The Trick To Keep Press-On Nails From Falling Off

Press-on nails are totally underrated. Not only are they generally more affordable than acrylics, but they also don't damage your nails nearly as much, either. The downside? They usually fall off after a few days. But it's easily sorted if you know the trick to make press-ons last longer. "Depending on your nail beds and lifestyle, you can sometimes stretch press-ons past 10 days," celebrity nail artist and KISS brand ambassador Gina Edwards revealed to Harper's Bazaar. 

Apparently, it all comes down to how you apply the glue. "If you are worried about any nails coming off, be sure to apply the glue at the tip of your own nail and near the base of the artificial press-on," Edwards told InStyle. Also smart: "Leave a little [space] on the sides bare, so the glue can set and spread without attaching to your skin," nail artist and Fashion Week backstage veteran Miss Pop explained to Allure. 

The placement of the nails also plays a huge part in determining how long your press-on nails will stay put. Per Miss Pop, you want to "wait for the glue to air-dry a bit and get tacky — just a handful of seconds." Then, place the nail at the top off your fingertip, pressing down "like a see-saw from the free edge." To get a natural look, you should then file the nails down to best suit your hands and nail beds.

And if you really want your press-on nails to go the distance, it's important to avoid water as much as possible, occasionally opting for hand sanitizer, instead of washing them, and using gloves when you wash dishes, suggested Miss Pop. Even so, no matter how many precautions you take, they won't last forever. But that's no reason not to embrace press-on nails. After all, they make it easy to update your look every week!