in case it is in contact with the skin.

 

3 - Carefully slide your Press on nail (under the pocket left previously on the cuticle area) for best results. Firmly press the false nail on your natural nail for about 30 seconds; put enough pressure on the whole surface to make sure there are no air pockets left. Repeat procedure on the other nails.

 

If you opted for this method, it is suggested to buy an inexpensive e-file to remove completely the glue under the Press on nails after use, in order to leave them clean and ready to reuse whenever you want.

​

​

TIPS

 

  • For easiest applications, start glueing the Press ons from pinkies to thumbs.

  • If you have very oily natural nails, do not wipe with alcohol all of them. Instead, wipe each nail just before applying glue. If you wipe with alcohol all of them, by the time you apply the glue, the natural oil will be back on your nail plate, and again, this will affect the time the false nails will stay on.

  • If your nail is flat and there is too much gap between both nails, you can apply an adhesive tab and liquid glue together to fill the gap.

  • If you are having issues with keeping the nails on: remove the smooth surface on the underside of the nails by etching for a better adhesion.

​

​

IMPORTANT 

 

  • Avoid moisturizers or sanitizers with aloe vera before applications.

  • Preparing nail plates properly is key for long lasting adhesion. Never touch the nail after wiping with alcohol. If needed, wipe again.

  • Do not over buff your natural nail. Buff only once per area to keep healthy natural nails.

  • Try to use the right amount of glue according to your nail size (with time and practice the idea of quantity needed, will improve). If used too little and not covered the whole nail surface, air pockets can be left there and that may result in bacterial growth if water gets trapped. Using too much liquid glue, it will overflow the nail, touching the skin that might result in liftings or allergies. 

  • It is recommended to wait around one hour after application before exposing the nails to water.

  • Do not use your nails (even the naturals) as tools. This means on a daily basis: 

- Use knuckles instead of your nails, every time you want to push a large button (like the ones for elevators).

- Use fingerprint side area or a tool to open a pop can.

- Use another tool to scratch dirt from dishes, floor, walls or to remove labels, etc.

- Do not place your finger tip behind the heel when putting a shoe.

These are only examples you may want to avoid to keep the nails on for longer periods of time.​

How to Remove

Here you have two options to remove your Press on Nails. The one you need will depend on how long you’ve been using them, the type of glue used to apply the nails, if you would like to reuse or not the Press ons and your preference.

METHOD A

This method will allow you to reuse your Press ons.

​

What you’ll need:

  • 1 bowl deep enough to soak your nails

  • Hot water

  • Dish soap

  • Oil (cuticle or cooking oil)

  • Cuticle stick

  • Mini towel

*Make sure english subtitles are turned on*

Step by step:

​

1 - Start by covering your work table so it doesn’t get damaged if in contact with water.

​

2 - Pour hot water in your bowl (the highest temperature you can handle without burning the skin)

​

3 - Put some dish soap and oil into the water. Stir well.

​

4 - To speed up the process, apply cuticle oil around and underneath the Press on Nail.

​

5 - Soak your nails and cover the bowl with the towel. This will help to keep the water’s temperature. Wait 5 minutes.

​

6 - If the nails are not loose yet, gently and carefully use the cuticle stick to create separation between natural and false nail and break the seal so the soapy water can penetrate. *Change the water if it is cold and add some soap and oil again*. Soak and cover the nails for other 5 minutes.

 

7 - Repeat step #6 using the the orange wood stick. Soak for other 5-10 minutes. Don't forget to cover with the towel.

​

8 - If the nails are loose enough to effortlessly pull them off, do it and remove them and all the glue residue that could have been left on your natural and false nails.

​

 

IMPORTANT

​

  • Never force them to avoid damaging your natural nails.

  • If liquid nail glue was used during application, please consider you might need more soaking time than the removal with adhesive tabs; and the ‘fresher’ the liquid glue is, the more time you’ll need to soak them too, so I’d suggest that if you need the Press ons for 1-2 days or for a couple of hours, prefer adhesive tabs to apply them.

  • Due to the need of soapy water to remove the nails, wearing gloves is recommended if exposure to water is repeated.

METHOD B

This method will NOT allow you to reuse your Press ons.

​

What you’ll need:

  • 1 bowl deep enough to soak your nails. Ideally, a special bowl for manicure, or you can use 2 regular bowls, one of them smaller than the other.

  • Acetone (preferably pure - 100% acetone)

  • Nail clippers

  • File

  • Buffer

  • Oil (cuticle or cooking oil) - optional

  • Cuticle stick

  • Mini towel

 

​

Step by step:

​

1 - Start by covering your work table so it doesn’t get damaged if in contact with acetone.

​

2 - With the nail clipper, cut down the nail length. Make one cut each side (like shown on the video), and cover them while cutting so they don’t jump everywhere.

​

3 - Using the file, buff all the shiny nail surfaces. This will break the top coat ‘seal’ to let the acetone penetrate.

​

4 - If you have a manicure bowl (like the one from the video), then put hot water in the biggest part (white bottom), close it with the clear section (lid) and pour acetone in there. The hot water will speed up the acetone effect. If you use 2 bowls instead, put the water in the big one and acetone in the smaller. Place the small one on top (like Bain-Marie).

​

5 - Optional. To avoid dry skin after acetone uses, you can add oil to your skin (not on top of the nails) to repel it in those areas.

​

6 - Soak your nails for about 5 minutes and cover everything with the towel so the acetone doesn’t evaporate so quickly.

​

7 - To speed up more the process, after the first 5 minutes, you could help with the cuticle stick by removing the dissolved gel and nails. Soak again and take off the dissolved materials every 1-2 minutes until everything is removed.*Change water if it's too cold and/or add acetone if it's evaporated.

 

8 - Once dissolved and removed, gently buff your natural nails (only if there is residue left).

​

9 - Finish applying cuticle oil to restore moisture on your skin and nails.

​

bottom of page