Over the past year, I’ve pretty much completely transitioned from being a salon girlie to a press-on proponent, and I’m not the only one. As the world of press-on nails continues to expand, more and more individuals are hopping on the DIY nail trend, allowing for a quick, professional-looking mani in minutes and endless options for mixing and matching without the grow-out constraints of a classic gel mani.
While press-on nails are in no way inherently bad for your nails, proper application and tried-and-true formulations can help ensure that your natural nails don’t have any negative fallout from your stick-on nail journey. From the best ways to apply stick-on nails at home to the best brands to try, here’s everything you need to know about damage-free press-ons.
How do you maintain nail health while using press-ons?
As with any beauty practice, the technique is everything when it comes to press-ons. As Julie K explains, one of the best ways to maintain the health of your natural nails when wearing press-ons is to exercise extra caution. “Remember the classic saying, ‘nails are jewels, not tools,'” she begins. “Even though press-ons are strong, still use care when doing things like opening a soda can, handling luggage, going into your pockets or purse.” This practice is key, as reapplication tends to be when things go south for nail health.
“Carrying nail glue with you is tempting if you lose a nail, [but] it’s better to gently file off some of the old glue before re-applying more glue,” she says. “Adding glue on top of glue makes the nail bulky and can allow water to seep in between those newly created air spaces.” Additionally, Julie emphasizes that without the “perfect surface-to-surface connection (natural nail to press-on),” your press-ons are more likely to pop off again. Taking extra care to file your nails between applications will do wonders for extending your press-on wear and maintaining nail health.
Are press-ons bad for your nails?
Anytime you apply glue to nails, there’s bound to be concern about the safety of the natural nail. So, are press-ons bad for your nails? Luckily for press-on lovers everywhere (myself included), Julie K assures that the answer is no. “Press-ons are not bad for your nails—The key is removing them properly and with a bit of patience, like any other nail enhancement,” she says. “Cut down the length with nail clippers first, and use a coarse grit nail file to rough up the surface—this allows the acetone to penetrate better and work faster. Soak in 100 percent pure acetone, and they’ll melt off in less than 15 mins with zero damage.” Nowadays, tons of brands also offer press-on removal solvents with nail kits, making removal a damage-free breeze.
Nail-Health Friendly Press-Ons to Try Now
