Are press-ons bad for nails?

Both our experts agree that press-on nails are a safe way to instantly change up your look without the high price tag. Plus, you avoid the UV exposure that comes with getting a gel manicure . The only way that press-ons can damage your nails is if you remove them improperly, according to Iderstine, so follow our directions below.

How do I apply press-ons to make them last?

The best way to apply press-ons is to really prep your nails well. "Press-ons will stick the best to a smooth, clean nail plate, so ensure you push your cuticles back and give your nail plate a quick gentle buff so that you can have strong adhesion between the nail plate and the press-on," says Iderstine. We've found that it's equally important to pick the right size press-on for each nail. If the press-on is too big, it can pop off and if it's too small, it will look noticeably fake. We first go through the set and match up each nail with the correct size. Then we're ready to glue them on. "Apply a thin, even layer of glue all over your natural nail and the press-on before gently sliding it on. Gently press down across the surface of your natural nail to ensure there are no air bubbles," says Iderstine. "Lastly, we recommend you avoid water one hour before application, as it can cause nails to pop off early."

How do I remove press-ons safely?

You never want to force press-ons off. The glue will eventually start to loosen on it's own after a couple of weeks. To help speed up the process, you can use Olive & June's Remover Solution or soak your nails in water. "Soak your fingertips in warm soapy water with a dash of oil for 15 minutes. Then gently pull the nails up from the edges," says Frank. "I like to keep a bottle of body oil in the shower and do this at the end of a long hot shower."

The 6 Best Press-On Nails of 2023

Getting a professional manicure for every wedding invite can quickly become expensive. Not to mention a little boring—will it be Essie's Ballet Slippers or Funny Bunny this time? That's why we at Brides are obsessed with using press-on nails for all wedding festivities. They are more affordable, come in Insta-worthy designs, and give our nails the length they could never naturally reach.

"We’re seeing people gravitate toward press-ons because they give that hand-painted, salon-mani look in minutes," says Olivia Van Iderstine, Mani Trend Expert and VP of Content and Creative at nail care brand Olive & June. "With a perfect, super shiny finish, they give an illusion of an acrylic or gel mani that usually takes hours—and comes with a price tag to match."

Having experimented with all kinds of press-ons, we can confirm that not all designs are created equal. Some fall off in a matter of days while others simply look cheap. So with the help of nail experts, we tested and reviewed the best press-on brands that offer styles in a wide range of shapes and sizes, look realistic, and are easy enough to use, so you can apply them at the last minute and have them on for weeks. For every brand, we followed the application instructions and wore the nails to bachelorette parties, musical festivals, and the office to replicate real wear-and-tear.

Whether you're looking for a classy choice as a bridesmaid or a bold set for the bachelorette party, these are the best press-ons to rake in the compliments.

Our Top Picks

Best Overall:

Static Nails Reusable Pop-On Manicure at Amazon

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Best for Travel:

Olive & June Press-On System at Oliveandjune.com

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Best Drugstore:

Kiss Nails at Amazon

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Best Splurge:

Color Camp at Color-camp.com

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Best for Bridesmaids:

Quickies at Getquickies.com

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Best Variety:

Sally Hansen Press on Nails Kit at Amazon

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4.7

SWAY IN WHITE Reusable Pop-On ManicuresÂ®

Static Nails

View On Amazon View On Nordstrom View On Staticnails.com

Price at time of publish: $20

Thanks to celebrities like Hailey Bieber, milky nude nails are all the rage and are ideal for weddings, where you want your nails to look elegant. Offering a range of nudes, pinks, and French tips, Static Nails has the best selection of bridal press-ons. The simple designs feel modern thanks to subtle nail art, chrome finishes, and a variety of shapes, including long coffins and almond. While we don't always go for French tips, we loved how the Mademoiselle is an ombre take on the classic, so we chose it as a sample. Each set comes with 24 nails in 12 different sizes, so even us with smaller nail beds could find the perfect match.

We put these on before a trip to Las Vegas and despite spending hours soaking in the pool, none of them popped off. The reusable nails are made to last 18 days and you can always re-glue a nail in case one does fall off. Another thing that sets these press-ons apart is that they are opaque. We've tried other brands where nude press-ons are slightly see-through and that can lead to inconsistentcy. With Static Nails, we got that flawless, milky, glazed donut finish.

4.2

Olive & June

View On Oliveandjune.com View On Target

Price at time of publish: $8+

Another advantage of press-ons is that you can fix and update your nails even while traveling, which you can't necessarily do when you chip your gel manicure on the bachelorette weekend. This kit from Olive & June makes it extra easy. In addition to a set of press-ons of your choosing, we got nail tools, cuticle cream, a nail strengthener, and a removal kit so we could easily take them off when the party was over. A carry-all pouch keeps it altogether. TSA didn't find any random nails in our suitcase.

Olive & June makes fun press-ons from recycled materials in various shapes and sizes. Each set contains 42 nails in 21 sizes, so we got a couple wears from a single pack. We got the Twisted French during a Target run and received so many compliments. Sure, they looked a little too perfect to be true, but when it's a special occasion, we don't mind.

Ulta

View On Amazon View On Kissusa.com View On Ulta

Price at time of publish: $9+

Kiss Nails are our go-to drugstore brand for press-on nails. They have a wide selection of styles, from timeless nudes to embellished coffins. Thanks to the affordable price, we don't mind stocking up on several pairs and experimenting with more eccentric designs. The quality is just as good as pricer press-ons. Every set comes with everything you need to apply and extra nails, so you can use them more than once. They've lasted on our nails for months at a time, so you don't have to worry about losing a nail mid-reception.

Color Camp

View On Color-camp.com

Price at time of publish: $44+

The biggest downside of press-ons is that they come in pre-set sizes, so you may struggle to find an exact fit for your finger nails. Color Camp to the rescue! When you order a set from the brand, they first mail you a try-on kit to find your ideal size for each nail. After you send back your sizes and preferred length (short, medium, or long), they will make you custom-sized set.

Besides getting perfectly sized press-ons, we love that we get to indulge in unique designs that truly look like we just visited our favorite nail tech. Peruse the wedding collection, and you'll find pearl embellishments and painted flowers. Since we rarely get creative designs at the salon, we sampled the Ceramic, which features thin black and gold lines over a brown base.

The thickness and shape of each nail felt very realistic, as if we had gotten several layers of gel. Because they were customized, they weren't too long or bulky either, which can happen with some press-ons. No relearning to type or use our phone necessary! The only con is that all the sets have rounded tips, so if you are trying to bring square nails back, you may need to go with another brand, like Sally Hansen below.

Quickies

View On Getquickies.com

Price at time of publish: $22+

Rather than paying for all your bridesmaids to get their nails done—or having them pay for it—you can buy them a set of Quickies. Not only are they cheaper than going to a salon, but they also can serve as a creative bridesmaid proposal gift. The brand recently launched a bridal collection with packaging that says, "Will you be my bridesmaid?" Besides the cute packaging, the designs are the perfect balance between trendy and classic for bridesmaids. Our personal favorite is the Hailey Bieber-inspired, glazed donut nails. We received so many compliments when wearing them to Stagecoach this year, and yes, they lasted through the entire music festival and then some (they lasted two weeks to be exact). Seriously, this brand uses some of the strongest nail glue we've tried. The long, almond shape gave us extra length without feeling like claws. You can also opt for the also-viral French glazed nails or timeless pink mani.

Sally Hansen Salon Effects Perfect Manicure Press on Nails Kit

Amazon

View On Amazon View On Walmart

Price at time of publish: $10

Sally Hansen launched its first line of press-ons, and the collection has designs for every nail aesthetic. The nails come in four different shapes (square, almond, coffin, oval) and range from universally flattering neutrals to bright pops of color and intricate art. The brand generously gave us a few sets to try out, and we quickly fell in love. We've always admired the look of long, red nails, but they are hard to achieve with natural nails. Thanks to the Cinna-Snap shade, we got the exact look we've been pining for, without the fear of any chips. While you may not wear red nails for your wedding, the bold shade is a stunning choice for engagement photos. The almond tips were a bit sharp at first, but a few flicks of a nail file quickly solved that issue.

Meet the Expert

Olivia Van Iderstine is the Mani Trend Expert and VP of Content and Creative at nail care brand Olive & June.
Braelinn Frank is the founder of Rave Nailz. Frank started the brand in 2019 from her obsession with nail art and creating one-of-a-kind designs based on whatever rave she was attending that weekend.

What to Look for in Press-On Nails

Shape

Most brands offer press-ons in a variety of shapes, ranging from round to square to almond. You can go with your go-to nail shape or change it up, especially if you are wearing press-ons for a special occasion. Braelinn Frank, founder of Rave Nailz, recommends long, pointy nails, like Mademoiselle Coffin Reusable Pop-On Manicure, for photos. "The narrow tip elongates anyone's fingers, making them look gorgeous," says Frank.

Length

Again, you want to think about your nail preferences and the look you are going for. If you usually usually keep your nails short, upgrading to long press-ons can feel awkward as you type and do daily tasks. For those that prefer shorter nails, check out Olive & June's wide selection of short press-ons. But if you plan to wear the press-ons for only a few days, like for a destination wedding or bach weekend, the extra length in a style like Kiss' Long Press-Ons, might not be an issue.

Design

You can't go wrong with pale pinks, nudes, and French tips for a wedding. But as a wedding guest, you can experiment with nail art and different finishes, like this pearl and flower embellished design from Color Camp. The beauty of press-ons is that each nail can have unique details without the up-charge you get at a salon.

FAQ

Are press-ons bad for nails?

Both our experts agree that press-on nails are a safe way to instantly change up your look without the high price tag. Plus, you avoid the UV exposure that comes with getting a gel manicure. The only way that press-ons can damage your nails is if you remove them improperly, according to Iderstine, so follow our directions below.
How do I apply press-ons to make them last?

The best way to apply press-ons is to really prep your nails well. "Press-ons will stick the best to a smooth, clean nail plate, so ensure you push your cuticles back and give your nail plate a quick gentle buff so that you can have strong adhesion between the nail plate and the press-on," says Iderstine.
We've found that it's equally important to pick the right size press-on for each nail. If the press-on is too big, it can pop off and if it's too small, it will look noticeably fake. We first go through the set and match up each nail with the correct size. Then we're ready to glue them on.
"Apply a thin, even layer of glue all over your natural nail and the press-on before gently sliding it on. Gently press down across the surface of your natural nail to ensure there are no air bubbles," says Iderstine. "Lastly, we recommend you avoid water one hour before application, as it can cause nails to pop off early."
How do I remove press-ons safely?

You never want to force press-ons off. The glue will eventually start to loosen on it's own after a couple of weeks. To help speed up the process, you can use Olive & June's Remover Solution or soak your nails in water.
"Soak your fingertips in warm soapy water with a dash of oil for 15 minutes. Then gently pull the nails up from the edges," says Frank. "I like to keep a bottle of body oil in the shower and do this at the end of a long hot shower."

Why Trust Brides

Emily Cieslak is an associate commerce editor and writes about all things beauty. After getting regular gel manicures for years, she started experimenting with press-ons during the pandemic and has never looked back. She's tested every brand on this list by applying them herself and wearing them to parties, vacations, and day to day. For this article, she interviewed Olivia Van Iderstine, Mani Trend Expert and VP of Content and Creative at nail care brand Olive & June. She also spoke to Braelinn Frank, founder of Rave Nailz.

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