How to make false nails stick longer

Nail stickers look gorgeous, but only if they haven’t come off yet! Fortunately, there are a few tips that you can use when applying false nails to avoid this problem. If you prepare your nails properly, choose the right size and shape, glue them with good quality glue, and take good care of your hands, they can last for 2-3 weeks. ^{[1] X Research Source} If properly applied and maintained at home, cheap fake nails can look just as good as real nails without going to a nail salon.

Table of Contents

Maintenance of false nails

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Check the false nails every morning for signs of damage. You should make it a habit to check each nail every morning. Examine and feel each nail for any signs of peeling.

If you find a problem, dab some glue to strengthen the loose area before starting the day. ^{[2] X Research Source}
Record the date of the false nail so you know when to take it off. You should remove the fake nails after 2-3 weeks as they will start to fall off.

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Always carry a box of nail glue and a nail file block. If the nail comes off, you can apply glue again right away. This helps with overall nail maintenance as you don’t need to remove the set too soon after a nail has come off. ^{[3] X Research Sources}

Bring a nail file block so you can file the surface of the nail before you apply it again.
Consider bringing a nail polish remover cotton ball, the kind you take with you on business trips. You can use a cotton ball to wipe the glue off the nail before applying the false nail.

Moisten cuticles daily to stay soft, healthy and attractive. As the nails grow longer, a small gap will form between the base of the false nail and the natural cuticle. Dry cuticles will make this gap more prominent. You should apply a little essential oil to the cuticle every day to keep it healthy and moisten the new nail growth. ^{[4] X Research Sources}

Keeping the cuticle moist also helps to prevent chafing.
You can moisten your hands with body oil to keep the skin soft and elastic, and to make your nails look better.

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Avoid dipping your nails in water. Of course you have to wash your hands and shower every day! But you should avoid activities that require you to stay underwater for long periods of time.

Avoid swimming and soaking in the tub. ^{[5] X Research Sources}
Wear gloves when washing dishes to prevent warm water from dissolving the nail glue. ^{[6] X Research Sources}

Choose false nails and nail glue

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Choose a full set of false nails. To some extent, good quality false nails do look better and last longer, but you don’t have to spend a lot of money. You can choose cheap nails, especially when you are experimenting to find the right nail set. Choose a full set of fake nails instead of just nail tips. ^{[10] X Research Source}

A cheap, well-groomed false nail will last longer than an expensive one that isn’t maintained properly.

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Choose fake nails that have the same width and curvature as your real nails. False nails are manufactured in a variety of widths, from 9-18 mm. Measure the actual nail size to see if your nails are narrow, wide, or medium. Try to find fake nails that are similar in shape to your real nails, regardless of whether the real nails are nearly flat or have an obvious curvature. ^{[11] X Research Source}

Place the tape measure across the widest part of the nail to measure the width.
False nail size is usually printed on the back of the nail. Once you find the right size for each nail, make a note in your notebook or phone for future reference! ^{[12] X Research Source}

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Choose short or very short false nails instead of long nails. False nails are manufactured in a variety of lengths, from very short and short to medium, long and very long. Dimensions are not usually denoted by length, but the shortest set will be the most durable. Choose a set of nails that barely cross the inside of the fingertips. ^{[13] X Research Source}

Short nails are just as beautiful and trendy as long and pointed nails. They will be more durable and convenient in daily life.
For example, short false nails are often difficult to come off when you wash them. But long nails will easily get caught in furniture, especially if you are not used to having long nails.

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Choose nails with round or square tips. False nails come in a variety of shapes, from squares and ovals to more dramatic shapes like almonds, daggers or coffins. You should choose artificial nails with the tip that is close to the real nail, such as round or square, to prolong the life of the artificial nail.

Square-headed nails can be easily reshaped or rounded, while oval nails are difficult to reshape. ^{[14] X Research Source}
Avoid buying nails with sharp tips like daggers, coffins, and almonds. The sharp tip can easily hook onto objects and come off.
Pointed nails also need more length, but this will reduce the life of the artificial nails.

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Use a strong and durable nail glue instead of stickers. While stickers are very convenient to apply false nails for a short time, specialized nail glue can keep nails for weeks. ^{[15] X Source of Research} You should read product packaging to make sure the adhesive is suitable for your chosen nail type, and weigh the benefits and disadvantages of drying time.

If you are new to the process of applying false nails, choose a glue that has a longer drying time so you can adjust. ^{[16] X Research Source}
If you’re already skilled at applying false nails, consider buying a quick-drying glue.

Prepare real nails

Remove old nail polish. Use nail polish remover and cotton balls to remove the old polish. Also remove any residue from the previous nail treatment. ^{[17] X Research Source}

The nail polish remover will dry out the nail a bit, but this will actually help the glue stick better.
If you wash your hands after removing old polish, make sure to dry them and spray them with a desiccant spray before applying the glue.

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Fit each fake nail to the real nail. The artificial nail set has a minimum of 20 nails in each bag to cover all nails. Assign one false nail to each real nail based on the width of the nail. You’ll have to do it a few times before you find the perfect fit. ^{[18] X Research Sources}

To make the job neat, you should arrange all the nails on the table in order for the right and left hands.

Trim the real nail so that it is shorter than the fake nail. After you find a fake nail for each real nail, you will put it on top of the real nail to check if it is longer than the real nail or not. The real nail should not stick out under the fake nail, so you must use scissors to trim it down if necessary. ^{[19] X Research Source}

Then, use a nail file to smooth out the jagged edges.

Use an effervescent device to push the epidermis inward. Do this after showering or soaking your hands so that the cuticles are soft and easy to shape. Using an effervescent tool, gently push the cuticle towards the fleshy folds of the nail.

The cuticle should be pressed under the fleshy fold around the edge of the nail, rather than extending over the nail surface. ^{[20] X Research Source}
At this time, do not apply essential oils to the cuticle because it can interfere with nail glue.

Use a nail file block to roughen the surface of the real nail. The top of the nail is usually flat, but it will stick to the false nail better if you sand it a little. Using the roughest surface of the 3-sided file, gently rub the surface of the real nail. ^{[21] X Research Source}

Do not use a nail file coated with abrasive powder to avoid damaging the nail.

False nail stickers

File each false nail to fit the real nail shape. Use a metal file to file the edges of the false nails until they perfectly match the shape and curvature of the real nail. Then, file the tip of the nail to the desired shape and length. You can use scissors to trim the tip of the nail that is too long. ^{[22] X Research Source}

For maximum flatness, use a 180-grit nail file. If the file is too coarse, it can cause jagged edges on the nail.
If you feel like you need a lot of honing to shape your nails, then you should look for another brand to get the nails to fit better in the first place. ^{[23] X Research Sources}

Dab a little stilt on real nails and fake nails. Make only one finger at a time, squeeze a little glue on the underside of the false nail first, and then put the glue on the real nail. Apply glue to the center of the real nail and fake nail. ^{[24] X Research Source}

Within the fake nail area, dab some glue on the spot where it will stick to the real nail. Try not to let the glue stick to the outside of the real nail.

Press the fake nail over the real nail, and slide it toward the nail bed. Press evenly to disperse the glue between the real nail and the fake nail. Push the false nail towards the nail bed, aligning so that there are no gaps. That way you won’t see a gap when the nail starts to grow out. ^{[25] X Research Sources}

Work quickly if you use quick-drying glue.
If you’re using a slow-drying glue, adjust to your liking and leave your finger alone to avoid accidentally touching and dislodging the false nail from place.

Wait for the glue to dry completely before moving on to the next nail. You can only use your hands when the glue is completely dry. For best results, you should let each nail dry completely before moving on to the next. Refer to the instructions on the package for the time it takes for the glue to dry. ^{[26] X Research Sources}

Finish gluing the entire hand before moving on to the other hand.
Avoid touching anything (including your phone!) while the glue is drying. You can play a TV show or a few songs before the first nail so you don’t have to touch the remote.

Apply a clear hard coat after all nails have dried. False nails are very easy to bend. To prevent this, apply a hard coat over the fake nails. It has a transparent color and is very glossy so it will create the perfect surface for nails. ^{[27] X Research Source}

You can use hard acrylic or gel topcoats and a drying light to prolong the life of your false nails.

Things you need

Nail polish remover
Makeup remover cotton
Effervescent tool
Essential oils for cuticles
Metal nail file
Nail scissors
1 full set of glued false nails
Specialized nail glue
Hard transparent coating

Steps

Maintenance of false nails

Choose false nails and nail glue

Prepare real nails

False nail stickers

Things you need

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