How To Apply Sticker Nails

For dazzler skeptics, stick-on nail decals—the kind that comprehend your full nail bed—seem right upwards there with calm eyebrow waxing kits. The whole procedure seems easy enough at commencement glance, but in one case yous start thinking almost it, it's fifty-fifty easier to talk yourself out of trying it. I'd stared at not bad designs on store shelves for months (including this floral ready from Anna Sui in our bazaar!) merely wondered well-nigh the ins and outs of application. How do you lot fit them? How do you prep your nails? Do they last, or will they just peel right off?

To notice out the answers and share the secrets with you, we chosen in a pro—celeb manicurist Michelle Saunders. Her accept on stickers is simple: "They're fun and convenient ... a way to update a manicure with no drying time!" Here are Saunders'south tips for getting a perfect application, every time.

Y'all Will Need

nail file
cuticle pusher
pocket-sized pair of scissors
fix of nail stickers

Steps

1: Start with make clean, dry nails. They should be completely bare of polish. Button back cuticles gently, too.

two: Most nail stickers on the market are pre-cut to match common nail shapes, but it's e'er good to take small scissors handy just in instance any decal is too large or slightly off shape. Often sets come with more than than 10 stickers per set, so you should find one that fits each blast pretty well (and have extras in instance yous botch or tear i!)

iii: For a perfect lucifer, before you remove the bankroll, pre-measure the nail sticker on top of your boom. Saunders's hint for fitting to your smash beds? "Go larger if you're in doubt, considering you tin always trim excess." If necessary, pre-trim a decal before you stick it on—once information technology's applied, it'll be more than hard to get a clean cutting.

iv: Press on your nail sticker close to the cuticle and smooth it out toward the cease.

5: After applying, there will be a "flap" of sticker at the tip of your nail. Apply your file downward along tip of nail to remove the actress, taking care not to file on top of sticker! If you accidentally file too much you lot'll see your nail showing through at the tip. But don't take sticker off, just nonetheless! For an piece of cake fix, says Saunders, but add together a piffling shine in a shade that matches sticker, right along the edge as needed.

6: The last trick to keeping stickers put is to "iron" them! Push and pull your thumb down onto each nail, from cuticle to tip. The heat generated from the "ironing" consequence will help them final longer! And, "You don't demand a summit coat or gel over the sticker!" says Saunders.

7: Depending on the directions listed on the your stickers, you'll either peel them off or remove with regular polish remover.

Voilà! I tried out this purple patterned applique set from Essie, and the entire application procedure took me nearly 15 minutes. (Next time, I imagine it'll go even quicker!) My mani lasted 2 solid weeks before chips started to show. When it was finally fourth dimension, I peeled off the decals in about two minutes, then removing them is just as easy every bit putting them on. I'k sold!

Which nail decals accept you tried, and which do you love? Tell us beneath!