​💅 How to Apply Your Press-On Nails

✨ BACKSTORY (for the curious)

I bite my nails. They're tragic. If they’re exposed, I chew them like a snack. They never grow. So press-ons? Literally my only hope for looking like I’ve got it together. This is my unfiltered routine — take from it what works. but highly not recommended by everyone else.

 A Realistic be out the door for  7:15AM Routine Step-by-Step:

1. Wake up. Shower. Oil up. Mistake one.

I shower at 6am and slather castor oil on everything (face, hair, maybe soul). Not ideal for nails — but priorities.

2. By 7am, I’m on a mission.

Face beat? Hair done-ish? Time to claw through my kit and size up my press-ons. (Still haven’t prepped my nails? Of course not.)

3. Buffing? Cuticles? Nah. Mistake two

No filing, no shaping, no pushing anything back. This is survival mode, babe.

4. Start with the thumb. Always.

That thumb goes on first — helps grip the clear tab film like a pro when I start sticking on the others. Trust me.

5. Apply jelly tab to nail.

Stick the tab onto your natural nail first. Press it down. Don't worry if it doesn't cling perfectly — oil life. We improvise.

6. Now grab the press-on. Wiggle it. Jab it. Push it in.

Line it up at the cuticle, press down like you mean it, and shimmy that baby into place. I use the press-on to push my cuticles back while I’m at it. Multipurpose!

7. Smush it down on a hard surface. Mistake 3

Not aggressively. But just enough to really make the glue/tab commit. Countertop pressure is underrated. You should use a towel, I tend to use a book, the back of my phone or my dressing table

8. The flick test. Mistake 4 

Give it a tiny flick. If it doesn't pop off, you're golden. If it does? Push it again like your life depends on it.

9. The fidget phase. 

I'll keep pushing them down all morning — it's therapeutic. Adds to the security. Doubles as stress relief. I also think it looks cool, better than chewing them down. 

10. Roll into work.

Even if I'm barely alive, the nails say “she is HERE & Ready.” And that’s enough.

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💡 Tips (if you want to be a little extra)

• Want longer wear? Use both glue and tabs. Put  a little glue on your nail , then add the jelly tab and then add a little extra glue on the jelly tab before sticking on your press-on. 

• Me, I can't use the glue, it feels like my nail is losing it's flexibility so I just skip that part out completely. Also, I am not the only one that says salon acrylic nails and liquid glue hurts, so even in my own kits I just keep the glue tubes to the side.

• Avoid water for 2-3 hours after your jelly tab application. You'll notice the tabs and press-on's becoming firmer. 

• Prep matters. But if you skip it, you’re not alone. I still get a full 8 hours of wear, hand washing included. They would last longer, but by that time I'm done and I'm ready to pop them off again the very un-professional way, which ruins my press-on's.

• My new method is just go wash your hands in warm soapy water and start teasing the corners up, once a little water gets in there they're bound to give and pop off un-harmed. ​

11. Carry a strip of extra tabs

• I made these kits, because there would be time's when 1 or 2 would pop off and unfortunately Primarni only gives out 48 jelly glue tabs for £1.50. But with my kits you're good. I like to carry a back up. you have 4 sheets of 24 Glue tabs that's 96 jelly Glue tabs. You have 16 spare for emergencies take them in your bag, pocket or purse or slip them in the back of your phone. 

Whew! I'm done. Check out my application video on TikTok. Literally just do what suits you best, just don't waste your money on a fresh set every 2 weeks, it's plastic they can last forever!