Everyday Press-On Nails

15 sets in total. By shape, 6 almond, 3 squoval, 3 square, 2 oval and 1 round. By length, 8 short, 4 medium and 3 long. Every set contains ten nails, five per hand, pre-arranged and labelled left and right, in sizes XS, S and M. Applied in about five minutes and worn 3 to 5 days with adhesive tabs, or up to 14 days with nail glue.

If you type for a living, start with a short set. Length is the single biggest reason a first-time press-on wearer gives up, and it has nothing to do with the quality of the nail.

Everyday press-on nails have to survive a keyboard, a steering wheel, a handbag zip and the washing up, which is why the short and medium lengths dominate this collection. The adjustment takes about a day: you type from the pad rather than the tip, you open things with the side of a finger, and after that you stop noticing. Anyone who says a long set is just as practical for a working week has not worn one through a working week.

Heat and prolonged soaking, in that order. Hot water softens the adhesive, so wear gloves for the washing up and run the shower a little cooler than you might. Oil-based hand cream creeps under the edge — apply it to the back of the hand and let it absorb before it reaches the nails.

The most economical way to wear press-ons daily is to own two and alternate them. Each set gets a rest, the adhesive residue is cleaned off properly between wears, and neither one is asked to do more than a fortnight at a stretch. Two sets rotated outlast four sets worn back to back.