Care & how-to
A short guide to applying, wearing, and removing your set. Plus the three essentials we recommend so your set goes the distance — close to three weeks per wear, four to six wears per set.
How to apply
Apply on a clean, dry day. Don't moisturise your hands first — oils break the bond. Have a tea ready, your set in front of you, and put on something quiet.
Use the sized tips or your sizing kit to find your fit for each finger. We include two backup sizes per set — don't be shy about using them.
Gently push back cuticles with the included pusher. Lightly buff the surface (one or two passes — don't over-buff). Swipe each nail with the alcohol prep pad.
For long wear: a pea-sized dot of glue across the natural nail. For short wear and removability: a sticky tab. Don't combine the two.
Set the tip at the cuticle line, then roll it down. Press firmly for a count of ten. Wipe any glue that squeezes out with the alcohol pad before it dries.
No water for the first 20 minutes. No tight gloves. Don't pick at the cuticle edge — let the bond fully set. After that, you're back to normal.
One drop of cuticle oil per nail each evening. Wear gloves for dishes and cleaning. Avoid prolonged hot water and harsh chemicals. That's it.
The small kit
You don't need much. These are the only three add-ons we keep on the workbench and recommend without hesitation. Affiliate links — they cost you nothing extra.
Pro tips
These are the differences between a set that lasts three days and a set that lasts three weeks. Skip them and your wear will be shorter.
Cuticle push, light buff, alcohol swipe. Don't skip any of three.
Hot water is the fastest way to break the glue bond. Same for harsh dish soap and hair color.
Keeps the seal at the cuticle line clean and stops lifting. The single biggest difference between 1-week and 3-week wear.
Wait 24 hours before shaping or filing — the glue cures slowly inside the bond.
Add a fresh dot of glue and reapply — don't toss it. We include backup tips so you can swap mid-wear.
Always remove with warm soapy water and patience. Ripping damages your natural nail bed.
How to remove
Press-ons aren't disposable when you remove them properly. Most customers re-wear a single set four to six times before retiring it. Here's how.
Fill a small bowl with warm (not hot) water and a few drops of dish soap. Soak each hand 10 minutes. The water softens the adhesive.
Use the cuticle pusher or your thumbnail. Gently lift at the cuticle line — don't pull from the tip. If a nail resists, soak it longer.
Wipe any glue residue off the tip with rubbing alcohol. Slide them back into the original tip case. Cuticle oil for your natural nails — they earned it.
From the journal