At-Home Manicure: imPRESS Nails Review

Press-on nails have become popular again, and I’m really happy about that. Forget the hours-long appointment at the nail salon and the big bills for it. imPRESS Nails are a really great option if you’re looking to try out a press-on nail manicure!

I will be the first to admit that I don’t have great nails. No matter how hard I try, I can’t keep them as long as I’d like. I’ve always been an anxious nail biter, and no matter how hard I try to squash that habit, I can’t. Enter press-on nails, which have come a LONG way since I used them in middle school. They come in a variety of colors and even patterns, and they stay on so well. They’re my new favorite way to have beautiful nails for events or just because I feel like it!

Here are some of the options you have with imPRESS nails, with newer colors:

If you like gel nails: A few years ago I tried out a gel manicure system, which was so fun to do at home. AND so much faster than going to the nail salon for a gel!

imPRESS Nails Review

Doing my own nails at home with an imPRESS manicure is so easy. It’s also amazing for a vacation because you can bring extras with you in case one falls off. A set contains 30 nails, which is enough for 2 full manicures. They cost about $6 at Target or on Amazon, and on the imPRESS site you can buy different sets from $8 to $11, depending on what they are.

You probably will have some sizes left over from the 30 nails included, because they’re too large or too small for your hand. For $3-5 a manicure, I’m okay with that! What a cost savings.

How to make your imPRESS manicure last 2+ weeks

Follow the directions.

Push back your cuticles to start. They include an orangewood stick, but I like to have my own. I also use my favorite cuticle eraser if I’m doing a full manicure just like at the salon. Then I trim my cuticles so they look nice and clean. This is my favorite cuticle trimmer that’s sharp and doesn’t cause any little cuts.

Use the alcohol swab included in each imPRESS kit to remove any of the cuticle eraser or natural oils from your nails. The press on nails stick better if you don’t skip this step! If you need another swab and don’t have one, you can just use regular acetone nail polish remover instead.

Lay out the nails to decide what sizes you will use.

Like I mentioned above, the sizes might be too large or small for your hands so you need to first figure out what works. Then decide if you want to use the accent nails or not (I usually choose not to!). If you aren’t sure whether to use the smaller or larger nail for one, always go with the smaller. If the nail overlaps your skin it’s going to fall off easier. It can be hard to see but on the little plastic tab on each nail there is a size number.

Do your mani all at once.

I try not to multi task when I’m doing these manicures, so no washing dishes or anything else at the same time! Once you put the nail on, you’ll need to remove a little plastic tab and file the nail a bit to make it smooth.

Bring a few extras with you.

When I’m doing these manicures before a vacation, I’ll always pack a few extra nails. The nice thing about them is if you don’t have extras, you can usually find them wherever you are! I don’t normally have trouble with nails falling off before 2 weeks, UNLESS I’m at the beach everyday. There’s something about the sand and the salt of the ocean that cause them to fall off faster.

Each nail includes its own adhesive, so you don’t need to carry around a bottle of glue. The only time I’ve carried nail glue with me to reuse a nail was if I’ve painted them a different color. Then you can use the nail glue to reuse a nail that popped off. This nail glue is $2-3 on Amazon and works the best of any I’ve tried.

Make sure you’re using the newer collections, as the adhesive seems to get less effective if you’re using an older set.

Choose the length you want.

imPRESS nails come in short length and medium. The “short” is what I would consider a nice nail length. They have plenty of length to them. If you prefer longer nails, go with medium. They also now make a mini version for kids!

Shape options: Oval vs. square

imPRESS has a couple of different options for nail shape. You can get oval nails or square nails, or coffin-shaped nails. I always go for the square! For color, they come in a bunch of different colors, as well as a French manicure option.

Shop my favorite styles here:

That’s my full imPRESS nails review, including my tips for making an imPRESS manicure last! Let me know if you try them!

FAQs about imPRESS nails

How long do imPRESS nails last?

I can get mine to last up to two weeks! If you follow the directions and apply them correctly, you can make them last over 10 days.

Where can I buy imPRESS nails?

imPRESS nails are available at a bunch of retailers, including Amazon, Target, and on their own e-commerce site.

Do imPRESS nails come off easily?

They can last up to two weeks, but they’re also easy to pull off if you decide you want to take them off sooner. No soaking or removal tools involved!