A good press-on set is not about strong glue — it is about prep. Our studio routine takes about ten minutes and keeps a set on for two weeks.
1. Start with bare, oil-free nails
Push back cuticles, then buff the surface lightly. Wipe every nail with an alcohol pad and let it dry completely. Oil is the number one reason tips lift on day two.
2. Match the size before you glue
Lay all ten tips out and compare against the sizing card. A tip that is too wide lifts at the corners; one that is too narrow leaves a gap you will feel.
3. Work from the pinky inwards
Apply the adhesive tab, press from cuticle to tip for ten seconds, and finish with the small and middle fingers first — those are the hardest to place once your hand is crowded.
4. Keep them out of water for an hour
No dishes, no shower, no hand cream in that first hour. After that, cuticle oil is fine and actually keeps the edges flexible.
5. Remove with warm water, not force
Soak in warm soapy water for a few minutes and lift from the side with a wooden stick. Pulling dry tips off takes a layer of your own nail with it.