How to Properly Apply Press-On Nails (sticker tab)

How to Properly Apply Press-On Nails (Professional Guide)

1️⃣ Wash Your Hands
Clean your hands thoroughly with soap and water, then dry them completely.

2️⃣ Prep Your Natural Nails

  1. Trim your nails to your desired length.
  2. Gently buff the surface of your nails to add texture—this step is very important because it increases adhesion.
  3. Make sure to buff lightly. The goal is to create micro-scratches for better grip, not to thin out your natural nails.

3️⃣ Clean Again With an Alcohol Wipe

  1. Use an alcohol pad to wipe each nail.
    (This step removes any remaining oils and improves adhesion.)

4️⃣ Choose the Right Sticker Tabs

  1. Select sticker tabs that are slightly smaller than your natural nail—about 1–2 mm smaller.
    Do not choose tabs that are exactly the same size as your nail.
  2. For the index finger, you can use a longer tab or layer an extra tab at the tip, then fold the excess back.
    (Most people have slightly curved index nails; adding thickness helps them last longer.
    This applies to any downward-curved nails. If your nails are normal, you can skip this step.)
  3. After applying the sticker tabs, warm them with a hair dryer for a few seconds and press the edges outward.
    (Heat softens the adhesive, making it stickier and more flexible.)

5️⃣ Apply the Press-On Nails Correctly

  1. Align the nail tip near your cuticle, right at the edge of the sticker tab.
  2. Hold down the last millimeter of the adhesive and push the nail on at a 45° angle.
  3. Slide the nail gently under the cuticle line for a more natural look, and press firmly for 10 seconds.
  4. Then press firmly from the center outward for 15–30 seconds to eliminate any air pockets.

6️⃣ Avoid Water

  1. For the first hour after application, avoid washing your hands, showering, or exposing your nails to water.
    This ensures better retention.

7️⃣ Removal Method 1 — Warm Water Method

  1. Soak your nails in warm water with a bit of dish soap for 10–15 minutes.
  2. Gently lift the edges.
  3. Never force or rip off the nails, as this may damage your natural nails.

8️⃣ Faster Removal Method — Using Nail Polish Remover

  1. Apply a small amount of nail polish remover into the gap between the press-on and your nail.
  2. Wait about 10 seconds.
  3. Gently lift from the side to remove the nail quickly.

Important:

  • Avoid letting remover touch the top coat of the press-on nails.

  • After removal, rinse your nails with water to wash away any residue.


Additional Notes

These instructions apply only to sticker tabs.
They do not apply to solid glue / adhesive glue, which requires a more detailed method.
You can find tutorials for solid glue application and removal on our Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lubrano_nail?igsh=eGZ1aXJpMmkxNGN0&utm_source=qr @lubrano_nail

Sticker tabs usually keep nails on for 1–5 days.
With high-quality tabs and proper technique, some people can get up to 20 days.
Solid glue generally lasts 20–30 days.

Which adhesive you use depends on your needs—but I personally recommend sticker tabs, because being able to change designs frequently is part of the fun.

Regardless of whether you use sticker tabs or solid glue, never remove press-ons by force.
Forcibly pulling them off can damage your natural nails, causing peeling and thinning.
Please use proper removal techniques to protect your nails.

Back to blog