How To Add Length To Nails Without Tips

. I’ve been loyal to the same manicurist since 2013 and would go see her once a month, every single month, without fail. I never missed a single appointment!

But when nail salons were forced to close during the pandemic, I had no choice but to learn how to apply fake nails like a pro. (I also had to figure out how to safely remove a gel manicure at home, which I had never done before!)

I tried an at-home dip powder manicure, and although I loved the way it looked, it took WAY too long (over an hour) and really only lasted for a week or two.

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Eventually I started doing some research on the best fake nails after hearing from several people who swore by them. I was initially skeptical, because I’d never tried any kind of press-on or glue-on option before. I also assumed that I was way too rough on my nails and they’d pop off after a day or two.

But let me be the first to tell you: I WAS WRONG. And I honestly can’t believe I had been sleeping on press-on nails for so long.

After my research and a lot of testing, I actually found the best fake nails from Target by a brand called Clutch Nails. (Bonus points for the fact that they are a small, female-owned business — they recently got into Target stores, which was a pretty incredible milestone for the founder.)

How To: Size And Apply Nail Tips

First things first, applying nails that last long is highly dependent on the brand of artificial nails that you use. My go-to brand is Clutch Nails. Here’s what appealed to me the most about this brand in particular…

I’ve pretty much worn them non-stop for the past few months, and I’ve learned a lot of really helpful tricks like how to make fake nails stay on longer, how to remove press-ons without ruining your natural nails, and how to apply them the correct way.

Below I’ll walk you through all of these tips and tricks in a tutorial, and I’ll also answer a lot of the frequently asked questions I’ve been getting on Instagram.

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Before we dive into the tutorial, you’re probably wondering: how long do fake nails last?This really depends on a number of things: how well you apply them, how much glue you use, and the type of fake nails you choose.

In my experience, the Clutch Nails stay on for 1-2 weeks. I’ve had one set that miraculously stayed on for three weeks, but the brand doesn’t typically recommend leaving them on for any longer then 2 weeks.

Conversely, if you really only want to wear them for a few days—say it’s for a special occasion or something—you can use less glue for shorter-term wear.

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The nice thing is that you can actually re-use the set multiple times, as long as you take care of them and follow the instructions on how to take off press-on nails properly (which I’ll detail for you later in this post.)

It’s important to work with freshly washed hands, because unlike a traditional manicure, you don’t want to apply any oils or lotions to your nails prior to application. Doing so will make the nail surface too slippery for the glue to properly adhere.

Alcohol or a dehydrator will help remove any leftover oils or residue on your nails, and it’ll create the optimal clean surface for the press-on. I swear by these cotton pads from Amazon. They’re the BEST.

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You can also slightly buff your nail bed (without being too rough.) Buffing the nail bed provides a coarse surface for the glue/press-on nail to adhere to.

Each press-on nail is numbered by size at the top of the underside of the nail: 0 is the largest; 9 is the smallest.

As with most good press-on nails, the set comes with 24 nails total (2 of each size) which helps accommodate different nail shapes. There will be extras that you don’t use because they don’t fit your nail shape.

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One question that a lot of first-time fake nail users have is what numbers go with each finger. There’s really no right answer here, because it’s not one-size-fits all. It totally depends on your nail shape and width.

For ex: my nails and nail beds are TINY, so I typically only use the smaller numbers. (I use “5” on my middle finger, but someone else with larger nail beds might use it for their pinky.)

Pro Tip: If you’re confused about which direction the nail should be facing, just check to make sure you can see the number when you put it on. If you can’t see the number, it’s on upside down.

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This will help ensure they last for 1-2 weeks. If you don’t want them to last as long, use less glue, and only apply it to the press-on nail.

Also, just in general, use the glue sparingly. It is VERY sticky, and if you apply too much, it will end up all over your cuticles.

You’ll notice that the glue isn’t immediately sticky, so you’ll need to press down—and hold—on the fake nail in order to secure it in place.

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As tempting as it may be when the nail starts to lift, NEVER pull nails off. This will cause damage to your natural nail.

1. Soak nails in warm, soapy water for 15-20 minutes until nails start to loosen. 2. At the cuticle, carefully lift up the edge of the nail.

If you have remaining glue or residue on your natural nails, it tends to wash away over the course of a day or two. However, if it’s really bothering you, you can remove nail glue with a try a “glue-off” solution like this one.

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Avoid using the solution to remove the press-on nail itself, as it could damage the nail or cause the paint to wear off.

You sure can! I do this all the time, since some of the styles that I love are bit too long for my tiny nail beds. You can reshape them and file them however you’d like.

If you want to significantly cut the length of the nail down, you can also use a nail clipper (but generally I recommend using a nail file as you can be a bit more precise.)

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When I remove mine, I typically like to wait at least a day or two before re-applying them. It’s a good idea to give your natural nails some time to breathe.

If you find that you have leftover nail glue on your natural nails, this is the nail glue remover solution that I recommend.

(Thank you to Clutch Nails for generously sponsoring this post! FWIW, I started using them months ago, and then the brand noticed so they ended up reaching out to me about a partnership. Dream scenario! For more details on how partnerships work, read my Influencer Secrets blog post.)

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Lindsay Silberman is a luxury lifestyle blogger and the founder of Hotel Lobby Candle, a home fragrance line inspired by the scents inside five-star hotels.before Valentine’s Day, but don’t have the time to devote to supplements or to wait for them to grow out, you might think acrylics are the answer. Well, think again — acrylics might look fab, but there are drawbacks. Mainly, the chemicals used to apply them are bad for your health and can do serious damage to your nails over time. Luckily there are some alternatives. These nail treatments will give you the gorg mani you’re after without the dreaded downsides of acrylics.

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1. Gel Nail Extensions: Similar to acrylics, but without any of the toxic methyl methacrylate, gel extensions are a solid alternative. You can pick from a variety of shapes like square, round, or stiletto, and your manicurist will use a small amount of gel to secure the extension to your own nail. It dries under an LED light and colorful gel polish can be applied per usual if you’d like. These are strong and sturdy and can last up to three weeks.

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2. Fiberglass Nails: If you bite your nails or have very thin nails, you can still get a thick, healthy-looking mani with fiberglass. Your technician will apply a thin mesh strip with tiny glass fibers in it to your nail and secure it with clear glue to create a hard surface. You might need several layers to get there, so consider yourself warned: This process can take a long time. You’ll also need professional touch-ups every two to three weeks.

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3. Dip Powder Nails: Dip powder nails are a good option if you’re looking for something more than a gel manicure, but aren’t ready to commit to fake nails yet. You’ll start with a base coat and buff as usual. Then, like the name

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