Reviews Beauty
Written by Catherine Santino and Shayla Martin; edited by Maiya Pascouche
Updated
- Best overall
- Best fit
- Best natural-looking
- Best designs
- Best from the drugstore
- Best for classic styles
- Easiest to apply
- Largest variety
- Best with crystals
- Best for unique designs
- How we tested
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The press-on nails of the past were cheap and flimsy, and they often popped off after washing my hands or opening a soda can. Thankfully, there's been so much innovation in the industry due to the increasing demand for salon-quality manicures at home. The best press-on nails of today are durable, long-lasting, natural-looking, and, of course, aesthetically pleasing.
Countless brands promise to have the best press-on nails, but through an extensive testing process of over 25 pairs, 10 stand out above the rest and are leagues above the best press-on nails of even 5 years ago. To sufficiently test each set, I used the glue that came with it and applied the nails according to the directions, properly preparing my natural nails beforehand. I compared how long the packaging claimed the nails would last to how long they actually lasted, noting any chips or lifting along the way. After tons of rigorous testing, I was blown away by Olive & June's press-on set. They survived a whopping 18 days and are thicker than other sets, so they won't chip.
Discover the best press-on nails for a quick, easy, inexpensive manicure.
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Our 7 top picks for the best press-on nails
Best overall: Olive & June - See at Walmart
Best fit: Glamnetic - See at Amazon
Best natural-looking: Mani Muse - See at Amazon
Best designs: Chillhouse - See at Revolve
Best from the drugstore: KISS Salon Acrylic - See at Walmart
Easiest to apply: imPress Press on Manicures - See at imPress
Best for classic styles: Static Nails - See at Amazon
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Best overall: Olive & June
Pros: Large range of nail sizes, affordable, long-lasting
Cons: Not a totally seamless fit at the cuticle
When it comes to the best press on nails, takes the prize for longevity and size inclusivity. They offer a whopping 41 nails in 21 sizes, the largest range on the market by a longshot. These nails are incredibly thick and durable, had no chipping, and stayed put for 18 days — the longest amount of time press-ons have ever lasted on me. They did start to lift a bit at the cuticle after about a week; they still looked just as good, but I found my hair sometimes getting caught in them when I ran my fingers through it. Olive & June also boasts an affordable price range, with many sets costing around $10.
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Best fit: Glamnetic
Pros: Natural-looking, large assortment of nails/sizes
Cons: Higher price point, some chipping
Glamnetic has the best press-on nails for a natural, comfortable fit. They fit so well at the cuticle and the application process is seamless. Glamnetic also has a great assortment of designs and offers shorter lengths. I found this set to be very durable and lasted a full two weeks with no lifting, though there was some chipping of the polish after about a week.
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Best natural-looking: Mani Muse
Pros: Natural-looking, lightweight
Cons: Not long-lasting, limited shape/design options
These nails are so comfortable and lightweight. They're also incredibly natural-looking; I had one friend even mistake them for my real nails. Founded in 2020, Mani Muse is a newer brand, so they have a more limited selection of designs and currently only offer round and almond-shaped nails. They only lasted a few days on me, but I would still repurchase them as they look so natural and are a great option if you need a quick manicure for an event.
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Best designs: Chillhouse
Pros: Trendy designs, comfortable fit
Cons: Higher price point, some lifting
Thanks to the eye-catching designs, these are the best press-on nails to wear if you want to receive tons of compliments. Chillhouse press-ons strike the perfect balance between being trendy and fun while still being wearable enough for every day. This particular set is also shorter in length so they are a great option for those who don't like the feeling of wearing long nails. While these nails did last me 10 days, they're not the most durable set I've worn. I experienced some lifting/cracking around the cuticle of one nail around the 7-day mark, but it never fully lifted or fell off.
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Best from the drugstore: KISS Salon Acrylic
Pros: Inexpensive, available at the drugstore, durable
Cons: Some bubbling
These nails fit very seamlessly at the cuticle, making them look extremely natural and feel comfortable. I also appreciate the thickness and durability of these nails. I didn't experience any chipping or lifting throughout the 7 days I wore them. They really do feel and perform like acrylic nails. Because this particular design is sheer, I did notice some slight bubbling of the glue underneath (the packaging claims "no bubbling"), but that could have been due to my application technique or the ridges/uneven texture on my nails.
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Best for classic styles: Static Nails
Pros: Great for French manicures and unfussy designs
Cons: Instructions a little misleading
Static Nails are reusable pop-on manicures in five shapes: round, coffin, square, almond, and stiletto and are known for their approachable styles in solid colors and multi-colored French manis. Static also comes with light pink glue, which was helpful, but I thought the directions called for too much nail glue. I followed the directions, which said to apply a thin layer of glue to the back of the Static Nail and then a "generous" layer of glue to the natural nail, but I ended up with glue all over the place and on the top of the nail which damaged it.
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Easiest to apply: imPress Press on Manicures
Pros: Super easy to apply, lots of options for short manicures
Cons: Adhesive system doesn't last as long as glue
imPress nails don't come with glue, so these are perfect for the person who is new to press-on nails and scared of commitment. The pressure-sensitive adhesive is already attached to the nail which makes it super easy to apply, and I found that the Impress adhesive is much stronger than the adhesives that come with brands that offer glue as well. Also, I noticed Impress has a wider variety of designs for short nail manicures.
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Largest variety: The Nailest
Pros: Big selection of shapes and designs, thicker than other brands
Cons: Some reviewers say that they run small
The Nailest has the largest variety of nails of all the brands I tested. Of their instant acrylic sets (read-to-ship) they have pretty much any shape, length, color, and finish you can imagine, and they also offer handcrafted sets painted with at least 5 layers of gel polish. They're thicker quality and way sturdier than most press-on nails. As with other brands, I'd recommend not following the directions to apply glue on the faux and natural nails because it results in excess glue, making the nails messy/sticky.
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Best with crystals: Marmalade Nails
Pros: Lots of variety in shapes, designs, and crystals
Cons: Certain styles may discolor
The Aria is a short, matte, square white mani with a sparkly accent nail of Swarovski crystals, which make them perfect for summer, but I noticed that the white nails became discolored to a light brown over time. So, while you may want to skip the Aria style, I think Marmalade has some of the most creative and dramatic styles (I've got my eye on Mosaic and Ice Queen). I also like the light pink nail glue, which makes it easier to gauge how much glue you're applying. That said, the glue did feel stronger than most, and I damaged one of my natural nails when removing the press-ons, so take caution.
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Best for unique designs: Clutch Nails
Pros: Lots of fun designs, mostly water-resistant
Cons: May not last as long as others
Clutch Nails styles are so fun, there's really no other way to describe them. Expect bright colors, designs, and prints (checker, flames, stars, etc.), holiday themes, and varying lengths. I have to admit that when I tested these nails, I spent nearly all day at the pool about an hour after applying them but they held on really well in so much water. These came with light pink nail glue as well, which I've non-scientifically decided is stronger than the clear glue, so I assume they would have lasted longer had I not been in the pool all day.
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How we tested
After perusing both my local drugstore and Instagram, I tested nine different brands of nails and chose the "best" set based on how long they lasted. Here are a few other boundaries I applied with each test:
Freelance Writer
Catherine Santino is a freelance writer who covers beauty, culture, and entertainment. Her work has appeared in Bustle, HelloGiggles, Ladygunn Magazine, Wonderland Magazine, and many more. Learn more about how our team of experts tests and reviews products at Insider here.
Shayla Martin is a DC-based travel, style and lifestyle writer. She has contributed to Architectural Digest, New York Magazine, Delta Sky Magazine, Shondaland and more. Find more of her work atwww.ShaylaMartin.com
You can purchase logo and accolade licensing to this story here.
Disclosure: Written and researched by the Insider Reviews team. We highlight products and services you might find interesting. If you buy them, we may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our partners. We may receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. We operate independently from our advertising team. We welcome your feedback. Email us at reviews@businessinsider.com.
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