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Years ago, I dreaded using press-on nails because they were cheap, flimsy, and often popped off after washing my hands or opening a soda. Thankfully, there’s been so much innovation in the industry due to increasing demand for salon-quality manicures at home. The best press-on nails of today are leagues above the best press-on nails of even 5 years ago.
Best fit: Glamnetic
- Pros: Natural-looking, large assortment of nails/sizes
- Cons: Higher price point, some chipping
Glamnetic has the best press-on nails for a natural, comfortable fit. They fit so well at the cuticle and the application process is seamless. Glamnetic also has a great assortment of designs and offers shorter lengths. I found this set to be very durable and lasted a full two weeks with no lifting, though there was some chipping of the polish after about a week.
Best from the drugstore: KISS Salon Acrylic
- Pros: Inexpensive, available at the drugstore, durable
- Cons: Some bubbling
These nails fit very seamlessly at the cuticle, making them look extremely natural and feel comfortable. I also appreciate the thickness and durability of these nails. I didn’t experience any chipping or lifting throughout the 7 days I wore them. They really do feel and perform like acrylic nails. Because this particular design is sheer, I did notice some slight bubbling of the glue underneath (the packaging claims “no bubbling”), but that could have been due to my application technique or the ridges/uneven texture on my nails.
Best natural-looking: Mani Muse
- Pros: Natural-looking, lightweight
- Cons: Not long-lasting, limited shape/design options
These nails are so comfortable and lightweight. They’re also incredibly natural-looking; I had one friend even mistake them for my real nails. Founded in 2020, Mani Muse is a newer brand, so they have a more limited selection of designs and currently only offer round and almond-shaped nails. They only lasted a few days on me, but I would still repurchase them as they look so natural and are a great option if you need a quick manicure for an event.
Best for classic styles: Static Nails
- Pros: Great for French manicures and unfussy designs
- Cons: Instructions a little misleading
Static Nails are reusable pop-on manicures in five shapes: round, coffin, square, almond, and stiletto and are known for their approachable styles in solid colors and multi-colored French manis. Static also comes with light pink glue, which was helpful, but I thought the directions called for too much nail glue. I followed the directions, which said to apply a thin layer of glue to the back of the Static Nail and then a “generous” layer of glue to the natural nail, but I ended up with glue all over the place and on the top of the nail which damaged it.