How to Apply Press-On Nails

Five minutes is the whole job, and almost all of the difference between a set that lasts three days and one that lasts a fortnight is decided in the first sixty seconds of it. Work on clean, dry, oil-free nails, lay the set out and match every nail to a finger before you open any adhesive, and give each nail the full thirty seconds of pressure. Everything below is that, in order.

Adhesive tabs hold for 3 to 5 days and peel off cleanly with no soaking. Nail glue holds for up to 14 days and needs a warm soak to remove. Neither is better than the other; they answer different questions. Tabs are for an evening, a photoshoot, or a first fitting to check sizing. Glue is for a wedding, a trip, or a full working week.

• Your ANARA set, still in its case
• Adhesive tabs or liquid nail glue
• A nail file and a buffer
• A wooden cuticle stick
• An alcohol wipe, or cotton with rubbing alcohol

Open the case and match each nail to a finger before any adhesive comes out. The nails are pre-arranged five per hand and labelled L and R. Place each one on the finger dry and check the width at the cuticle: it should sit inside the natural nail edge, not overlap the skin. Doing this first is the single step that separates a set that lasts a fortnight from one that lifts on day one.

Push the cuticles back gently with the wooden stick. File your natural nails short, then buff the surface just enough to take the shine off. Buffing is not about removing length; it is about giving the adhesive something to grip.

Wipe every nail with alcohol and let it dry for a few seconds. Adhesive does not bond to oil, and natural nail oil is the reason most press-ons lift early. This step takes ten seconds and is the one most people skip.

With glue: brush a thin layer onto the natural nail and a second thin layer onto the underside of the press-on. Place the nail just below the cuticle, press down firmly from the centre outwards, and hold for 30 seconds.

With tabs: choose the tab that matches your nail width, peel the backing, press it onto the natural nail, peel the top film, then press the press-on down for 20 seconds.

Do one finger completely before moving to the next. Work on your non-dominant hand first, while your dominant hand is still free.

If a nail sits slightly wide, file the sides, never the free edge, and always in one direction. Filing back and forth splits the coating.

Keep your hands dry for an hour. No washing up, no long shower, no hand cream. The adhesive is still curing and water is what stops it setting properly.

Soak your hands in warm soapy water for 10 to 15 minutes, then lift each nail from the side with the wooden stick, working slowly towards the tip. If a nail resists, soak for longer. Never pull a glued nail off dry: that is how the top layer of your natural nail comes with it.

Once off, wipe the back of each press-on with alcohol, let it dry, and return it to its case. Stored properly, an ANARA set is reusable.

In order of how often it is the cause: oil left on the nail, a nail that was too wide for the finger, water within the first hour, or tabs used where the wear time called for glue. Almost never the nail itself.