Get the fit right and they last weeks.
Almost every press-on that pops off early was the wrong width or went onto an oily nail. Measure your thumb and index nail beds in millimeters, match them to the chart below (Petite, Standard, Wide or custom fit), and prep every nail with an alcohol wipe. Five minutes, and they last weeks.
Size finder
Measure two nails, get your kit.
Lay a ruler across the nail bed at its widest point and read the millimeters. Thumb and index are all we need to narrow it down.
Your recommendation
Standard
Standard fits most hands: thumbs 15 to 17 mm, index 11 to 12.5 mm. Spare tips cover the in-between nails.
Shop sets in StandardHow do I measure my nails for press-ons?
You need a millimeter ruler or the paper sizing strip from any order, and about five minutes. Measure each nail bed straight across at its widest point, write down all ten, then compare your thumb and index to the size chart. If two or more nails fall outside one kit, order custom fit.
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01
Lay the ruler across the nail
Rest a millimeter ruler flat across the nail bed at its widest point, usually just above the cuticle line.
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02
Read edge to edge
Measure from one side wall to the other, ignoring any skin overhang. Round to the nearest half millimeter.
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Record all ten nails
Write down all ten measurements. Hands are rarely symmetrical, so measure both.
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Match to a kit
Compare your thumb and index measurements to the size chart. If two or more nails fall outside one kit, order custom fit.
What size press-ons do I need?
Match your thumb and index widths to a kit. Widths are in millimeters, measured across the nail bed, and every set ships with four spare tips for the in-between nails.
| Kit | Thumb | Index | Pinky | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Petite | 13–15 | 9–11 | 6–8 | Narrow nail beds, teens, anyone who finds drugstore sets too wide |
| Standard | 15–17 | 11–12.5 | 8–9.5 | Most hands. Start here if you have never measured |
| Wide | 17–18.5 | 12.5–14 | 9.5–11 | Broad nail beds, or nails wider than they are long |
| Custom fit | Yours | Yours | Yours | Ten measurements, sculpted to your hand, +$12. We keep them on file |
Between two sizes? Size up. A wide nail can be filed down; a narrow one lifts at the corners.
How do I apply press-on nails so they last?
Prep decides everything: push back cuticles, file the natural nail flat and wipe it with alcohol. Then set each press-on at the cuticle, roll it down, hold for thirty seconds and keep your hands dry for an hour. Tabs give 3–7 days; glue gives 2–3 weeks.
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01
Prep the nail
Push back cuticles, file the natural nail flat and give each one a wipe with the alcohol pad in the box. Oil is the number one reason a set pops off early.
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02
Lay the set out
Match every nail to a finger before any adhesive touches anything. File the side walls down on any nail that sits wide.
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03
Tabs or glue
Tabs for 3–7 days and easy swapping. Glue for 2–3 weeks. With glue, a thin line on both the natural nail and the back of the press-on.
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04
Press and hold
Set the press-on at the cuticle first, roll it down toward the tip to push air out, then press firmly for a full thirty seconds.
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05
Wait an hour
No showers, dishes or hand cream for the first hour while the adhesive cures. That one hour is the difference between five days and three weeks.
Tabs or glue: which should I use?
Use adhesive tabs for 3–7 days of wear and easy swapping between sets. Use nail glue for 2–3 weeks when the set has to survive a vacation or an event. Both come in every kit, so you can switch between wears.
| Adhesive tabs | Nail glue | |
|---|---|---|
| Wear time | 3–7 days | 2–3 weeks |
| Best for | Swapping sets, trying a new length, one-night events | Vacations, weddings, three-week wear |
| Water | Wear gloves for dishes; long soaks loosen tabs | Handles showers and dishes once cured |
| Removal | Warm soapy soak, then lift from the cuticle side | Warm soapy soak for 10 minutes, then lift gently |
| Reuse | Easiest: tabs lift off the back cleanly | Buff the old glue off the back first |
How do I remove press-ons without damage?
Soak, don't pry. Ten minutes in warm soapy water loosens tabs and glue so the set lifts off the cuticle side without taking layers of your natural nail with it.
- Soak your hands in warm soapy water for ten full minutes.
- Slide a cuticle stick under the cuticle edge and lift gently. If it resists, soak longer.
- Never pry from the free edge, and never pull dry. That's what takes layers of natural nail with it.
- Buff the leftover adhesive off the back of each press-on and wipe with alcohol.
- Store the set in the box in finger order, ready for next time.
How do I make press-ons last longer?
- Hand cream is the enemy of adhesive. Apply it to your palms and avoid the cuticle line.
- Gloves for dishes and cleaning, especially on tabs.
- Open cans and packages with a knuckle or a tool, not a nail.
- One nail lifting is not a failed set. Pop it off, re-tab it, carry on.
- Sculpted charms are the first thing to knock loose. A dot of clear glue at the base re-seats them.
Care + answers
Questions we get every week.
Still stuck? Email hello@customnailsbymaddie.com with a photo of your nails and we'll tell you exactly which kit to order.