You have to consider the length of time in between wear, the glue you’re using and more to optimize your nail health, experts say.
Confession: I haven’t gotten a professional manicure since before my daughter was born in early 2021. Prior to that, I had my fingers filed, buffed and polished on a weekly basis. But between work, raising a kid, taking care of a dog and a house, there was zero time left for things like trips to the salon. Instead, I turned to press-on nails whenever I had an occasion that called for a more pulled-together look.
I only use them every once in a while, but more recently have considered upping how often I apply them. I love that there are so many different colors and designs to choose from and find them relatively easy to apply. My only pause? I don’t want to wreck my nails and have always wondered if press-ons are damaging. To get the answer to that very question, I turned to two experts. Read on below for what they had to say.
Are press-ons bad for your nails?
In short: Press-on nails aren’t inherently bad for your nails. “From what I’ve seen in my patients, the nails themselves don’t usually cause the problem, it’s user error,” says Dr. Hannah Kopelman is a dermatologist at DermOnDemand and host of the podcast Derm Club.
The biggest user error: “Constantly wearing them back-to-back and never giving your natural nails a break,” says Kopelman. “That’s when I start to see brittleness, peeling and even infections around the cuticle.” But if you use them in moderation, Kopelman says they can be a safe way to change up your look.
But what about the glue used to apply press-on nails? That can also cause problems. “Many of these adhesives are basically medical-grade superglue,” says Kopelman. “For some people, especially those with sensitive skin, that can trigger irritation or even an allergic reaction.” If you are constantly layering glue, it can also dry out the nail plate and make it weaker over time.
Another issue is when there are gaps between your natural nail and press-on due to glue not being applied properly. “These gaps will hold water and dirt from normal everyday use and can cause fungus,” says Jacqueline Pham, a celebrity manicurist for Color Street.
How to safely apply press-on nails
Now that you know how press-ons can damage nails, it’s time to learn how to apply them so they don’t. Below, find application strategies from our experts that prevent damage:
- Be gentle: Most press-on nail kits will tell you to buff nails before applying glue — this gives the glue a clean, smooth surface to adhere to. “Avoid over-buffing,” says Kopelman. “Just smooth the surface lightly. Over-buffing thins the nail and makes it way more vulnerable.”
- Add a base coat: “To protect and help the adhesion, I recommend using a layer of gel base coat before applying glue with the press on nails,” says Pham. Not only does this prevent the glue from drying out your nail plate, removing the press on nails with the base gel layer will prevent stripping your natural nails.
- Go easy on the glue: You may be tempted to layer on the glue to ensure the press-ons stay put. Ignore that instinct. Keep the glue minimal to help prevent damage, says Kopelman.
- Take breaks: Most press-on nails last for around two weeks. After you’ve worn a set for that long, don’t apply new ones right way. Instead, give your nails a breather for a week or two before applying a new set.
How to safely remove press-on nails
Applying press-ons correctly is important, but so is how you remove them. “Removal is where I see most of the damage happen,” says Kopelman. “People get impatient and just rip or peel the nails off — that almost always takes a layer of your real nail with it.”
What to do instead: “Apply lotion or oil around the fingers and cuticle area, then use acetone to soak and patiently wait for the product to disintegrate to avoid excess filing,” says Pham. The easiest way to do this is to fill a small bowl with acetone and simply dip nails in the bowl until you feel the press-ons start to loosen.
