Your Guide to the Best Press On Nails (And How to Make Them Last)

I was spending $60 every two weeks at the nail salon and not even questioning it. That was just what nails cost in my head. Press on nails were not on my radar because the one time I tried them years ago they were horrible.

Some of the worst looking nails I've ever had on my hands. Thick. Shiny in a bad way. Two of them came off before I even made it through my errands. So I wrote them off completely.

Then a customer at our Marlow Heights location came in wearing a French mani that I could have sworn was gel and when I asked her about it she told me they were Glamify press ons. That we sell. At our store. I work next to the display.

These are not what you think they are

Glamify is made by Absolute New York and when I tell you the price doesn't match the quality I mean it in the good way. The Glamify Iconic French and the Glamify French Chic are $5.99 each. I had to check that twice.

I'd say Glamify press on nails are the best with quality and price considered. They sit flat against your nail, they're thin so they don't have that fake bulky look, and the French tip is straight and clean. If you've ever tried cheap press ons you know that's not always the case. Some of those sets have tips that look like they were painted on a moving bus.

Glamify Couture ($7.99) I tend to grab when I'm going out. Something about the finish on it looks more expensive than it is. It catches light differently. I don't know how to explain it other than it just looks like money. Glamify Clawtoon ($6.99) is the wildcard of the bunch. Very bold designs, very colorful, you're either into it or you're not but the people who are into it are VERY into it.

Gold Finger Solid Color Toenails are $7.99. I'm not going to pretend I haven't put these on in my car before going somewhere in open toed shoes. Five minutes. Your toes go from looking neglected to looking like a fresh pedicure and nobody is going to question it.

Why they keep falling off on you

Here's the thing that would have saved me a lot of frustration if anyone had told me earlier. Your nails are oily. Your nail beds just produce oil all day, that's what they do. When you press a nail onto an oily surface the adhesive can't bond properly. The nail pops off.

You're standing there thinking these are garbage when really you just needed to wipe your nails down first. Rubbing alcohol on a cotton ball or one of those little prep pads, do each nail right before you apply. The same set that was falling off in two hours will last you a week plus. I was so annoyed when I found out it was that simple because I had already thrown away like four sets thinking they were defective.

Get the Glamify CRZY Nail Glue too, it's $3.99. The sticky tabs that come in the box do work but they're more of a temporary situation. Like you're going to a wedding and you just need your nails to make it through the photos. For everyday wear the glue is the only way I've gotten them to really stay.

Taking them off

I ripped mine off for the longest time because I didn't feel like dealing with it. My actual nails were a disaster because of that. Thin, peeling, just wrecked. Now I put warm water and dish soap in a bowl and let my hands sit in there for 10 or 15 minutes while I scroll on my phone. The nails loosen up and come off on their own. Cuticle stick to help if one is being stubborn. Cuticle oil on after. Real nails underneath are totally fine.

Where to find all of this

Number 1 Beauty Supply. Three stores, Marlow Heights, Good Hope and Brentwood. Or number1beautysupply.com, free shipping at $59.