We are women of simple wants, and a set of unbudgeable press-on nails is one of them. (We don’t always have the time or budget for gel manis!) But budgeting shouldn’t mean dealing with nails popping off left and right. What if we told you there are ways to make your press-on mani last? Ahead, we tested the top press-on nail hacks on the internet—these are the ones that worked.
Press-On Nail Hacks That Actually Work
Flatten Nails With Hot Water
@glamnetic having trouble with your press-on nails because of flat nail beds? try this hack! 💅 @Karencamargo_ wearing hot pink 🩷 #glamnetic #pressons #pressonnails #pressontips #flatnailbeds ♬ original sound – Glamnetic
If you have flat nail beds, press-ons can be a serious headache. That gap between the nail and your natural nail bed has too much air to flatten out, leading to nails that don’t last. If this is you, you need this press-on nail hack.
Because press-ons are typically a fairly thin plastic, heat and pressure can help you reshape them. Heat and pressure result in a press-on fit for a flat nail bed. By pressing the nails against a cup of hot water for several seconds, you can force the press-on to flatten. This works best with thinner press-on nails, and some netizens suggest placing thicker nails straight into hot water for a few minutes to achieve the same result.
We tried it ourselves, and with a little patience, this hack will save you a popped-off nail or two. The idea is to help eliminate that extra space, allowing you to create a stronger hold with the nail and eliminate air bubbles.
Buff Both Sides
If you have oily nails, press-on nail glue may not stick. The result is a press-on that slips on the nail bed, creating a sticky mess and leaving you with an unadhered nail. The good news is that the solution only takes an extra few seconds. Taking the time to gently buff your natural nail and the underside of the press-on will create more grip for the glue to hold onto.
If you find it hard to achieve a hold, try wiping down your natural nails with alcohol to remove any remaining oil.
Make a Glue Sandwich
When applying your press-ons, eliminating any air bubbles is a must. For a long time, creators have urged us to put glue on the natural nail and the press-on. This press-on nail hack is designed to eliminate extra air and solidify hold. And it does create a stronger bond.
If you want to reinforce this for an even stronger mani, we suggest using those included adhesive tabs. They’re especially useful if you have flat nail beds and need to fill space, born to be placed on top of nail glue for extra grip. Then, cover the adhesive with brush-on nail glue and press on your press-on! This extends the life of your nail and prevents a full nail pop-off. You’ll have a nail that wiggles around but doesn’t fall off, letting you reapply on your own time and prevent a manicure emergency.
Use Builder Gel and Cure
@ambitiousnysh Press on nails using #buildergel method #buildergelnails #pressonnails #gelnails #gelnailsathome #frenchtip #blackfrenchtip #nailsoftiktok #tiktoknails #diynails #fyp ♬ original sound – Wayne Kash
This one is a real game-changer. Online nail lovers discovered that bonding and builder gel help create a long-lasting manicure for press-on nails. First, apply a thin layer of bonding base coat. Then, brush on a thin layer of builder gel and cure for thirty seconds; you can also apply another layer inside the press-on. Then, adhere and cure.
This method works best for press-ons that are not opaque. You need some light to pass through for the UV curing to work its magic.
Quality Over Quantity
If you’ve ever shopped on Temu or Shien, you know how low these press-on nails can go. And while it can be hard to say no to a dollar set of nails, there’s an argument to be made regarding quality. Cheaper nails are soft and have more flexible plastic, making them more liable to bend and pop off if you’re too rough with them. Thicker, sturdier options from known brands like OPI or Static Nails offer a more structurally sound press-on.
And then there’s nail glue. We’re not saying that dollar tree glue can’t work, but if you’re trying to get more than a week out of press-on nails, the formula of your chosen product matters.
The Press-On Nails We Love
The Nail Glue We Rely On
