How to Apply False Nails

False nails will help you quickly get gorgeous nails. You can go without paint or if you want you can also style it – both options work well with false nails! Whether you want to apply fake nails to prepare for a party or date or simply want a new set of nails, check out the instructions in this article.

Table of Contents

Prepare

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Remove old false nails or remove old polish. You need to remove the old paint even if it’s colorless to apply fake nails. The old polish will make the fake nails harder to stick. False nails will fall off after a day or two if you skip this step.

If you’ve put on fake nails before, whether it’s acrylic or gel nails, you should remove it. You can use acetone or another method to do this step.
Wash your hands after using acetone or another nail remover. The chemicals used in nail polish remover can dry out your nails.

Soak nails. Taking this preparatory step before applying false nails will keep the real nails healthy and help the fake nails stick longer. Soak nails in warm water for about 5 minutes, until nails become soft. Then, dry your hands and nails with a towel.

You can add shower gel or hand soap to the water if you want, but don’t soak your hands in water that contains oil. While soaking your hands in oily water is a very effective way to keep hands moist, letting the oil get on your hands before applying false nails will make it harder for the nails to stick.

Cut and file nails. Use nail clippers and nail clippers to cut nails to an even length. You’ll cut your nails short, but don’t cut them too short, as you’ll need to leave a small edge to make it easier for the false nail to stick. Then, use a nail file to smooth the edges.

Push the cuticle back. When the cuticle is still soft after soaking, you will use a wooden stick or special tool to fill the cuticle back. This way, it will be easier for you to stick fake nails on your nails instead of sticking them to your skin.

Don’t cut the cuticle, you just push back. The cuticle protects the nail from infection, and cutting the cuticle also increases the risk of dirt and bacteria buildup.

Attach false nails

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Prepare fake nails. Open the artificial nail container and arrange the nails in the order that you will attach them to your finger. The largest false nail will attach to the thumb and the smaller nail will attach to the next smaller finger. Make sure the fake nails will match the real nails and use a file tool to file the bottom edge if needed.

The simplest type of false nails is attached in a very simple way with only glue. Your fake nails will have enough nails for each finger along with a small bottle of glue.
If you have a kit for acrylic painting, the process will be more complicated. You can find a tutorial on how to apply acrylic on your nails to see how.
If you have a gel application kit, look for instructions on how to apply gel to your nails.

Attach the first nail. Apply some glue to the real nail and apply a little more glue to the inside of the fake nail – the part that is glued to the real nail (not the top of the nail). Carefully attach the false nail to the real nail so that the bottom edge of the fake nail matches the cuticle line. Press down on the false nail and hold for about 10 seconds for the nail to stick.

Make sure the fake nail is glued to the real nail and there are no gaps.
Don’t use too much glue. You should not let the glue spill out, using a little glue is enough. If the glue spills out, you can use a cotton swab to gently wipe it off.
Be careful not to attach false nails because the glue dries very quickly.
Attach the artificial nail to the dominant hand first.

Do the same for the rest of the nails. Glue each nail in turn. Remember to press firmly on the nail for about 10 seconds so that the fake nail adheres to the real nail.

File your nails to create the shape you want. You can use a regular nail file to file square or round nails or any shape you want. If you’re happy with the existing shape of your false nails, no filing needed!

Nail decoration

Nail polish . Some fake nails already have designs, but if you don’t have color, you can add more decoration. If you want a classic look then just choose a nice paint color. Besides solid color paint, you can try the following styles:

Create ombre color for nails
Draw flowers for nails
Styling glitter like a galaxy
Bug nail art
Nails are marbled

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Create a glitter effect. You can add a top coat of glitter over any color, but if you want your nails to stand out, you can buy a pack of crystals that stick onto your nails. If you want to increase the sparkle, you can attach multiple stones to each nail or use it to create accents for your design.

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French nail polish . This is a natural-looking, beautiful paint that is suitable for artificial nails. If you want fake nails to look more realistic then French nail polish will help you achieve that. You can buy a French nail polish set or choose pink, white, and clear polish to do this look.

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Use a nail pencil. This pen comes in a wide range of colors and makes it easy to style as desired without leaving a stain from nail polish. You can style your nails with polka dots or go for more intricate designs like drawing a panda or a strawberry.

Advice

Make sure your false nails are big enough and fit properly so that they don’t show the real nail underneath.
Your real nails must be clean and have removed the old polish.
You should not let oil get on your nails while applying false nails so that the nails do not fall off easily.
You should be careful after applying false nails. Don’t bite your fake nails like you usually do with real nails because the nails will be damaged and you definitely don’t want them to be damaged.
Do not let the glue stick to the skin. You just need to apply the right amount of glue.
Choose the right false nails for you!
Polish the nail with a special tool before applying false nails for the best effect.
For best results, it is recommended that you polish your nails with a nail polisher before applying false nails.

Warning

Glue dries VERY quickly so you need to be prepared before applying nails

Things you need

A set of fake nails
Nail glue
Nail file tool
Wood stick
Nail clippers
Nail file tool
nail polish

Steps