Press-on nails are artificial nails that are glued on top of your natural nails to make them look neat and improve their general appearance. They come in different lengths, shapes and colours and they last up to two weeks if applied properly. Another benefit of press-on nails is that they save you both the time and money that you would have spent in the salon. With proper application and removal techniques, you also get to save your nails from the damage caused by acrylics or gel polish.

The main disadvantage of press-on nails though, is that they tend to pop off prematurely. But this doesn’t have to be the case if you use the correct application process. The quality of your press-on nails and adhesive will also determine how long they will last. These though, are just a few of the tips we have for you in this article. Read on to get all the tea on how to make your press-on nails last longer.

1.  Prep your hands and cuticles

Just as we prep our hands and nails before applying acrylics or gel, we also need to do the same before applying press-on nails. Prepping your hand involve washing them thoroughly and drying with a clean towel. This will help get rid of dirt and any residual polish on your nails. Afterwards, use a cuticle pusher to push back your cuticles so your press-on nails fit in accurately. It’s also very important to moisturize your hands and cuticles before applying press-on nails. This will help them to bond firmly to your nail bed therefore ensuring they last longer.

2. Also prep the surface of your nails

To do this, first make sure you wipe your nails with acetone to get rid of oils. This will ensure your nails have a clean surface to bond to therefore helping them last longer. Next, buff the surface of your nails with a buffing tool to give the adhesive and press-on nails something to stick on to. Lastly, use a base coat of high quality to provide a protective barrier between your natural nails and the adhesive. This will also help your press-ons last while still preventing discoloration.

3. Use high quality press-on nails and adhesive

Your manicure is assured to last longer if you use high quality products. Although, high quality doesn’t mean the most expensive press-on nails in the market. It all goes down to how durable they are and how many varieties they have to enable them fit perfectly on top of your natural nails. Even though some press-on nails come pre-made with glue, it is always advisable to add some more high quality adhesive to help them hold longer. Make sure the glue is water-resistant, dries quickly and has a strong hold to help the press-on nails stick firmly onto your natural nails.

4. Apply press-on nails correctly

More often than not, wrong application technique is the usually the cause of press-on nails popping off only after a week or even a few days. As you’re applying your press-ons make sure the size fits exactly into your natural nails. If the size is too big or too small, you will get quite a difficult time keeping them for long. Also make sure you add only few drops of glue on your natural nails and hold on the press-on nail for about thirty seconds. You could also pinch the sides while you do this to get the best nail bed fit.

5. Take care of the press-on nails after application

After applying the press-on nails, it’s important to take some precautionary measures to help them last longer. You should try and avoid anything that might trigger them to start popping off. Things like submerging them in water especially for the first 24 hours. This is because as your nails absorb water, they expand therefore making them sit differently and look crooked. Water also weakens the glue and can cause the nails to pop off.