The Art of Application:
Covering application, aftercare, removal, and more, these handheld tutorials, tips, and tricks will take you from Starter to St. Smart.
01.
1: Prep
Begin with clean, dry hands. Use the cuticle stick to gently push back your cuticles, ensuring no skin remains between the nail plate and press-on.
File the entire surface of your natural nails just enough to remove the shine. An etched surface is ideal for nail adhesion.
Wipe each nail with the alcohol wipe to clean and dehydrate.
Select your nail sizes and lay them out. Each nail should fully cover your natural nail without overhanging onto the skin or feeling tight.
2: Glue
Brush a thin layer of glue onto natural nails without touching skin, and add a small amount to the middle of your press-on no further than your natural growth.
3: Press
Align the press-on so it is flush with your cuticle and begin applying at 45-degree angle from cuticle to tip. Press firmly to remove bubbles, and hold for 20-30 seconds.
Tips for longevity
A short natural nail is best for longevity. Trim and file your natural nails close to the tip of your finger or to your comfort-level before applying press-on.
Gently rub the inside of your press-on with a Q-tip soaked in acetone to etch the inner surface of the press-on. This double-etch technique combines natural nail prep with a lightly etched press-on surface to create a strong, long-lasting bond between nails.
Avoid bumping nails and keep hands dry for 2 hours after application.
Alicia’s Pro Tips
Start applying press-ons to your non-dominant pinky. Alternate hands, applying pinky to thumb (left pinky, right pinky, left ring, right ring, etc). This method leaves your thumbs and pointer fingers nimble throughout your application.
Apply press-ons 1-2 hours before bed to allow your nails to set undisturbed throughout the night.
Don’t be afraid to customize. Trim and file press-ons to your preferred shape and length.
02.
Aftercare
Cleaning
Use a medium bristled brush to deep-clean underneath your nails. If wearing press-ons with 3D elements, use soft pressure on the tops of your nails as well. Dry thoroughly, especially around edges of press-on.
Pop Offs
If you lose a nail throughout your 10 days of wear, simply remove any remaining glue from the back of the press-on and your natural nail, then prep & reapply as usual.
Lifting
Lifting is usually a sign your nails are ready to come off or prep wasn’t quite right. If you need to fix a single nail, remove the nail and then follow the same steps used to fix a pop off.
03.
Removal
Add equal parts oil and dish soap to a large bowl of warm-to-hot water, and submerge nails for 15-20 minutes to loosen the glue.
Use the cuticle stick to gently lift the nail edges. If the nails don’t pop off easily, soak again and repeat. Do not force removal to protect your natural nails.
After removing all nails, gently file off any remaining nail glue.