Application & Removal

Sticky tabs are recommended for reusability. You can reuse your nails after using the glue, but sticky tabs have an easier and cleaner removal process! Scroll to the "Removal" section for more tips on removal, reusability and aftercare for both your natural nails and your press ons.

With all application methods, it is recommended to avoid washing your hands, soaking your hands, using cuticle oil or hand cream for at least an hour after application for the longest-lasting results (overnight is even better!)

Prepping Your Nails:

Cut & file your nails; shorter typically works better but you want to have enough nature nail for the glue and press on to adhere to!
(Proceed instead with your own cuticle routine if you have one) Take the cuticle pusher and gently push back your cuticles as much as you comfortably can. You can apply the cuticle oil provided before pushing back your cuticles if desired but it is not essential, though helpful!
Use the alcohol prep pad to remove remaining gunk you may have scraped off with the cuticle pusher and/or any remaining cuticle oil.
Use the nail file to buff the tops of your natural nails. Try to do this on the entire nail as it will give the glue or sticky tabs something rough to really bond to. If you’ve previously applied cuticle oil or used the alcohol pad, it’s especially important to try and remove that remaining moisture.
Immediately before applying glue or sticky tabs, use the pink, lint-free wipe to clean your nail. You want to avoid anything besides the glue getting stuck between your natural nails and your press ons!

Sticky Tab Application:

You can choose to apply the sticky tab onto the bottom of the press on nails instead, but I have found the best results with the following steps:

Place sticky tabs onto your natural nails, leaving the top sheet on until you have a sticky tab applied to each one of your nails.
When you decide which nail you’re starting with (I always start with a pinky), remove the top sheet and apply the correlating press on. Before pressing and holding, make sure you have the press on placed how you want it. The sticky tabs are more forgiving than glue and will allow you to make small changes at this point. Press & hold for at least 15 seconds before moving on to the next nail. Continue until you have each press on applied.

Glue With Brush Application:

You can apply the glue directly to the underside of the press ons, but I find it works best to apply the glue to the natural nail; this makes it easier to avoid adding more glue than necessary. With glue, you’ll want to try and work quickly & with one nail at a time.

Have the press on you are applying ready to grab. Take the glue and brush it evenly over your natural nail. Try to fill up as much space as you can without overflowing it!
Place the press on over your natural nail. This glue dries/bonds quickly so you will want to try to work fast. Hold for at least 15 seconds before moving on. Continue with each nail until all of your press ons are applied.

Tube Glue Application:

Tube glue has a similar process to the glue with built-in brush, it's just not as convenient to apply. Like the glue with the built in-brush, I find it works best to apply the glue to the natural nails, versus the underside of the press ons, as it makes it easier to avoid adding more glue than necessary. With glue, you’ll want to try and work quickly & with one nail at a time.

Have the press on you are applying ready to grab. Take the glue and squeeze it evenly over your natural nail. Try to fill up as much space as you can without overflowing it!
Place the press on over your natural nail. This glue dries/bonds quickly so you will want to try to work fast. Hold for at least 15 seconds before moving on. Continue with each nail until all of your press ons are applied.

Sticky Tabs VS Glue:

Sticky tabs are generally seen as the easier option to apply press on nails and they are more forgiving during the application process. The tabs are easier to cleanly peel off your natural nail and/or press on when you are finished wearing your set, which is why they are recommended for reusability.

Glue tends to hold the press ons longer (though not always true - depends on the person, the natural nails beds, application, etc, but for most, glue = longer wear) but you’ll need to be quicker and more accurate while applying your press ons as the glue dries extremely fast. You can use glue for your press ons and still reuse the press ons again, but you’ll have to put in a little more time cleaning off the glue residue after the previous wear(s) before wearing again for best results.

Application for Shorter Wear Time:

If you'd like to wear your press ons for only a night, weekend etc, there are steps you can skip with prepping & application that will make them easier to remove in a shorter time frame. For shorter wear I usually skip buffing the tops of my natural nails and use less glue.

Depending on how long you’ve been wearing your press on nails, you may not need to take all of these steps. Over time your press ons will naturally start to come loose. These steps are for when you want to remove them sooner than the typical wear time, or when they are starting to come loose on their own but still need a little help.

Soak your hands in warm, soapy water with oil if available. I use dish soap and olive oil. While soaking, lightly push the press ons back and forth to help them loosen. I do this anywhere from 3 minutes to 15+ minutes. Sometimes you are able to remove them all with this step, but when not, continue to step 2:
Take the oil provided in each order and drown your cuticle area with it. I do this immediately after taking my hands out of the soak. When a press on is already starting to come loose, try and fit the twist pen bristles underneath to get as much oil in there as you can.
Take the orange wood nail stick provided and start to gently wedge it underneath the press on. The glue will make the press on more likely to pop off when it’s ready, while the sticky tabs may take more “wiggling” underneath with the stick to completely remove it.

I do not recommend any removal that involves soaking your hands in acetone, especially with sensitive skin, and if you plan to reuse your press ons. That is a worst case scenario removal process that I do not think you should ever need with press on nails.

Aftercare For Natural Nails:

The glue will not damage your natural nails but will most likely leave residue. To remove this, gently use a file to buff it off. While I don’t recommend soaking your hands in acetone, you can use acetone or other polish remover with a cotton pad to help remove the remaining glue on your natural nails.

Sticky tabs will be easier to peel off completely, but if there is any unlikely remaining residue, you can also use a file here to gently buff this off and acetone if necessary to remove the leftovers.

After removing the glue or sticky tabs, I recommend using the leftover cuticle oil over your nails and hands and top it all off with your favorite hand cream or lotion!

Aftercare For Press On Nails:

The sticky tabs, as mentioned above, will be easier to peel off completely. Once peeled off, your press ons are ready to be worn again.

If you used glue, first file off any glue that may have seeped out the sides during the previous application. Dipping a q-tip in acetone and holding it on the bottom of your press ons can help break down the glue. Try to file the remaining glue residue off as best you can. Even if you can’t remove all the glue, it is important to make it as “flat” as possible for your next application!

If you own an E-File, you know what to do ;)