But being fond of press-ons and having them frequently means you also recognize that nail glue may not be as gentle to your nails, especially when you are not as patient in removing your fake nails.

It isn’t goodbye yet though. Today you will learn that one step off the big companies’ choice is various other options. More importantly, gentler ones.

So off you go. There are treasures to find beyond that little Shire of nail glue you have.

How can you stick fake nails on without nail glue

Working without nail glue shouldn’t frustrate you. There are ways you can manage without one. And in fact, you can easily make a DIY nail glue for your nails. Further below, there’s an instruction on how to make one, but if you are not up for some creativity, here are other ways to ensure your press-ons don’t see the trash yet.

You can either use: nail tabs, acrylic mixture, gel nail polish, or homemade nail glue.

CHECK OUT: Can you reuse press-on nails

How do you apply fake nails with tape

Adhesive tabs or nail tabs are the cream of the crop—the elite. When you don’t have or don’t want nail glues, this is what you want to buy.

Adhesive tabs are pre-cut double-sided tapes explicitly designed to fit the nails. They are gentler for your nails, and they allow easy removal. The latter is important because this also ensures that you can reuse your press-ons later.

1. Wash your hands with soap and water, so any greasy remnants from your pizza last night are totally gone. Kidding aside, removing oil will get the adhesive to work better.

2. Push back your cuticles. You don’t want dead skin to interfere with your tabs. You can also choose to buff your nails. Roughing them up like that allows for a better surface for the glue.

3. Alcohol wipe is the king to any nail prep time. It removes moisture and oils altogether.

4. Remove the cover of the nail tab, then press it on the nail firmly for 20 seconds. You can alternatively stick it on the nail tab and not your nails. However, sticking it on your nails means you know everything is mainly covered.

5. Remove any bubbles or close gaps by flattening the nail tab.

It isn’t too much work at all. Plus, it is also affordable. The bad news is it only lasts for about 1-2 days. But adhesive tabs come aplenty, so when it pops off, you can redo it!

Fun fact: Did you know that fashion tapes can replace nail tabs? They come in a lengthy roll, so you must cut them to fit an individual nail. A bit of hassle, but desperate times call for long measures!

Pro tip: if you have brittle nails, it’s a wise call to apply a nail strengthener first or a base coat so the sticky part can adhere there instead and not directly to your nail bed. Prevention is better than cure!

How to apply fake nails with an acrylic mixture

If you are onto press-ons because you specifically dislike how cruel acrylics mani have been to your nails, then you are free to skip this. Albeit used as a nail glue here, removing it would still be as hard and harsh.

If you are here to stay, let’s say this acrylic mixture is also there to stay for you.

1. Do the entire prep for your nails.

2. If you have a nail primer, you can apply it to make the mixture stronger.

3. Soak your brush into the acrylic liquid, then dip it into acrylic powder to make a semi-small bead.

4. You can apply it to your nails then cover it with your press-on. Hold it firmly for 10-15 seconds until the acrylic fully dries.

The great thing about acrylics is their durability. This will last you for 2-3 weeks. So if you are looking for a lasting time with your press-ons, this is how you do it!

CHECK OUT: How to take off acrylic nails with hot water

Can you use nail polish as glue? Well, the short answer is yes.

A regular nail polish, by itself, can hardly be called an alternative to nail glue. Some say it does not work, while some successfully pull it off.

Well, it’s time to leave the dark side and choose the optimistic option then. After all, we never knew Captain America could wield mjölnir until he actually did.

Forewarning: It is best to choose this, knowing it is strong enough to hold for a night. (This might not even hold with you flailing your arms in the club while dancing.)

So with expectations set, here is how you do it.

1. Again, prep time is crucial. Do it religiously.

2. Evenly apply clear nail polish at the back of your press-on. Wait for a while until it gets tacky. Wet nail polish adheres much weakly, so you would have to air-dry it for a bit.

3. Press the fake nail firmly to your nails and check if they fit snugly. You might see some polish getting squished out as you press. This is precisely the reason why you need to choose a clear polish so that you can remove the polish on the side of your nails without a noticeable trace.

Aside from regular polish, there is one more strong alternative: gel polish. It’s more potent because of the curing process.

There is one tiny catch, though. You would have to choose a press-on that is light-colored or transparent.

A bit of science here: Darker colors absorb more UV rays than lighter ones. This means it will take time for the UV to reach the gel polish, aka glue, and cure it.

So if you have the correct shade over there, grab a gel polish too.

What you need to do is pretty simple. You have to apply a gel coat to your nails then fit your press-ons. Cure it under the lamp for about 30 seconds.

Tip: You can use a gel base coat for the glue and then a no-wipe top coat to get that glossy effect.

DIY Nail Glue

“Fine, I’ll do it myself,” said Thanos in 2015.

And says you in 2022, apparently.

Everything HAS a DIY option these days. It’s no wonder nail glue has its set of Instructables.

What you will need is in every school project you had as a kid— yes, Elmer’s glue or a white PVA glue. You will also need to grab a clear nail polish, a small container, and a cotton swab.

It’s time to release your inner Thanos and step up to the challenge here! Get ready!

This section will teach you the following:

• How to make homemade glue
• Application
• Proper storage

How to make homemade glue

Before starting, make sure your supplies are clean or well maintained. It is vital to always be hygienic with your hands and your trinkets.

Clean the small container well because you may infect your nails due to nail fungus. They can cause persistent pain and may even lead to more severe symptoms. So yes, be a responsible DIY-er!

Place 1 cup of PVA glue into the container— clear or white glue; it doesn’t matter much. Then add onto it approximately half of a standard-sized bottle of clear polish. That’s 7.4 mL of polish btw, Hermione Granger.

Take your little potion aside for now.

The next you want to make is a DIY stirrer. And for that, you will need a Q-tip or a cotton swab. Cut one end of the cotton swab. The cut end will be your stirrer, while the cotton end will be your handle.

And now Hermione, you would need to stir it for 2-3 minutes. No spells nor much patience are required here. And voila! Professor Snape would be very proud of you!

Fun fact: Did you know you can make glue using flour and water? You are on the rabbit hole of DIY now. If you want to go crazy about it, try it out too!

Application

This part should be familiar to you already, so here are some bits of reminders that you would want to know for this DIY session.

1. The stirrer is also the applicator. Just a dollop of glue will get you through it, and make sure they are evenly applied. Always use the cut end, so you don’t end up dragging cotton everywhere on your nail bed— totally not the purpose of your expedition.

2. Press down firmly as you would in nail glue when putting your fake nails. A DIY nail glue will not be as durable as the actual one, so every step that sticks firmly needs to be executed well.

3. If you have any split nails, hold them together with your DIY nail glue. It’s not healed, but it will look like it. Fake it till you make it, as they say!

Proper storage

Now, DIYs often have this reputation of being a temporary aid to your troubles. Use it once? Discard.

But it’s time to be economically sound and environmentally friendly in 2022. Using it only once will cost you more money and more time later, so to save some nail glue money, you can make sure that your DIY is stored correctly.

Grab an empty nail polish, then soak it first with nail polish remover. Afterward, rinse it with water until you are satisfied.

If you can’t be bothered for a DIY session, some replacements may do it for you. If it’s just a one-time event, then holding power shouldn’t be a deciding factor. That said, you can use your eyelash extension glue. But really, don’t expect a lot from it.

The real talk here is that there is no quality better than nail glue. But that should not stop you from trying your hand at DIY. The odds are actually in your favor in this one.

CHECK OUT: How to make press-on nails look real

Takeaway

Nail glue alternatives are generally suitable for less than a week’s use. They are not as durable, but they are indeed gentler options. So if you do not have nail glue, don’t let your press-ons sit there. Try one of the options above and see what works.

Who knows, you might find a permanent and more affordable replacement for your nail glue.

CHECK OUT: What are solar nails

The post How to apply fake nails without glue? appeared first on Polish pretty.

But what if there is a way to hack the system with just the fake nails you got? What if you can learn how to make fake press-on nails look real so you won’t have to spend a fortune?

Well, prepare to be educated because this is the lesson you would not want to miss.

How to make fake press-ons look real

Press-ons are great and all, but there’s a big catch that people forget to tell you: they look fake. They’re not the impressive fake either which can fool some for their quality. It’s the kind that screams, “I saw this from my baby sister’s playthings and decided to stick it on my nails.”

It’s a newbie mistake.

After all, sticking fake stuff and making them look natural is bound to have a learning curve.

Like the no make-up look, the key to your dilemma is customization.

Yes, customize. Your nails look different from others and will need a particular brand of contouring, so the press-ons (and you, by extension) won’t look cheap.

Nail size

Have you ever ordered something online, indicating your size, just for it to turn out one size smaller?

Bummer, right? That’s also the case for press-ons. They will come in more than ten specific sizes. That’s because your thumb and someone else’s does not match perfectly. So most sets offer a variety of nail sizes.

Many brands emboss theirs with numbers. For example, zero would usually be for the thumbs, while 11 and 12 are for the pinky. (Or honestly, you can look and judge).

To get the right fit, size up from the left nail groove to the right. A rough estimate usually works! And by the time you practice this step enough, you’d know which ones to pick just at a glance!

CHECK OUT: How to clean underneath acrylic nails

Prep time

It may feel like getting your press ons to fit right is luck-based. Sometimes it looks great, sometimes you suck it up and hope no one stares at it long enough.

But no, fortune does not favor anyone but the prepared. It would help if you believed in that.

The first step is to wash your hands. Hygienic and essential as it removes the general oiliness on your hands.

Now the next step is to push your cuticles back. Why? So the press-ons can adhere better. Also, you don’t want glue to drown your nails. That’s painful even to imagine.

Last of all is the alcohol pad. Most brands include them but if the one you got does not, soak a cotton pad in alcohol and wipe your nails with it. This will get rid of excess oils and moisture.

During prep time, you clean to prevent infection and make sure your nails stick and last long.

So please don’t skip it. You don’t want to redo a nail because you got a tad lazy in the first place.

Glue

This uses a bit of common sense. A quality nail glue means it will stick better, right? And when it is not popping off here and there, your nails look more legit and done well.

So while you are shopping for press-ons, don’t forget to add to cart your nail glue or check if the set you have already has one.

Pro tip: Apply the nail glue at the tip of your nail and the base of your fake nail. That’s a double lock security system that won’t disappoint you!

Filing and trimming

Nowadays, some make-up looks so well done, they can just shout, “I woke up like this,” and no one would ever question it.

Impressive, right?

Well, you can achieve that with nails too.

With nails, the contouring comes post-op. When you finish the sticking part, you have to file the tips and get that natural finish.

One thing you should remember is that there should be continuity. The shape of the tips should follow smoothly that of the nails. It mustn’t look like your tips suddenly swerved at a sharp angle and decided to leave your nails.

This part is the fine line between a meh and a wow. So take your time! There is no such thing as a job overly done.

CHECK OUT: Can you reuse press-on nails

How to make press-on nails look like acrylic

When you search why acrylic manicures have been the rave by Instagrammers, you come up with two reasons: design and durability. Acrylic nails can be customized to your desired length and shape and, more amazingly, last for three weeks!

But acrylic nails also potentially damage your nail bed and it will take a toll on your nails if you do them often enough. Yikes!

Here’s where your press-ons could come to the rescue. And yes, there is an easy way to achieve the coveted acrylic mani with your press ons.

You may think it’s hard to replicate a design from a salon acrylic manicure. After all, it came from your head, and you had an in-depth talk with your manicurist before you could visualize it on your nails. You customized it for you, so there’s no way you would find a replica of it on the press-on stalls.

Or not really. Well, not on stalls.

You just have to find merchants who personalize press-on nails. Yes, they exist! After that, you can just put them on as your usual press ons!

However, acrylics are also known for their plain, bright colors. And that, you can manage on your own.

You would need plain press-ons, an LED lamp, nail glue, clear gel polish, and a topcoat.

First, never forget your prep. Push your cuticles back and trim your nails. You can then buff your nails to ensure that the press-on adheres firmly.

Buffing may make you anxious because it can lead to nail thinness, so while you are at it, buff gently. Keep in mind always the health of your nails!

Paint your nails with clear gel polish and then apply a dot of nail glue at the center of your nails. You can then proceed to cure it one nail at a time.

If durability is your worry, then that should solve the problem. Curing the gel with glue doubles the strength of the hold. Cool, right?

If they have finished curing, make sure you file across and to the sides, so the shape comes off as natural. Now get rid of the shine by buffing the press-ons.

(Some roughing up before we get to the finale. Just be patient.)

You can then paint your press-ons with your choice of gel polish and add a topcoat for that smooth finish.

May it be a bright pink or deep blue, they will never know that what you have cost less than salon-made acrylics.

And that is what you call a great steal and loads of ingenuity.

CHECK OUT: How to take off acrylic nails with hot water

How to make press on nails thicker

Thick resembles a salon-made acrylic mani. Thick also means sturdy and can weather everyday life clumsiness. You want both, and now you channel that energy to your press-ons.

Okay, before you go crazy trying to make your press-ons look incredibly thick, you should keep in mind that there exist brands of press-on nails that are of thick quality.

But if you are not satisfied with their thickness, it’s worth trying the double press-on method.

Yes, that may sound wild and not durable at all but guess what? Here’s a day to prove yourself wrong.

So again, prep your nails. This is a mantra you must repeat to yourself whenever you experiment on them.

Prepare two press-on nails. Cut the top part of one and the bottom part of the other.

Tip: Make sure that you remember the final length you are going for so you don’t end up with way longer nails than necessary. Buff up the part of both pressed-ons you will glue. Then you can smear glue on both parts and stick them together.

After you double your press ons, you can now stick them to your nails with your nail glue. File them down to shape them (see how durable they are!).

It’s looking thick but not yet smooth. So add a topcoat, two layers preferably, since topcoats harden and strengthen your fake nails.

After that, you can paint them with your gel polish color of choice and cure them under a UV or LED lamp. Tadah!!

Not rocket science at all!

What are you waiting for? Go on and try these techniques. Because once you ace them, you are going to save a FORTUNE.

CHECK OUT: What are solar nails

The post How to make press-on nails look real? appeared first on Polish pretty.

But your overthinking mind might wonder, “What’s the catch?” After all, glitters and rhinestones and the most vivid of colors on your fingernails feels like it, at least, has one downside you can’t and must not ignore. You know, like how fire can keep you warm and also burn your house.

Yet, what if there is really none?

It is affordable, quick to apply and remove, and even leaves your nails healthier than your usual gel or acrylic mani. And as you are a smart buyer, there is one more thing which catches your attention: is it cheap for its one-time use only or can you reuse press-on nails?

Yaaaay for you and Mother Earth! These nails are actually reusable! There are certain terms and conditions, of course, as to how often you can do it or even how to properly ensure you can reuse it for later time.

How many times can you reuse fake nails?

Are press-on nails reusable? Yes. That’s one newbie question to be tossed to Neverland.

But there’s a follow up to that you are itching to ask — how many times?

Reusing something is quite a subjective topic. You see, it’s like dropping food on the floor. Do you still pick it up and eat it? Or do you just let it be even if it was there for mere seconds?

Taylor Swift answered it really depends on you.

And perhaps, there lies your clue. Once you remove your fake nails for the first time, they become that dropped food. And now it depends on you to assess it.

A tip: It’s a general rule to only reuse it if it has not lost its aesthetic value a.k.a. if you can still slay with it, go for it. But if it is chipped or has started to peel off, you might not want to reuse that.

Granted, the slightly more expensive ones are more durable. No shock factor there! They don’t chip easily, look better and feel more comfortable. They are more resistant to clumsiness.

But if you started the journey wary or non-committal, it’s alright. The cheap ones can be reused too. Great, right?

Cheap or expensive, there are two conditions to keep in mind so you can reuse them: (1) you took care of them while using and (2) you were careful in removing them.

How to clean press on nails for reuse

On your way to buying press-ons, you have probably heard some nasty rumors about it— how it damages your real nails. It’s not totally unfounded, of course. Someone probably bought a bunch of them and never did any reading on press-ons but for the simple instructions stuffed along with it.

But such things are not earthquakes. They are merely bumps in the road that you can avoid if you stay alert.

The first thing is to always assess (such as in our proverbial dropped food). Is it still nice to look at? No chipping or peel-offs? If yes, then the next thing is to devise the removal of your fake nails.

If you ever wondered where those rumors came from, it’s from the people who ripped their press-ons so hard trying to get them out that their nail beds suffered the consequences.

Removal Method

In order to reuse your press-ons, it is important that you don’t use acetone when removing them. This potentially dissolves the acrylic making up your press-ons. And second, you don’t use too much force that you would eventually break them.

In other words, treat it like a baby falling asleep. You won’t yank it, will you? You have to be patient and gentle.

Okay, now that you took notes of the no-no’s, it’s time for some removal tips.

These days, you can use press-ons with either an adhesive tab, as discussed below, or the classic nail glue.

(May you not be the type to be reminded that super glue is not and never will be an alternative.)

Attached with adhesive tab

1. Loosen the adhesive tab with rubbing alcohol or alcohol-based sanitizer. It doesn’t take that long— just a mere 30 seconds of rubbing around the edges of the extension will do.

2. Gently rock the press-ons from side to side in order to lift the press-ons. If it doesn’t feel as smooth as Excalibur on King Arthur’s hands, then do not pull it out. It will destroy your nails for sure. You can use more alcohol in order to help with the lifting process.

Attached with glue

You probably opted to still apply glue even when there is an adhesive tab. Trust issues or not on your part, you are now committed to a more permanent path. Be it that way, the removal process looks more like a spa day for your nails than a rigorous pull-out session.

1. Your friend here is a warm soapy water for five minutes. It’s like giving your nails a deserved soak in the bathtub after working so hard for you.

2. Further loosen it using oil. Olive oil or coconut oil will do. Soapy baths can be drying so it’s a plus to have this hydration boost!

3. Gently rock your nails from side to side. (Yes, this motion again.) You can soak while rocking if it seems to lift it more naturally. You may have to soak and rock more than you’d prefer but patience is key to healthier nails!

Hardened glue may interfere with the fresh glue and it may not stick as nicely as you want.

You can use any sharp object or tweezers to scrape off the residual glue left. If that is too crass, you can use isopropyl alcohol to do a quick wipe on your press-ons.

As long as you clean off the remnants especially at the back, then all is well for reuse.

CHECK OUT: How to clean underneath acrylic nails

How to reuse press on nails without nail glue

A nail glue should already be stuffed somewhere in the set that you bought. If not or if you happen to lose it, don’t fret.

Adhesive tabs

Adhesive tabs or sticky tabs are your double-sided heroes. It’s the most common alternative to nail glue. They come in different shapes so they perfectly fit each nail. No awkward nail here! One side sticks to your press-on and the other to your nail.

If somehow you can’t get ahold of the official ways of gluing your fake nails, there are always some sage advice that may seem suspect but actually works.

CHECK OUT: How to protect your nails from nail glue

Fashion tapes

If it is just for a one-time event you are showing those glorious nails off for, then make use of something which won’t hold strongly but would still get you through till lights out.

Good thing, fashion tapes are a thing. It’s not just for wardrobe malfunctions!

You can’t go wrong with buying a clear polish. Not only is it a go-to for casual manis but it will rescue you in the most dire of nail situations—including your press-on dilemma.

How to: Paint the back of a press-on with a tiny amount of clear polish. Leave it to air dry until it has a tacky (NOT dry nor wet!) consistency. You can then put it on your nails and hold it still for a minute each.

Base coat and white glue

This is the most unorthodox of the lot but it works the same so here it is!

Pro tip: Work one nail at a time since the base coat can dry easily.

How to: Apply base coat on your nail and before it can dry, cover it generously with white school glue. Brush it out to even out the glue. You can now press the nail and hold it in position for a minute. It cures for only 5 minutes so no long waiting time!

CHECK OUT: Why are nails clear

How often should you replace press-on nails?

The ideal time is when you say it is.

Nah, kidding.

Glue-ons typically last for 2-3 weeks. The give-away is when most of them lift off naturally. One nail can be remedied but when your nails are popping off like popcorns, that’s your cue to remove them.

So there’s your answer. You can replace it when a majority of your nails say it’s time.

And while you are in this line of thinking, do not ever remove glue-on fake nails on the same day. It has a great probability of damaging your real nails. So avoid it!

To make sure you don’t subject your nails to constant replacements and the likelihood of wrecking havoc to your real nails, you must learn how to make them last longer.

Tip 1: Prep religiously. That means, alcohol pads should be at your disposal before you glue on fake nails.

Tip 2: Quality is king. This applies to your choice of glue and press-on themselves. You may choose to put the glue on both your nail and the fake ones just to fully secure them. And when you apply them, put enough pressure for 30 seconds to make it stick better.

Tip 3: Do not come in contact with water. If you really want to ace it, stay dry overnight.

When you finally decide to replace them, you can use the double boiler method.

Pro tip: Slather your nails with oil first before this.

How to: Fill a larger bowl with a couple inches of water then place a smaller bowl with acetone inside. Once the acetone is warm, soak your nails for 5-10 minutes.

FAQs

Can you use press-on nails more than once?

Yes, yes, yes! You can use them as long as they still look presentable. So if you have any plans of reusing, just be careful in removing them.

Can you keep press-on nails?

Yes, you can. But they will naturally pop off after 2-3 weeks (if you are not clumsy!). If you are thinking of re-gluing them, just stop. Fresh glue won’t be as sticky when glue residue is still present on your nails. Besides, it would be thick. Yuck!

Can you reuse Kiss press on nails?

Yes. Kiss offers reusable press-on nails so you could get quality and also have your money’s worth from your nails. An example from their line is Kiss Majestic nails which has up to 3x reusability.

Can you reuse imPress press on nails?

ImPress, Kiss’ sister company, offers a great deal for no-glue press ons. According to imPress themselves, their nails are not reusable. They are made to be flexible to provide a comfortable fit. Removing it will distort this somehow and will not be available for reuse.

CHECK OUT: How to dry gel nail polish without UV light

Takeaway

Press-on nails aren’t and shouldn’t be difficult. If they are, they defeat their purpose. So even with the cautionary tales and onslaught of pro tips that you would probably forget, just take it easy and enjoy.

Sometimes, it can really just be summarized to one sentence— reuse when you can still reuse it and replace when you can’t. It’s a quick rule to master and something you probably do know already.

So get on with it because, as cliche as it sounds, experience is the best teacher.

The post Can you reuse press-on nails? appeared first on Polish pretty.