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A Salon-Quality Manicure At Home with imPRESS Manicure (Tutorial & Review)

September 21, 2015 Katie Marie 36 Comments


imPRESS Press-On Manicure // From My VanityToday we’re talking about press-on nails! If you’re anything like me when I first heard about these, than you’re probably pretty skeptical. I mean, I remember the fake nails I used to use as a preteen…and they popped off about every hour! But these imPress Press-On Manicure nails are a whole different story, trust me!

I love painting my nails — it is very rare for you to find me with naked nails. I just find it very relaxing to clean, maintain, and paint my nails on a weekly basis. But! When I became pregnant and that wonderful season called ‘morning sickness’ (but is so NOT only in the mornings!) came, I couldn’t stand any type of smell. So for several weeks they were just bare, breaking all the time, and all around driving me nuts.

Which is when I picked up a set of imPRESS Press-On Manicure nails at my local drugstore on a whim. I figured since I was staying home all the time anyways, it wouldn’t be a bit deal if they were popping off all the time. Let me just say…they blew me away! I was so imPRESSed (haha, get it! :-P) with the results!

But I’m getting ahead of myself! Let’s see how these babies apply!

Step-By-Step Tutorial

imPRESS Press-On Manicure // Prep Pad & File // From My VanityIn each little imPRESS kit they include a prep pad (to cleanse your nail before beginning) and a file. I didn’t use the file, and wouldn’t say I’d recommend it if own a nice, glass file, but it’s nice that they include it in case you’re ever in a pinch. 🙂

imPRESS Press-On Manicure // nails // From My VanityBefore you start your manicure, you need to pick the sizes. Each kit comes with a lot of different options and sizes so you shouldn’t have a problem finding the perfect size for you. Make sure you pick a nail that appears to be just a hair too small for your own nail. That way, when you apply it and press it onto your nail, it has room to flatten out an adhere to your nail. It’ll be a perfect fit. If you get one that fits your nail perfectly, when it’s pressed to your nail, it’s more likely to run into the edge of your nail and make the fact that they’re fake nails obvious.

imPRESS Press-On Manicure // Cleansed Nails // From My VanityNow that you’ve figured out which nails fit, make sure your nails are ready. Make sure your cuticles are pushed back, all nail polish residue has been removed, your nails are filed and smooth, and you use the prep pad just before starting the processes.

imPRESS Press-On Manicure // Peel Back // From My VanityNow is where the fun begins! Each nail has a little flap on one edge and all you have to do is grab that and peel that clear tap off. Make sure you don’t touch the adhesive once you’ve removed the sticker! Line the nail up with your cuticle and press down (starting the pressure near your cuticles) and hold for about 10 seconds.

imPRESS Press-On Manicure // Pressed On // From My VanityRepeat this to all your nails. It literally took me less than 5 minutes to apply them all. Once you’ve done this, the hard part is over! You’re pretty much done! It’s that easy! As you can see from the picture above, each of the nails have a little ‘tab’ that protrudes from the nails, but imPress Press-On Manicure recommends that you wait at least an hour before filing, washing dishes, or anything harsh. This gives the adhesive time to fully bond with your nail before they have to undergo any pressure.

imPRESS Press-On Manicure // Filed // From My VanityOnce the hour has passed, file your nails and you are officially ready to go! Now, it’s not like you can’t do anything for an hour (unlike when you paint your nails and have to wait for the polish to fully dry!). You can still do stuff without worrying that your nails will come off. I did stuff on my computer, folded some clothes, and cleaned up around my house while I waited. And once that hour has passed, your nails should stay beautiful and in place for a whole week!

My Thoughts on imPRESS

If you want the short and sweet version of this review…I loved these nails!

I personally am not a fan of press-on nails because I feel like they often “look” very, very fake and they come off and are a pain. But these imPRESS nails are a whole different story. My husband didn’t realize they were press-on nails until I had them on for over a week. And I was in my mom’s company for several days before she asked if they were press-ons.

For me, I had these nails on for two weeks and they were, honestly, still going strong. None had ever popped off and when I went to remove them, they still felt like they wanted to hang on for a while longer, lol! The reason I decided to remove them at two weeks was because the tips of the nails were starting to get worn and wasn’t holding the curved shape of a natural nail anymore. But, just to be clear, imPRESS only recommends that you keep these on a week.

I don’t know about you, but regular nail polish only lasts a few days on my nails before they start to chip. If I’m careful and take care of my manicure, I can get it to last a week…but it’s starting to look rough by then! So the fact that I can take 5 minutes out of my nails, press these babies on, and (bam!) get a perfect manicure that will look perfect for as long as two weeks….that totally makes them worth the pricetag, in my opinion. And with them being available at the drugstore, you can always wait for a sale (which is what I did when I originally bought them!)

Retail: $7.99 // Available at Target

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imPRESS Press-On Manicure // Step-by-Step Tutorial & Review // From My Vanity


I received the products mentioned above from imPRESS through Brandbackers. Regardless, I only share information that I think will be useful for my readers and I only recommend products I have personally used. Opinions are 100% my own! 🙂

Related

Beauty, Nail Polish Review, Nail Tutorials

Comments

  1. Jen says

    September 21, 2015 at 11:19 am

    I had some from impress about a year ago and loved them! Mine didn’t have accent nails tho – these are super cute! I was with you and remembering the ones we had growing up and they’d fling off at the worst times! 🙂 I love that you showed step-by-step so people know how to get them to fit the best.

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    • Katie Garvin says

      October 18, 2015 at 11:22 am

      Accent nails are lots of fun! You should get a new set that has something different on a nail. I love having an accent nail when I do my manicure!

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  2. Kristina says

    September 21, 2015 at 12:55 pm

    I absolutely love the pattern on these! I have used the impress press on nails before and I think they were more natural looking and had better adhesive than other fake nail products that I’ve tried!

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    • Katie Garvin says

      October 18, 2015 at 11:24 am

      Yeah, they do look very natural, for a fake nail. The first time I ever used them, like I said, they stayed on for 2 weeks — and by that time my natural nails were growing and it was obvious they were fake, so I took them off. But it was nice to give my nails a break and a chance to grow in strong while being protected by the fake nails. 🙂

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  3. Allison @neversaydiebeauty says

    September 21, 2015 at 1:00 pm

    Wow, you had them on for 2 weeks???!!! I neeeeeed these. I love the color and pattern you got.

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    • Katie Garvin says

      October 18, 2015 at 11:25 am

      Yeah, I was so surprised! I didn’t do a whole lot with my hands those two weeks (I was going through morning sickness, so washing my hair was as rough as I got with my nails) but I was still really impressed 🙂

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  4. Tess says

    September 21, 2015 at 2:00 pm

    They look so cute, love the color combo! I could see myself using these for a wedding or something if I didn’t have time to paint my nails and needed them to look good!

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    • Katie Garvin says

      October 18, 2015 at 11:27 am

      I wish I had them for my wedding! You can get sets with longer nails, if you like, but I think it’s just so feminine and fun!

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  5. Jamie | Makeup Life and Love says

    September 21, 2015 at 2:07 pm

    OMG girl I would have NEVER know these are fake! They look so unbelievably real! I seriously need to try these out and I love the length!

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    • Katie Garvin says

      October 18, 2015 at 11:28 am

      Check them out, girl! Walgreens or Rite Aid, I’ve seen them at both. And if you get them during a sale, it’s even better 😉

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  6. Chelsea says

    September 21, 2015 at 2:31 pm

    I bought some of these a while back and was honestly shocked at how long they stayed on for (and how good they looked)! I love them!

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    • Katie Garvin says

      October 18, 2015 at 11:30 am

      They really are great quality and look natural on the nails. I am not a fan of fake nails (even acrylic nails, they just don’t look real to me) so I was surprised that I enjoyed wearing these as much as I did. I now keep a few sets on hand for those days when my nails are doing really bad and need a break 🙂 Or if I just don’t have time for a manicure, but need one!

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  7. Christine says

    September 21, 2015 at 2:35 pm

    I have been looking for a good review about these. I’ve had these in my cart before, so many times, but put them back because I was nervous about the whole thing, ha! How is it taking them off? Any damage to the nail? I love these because they seem to have great, modern looking designs and colors!

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    • Katie Garvin says

      October 18, 2015 at 11:32 am

      I hear you – I was the same way! But so thankful I finally took the dive and tried them out.

      It’s actually not too hard. I just took a Q-Tip soaked in acetone and started going around the edges of the fake nail. It helped disintegrate the adhesive on the nail and it popped right off. My nails were longer and stronger for having been covered for 2 weeks. I just made sure to use some cuticle oil on them after the acetone 🙂

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  8. Megan says

    September 21, 2015 at 4:21 pm

    I almost picked up some of these from Target the other night! I used press on nails for my engagement pictures a few months ago & they were a nightmare (not this brand though, it was another one that required glue). They were constantly breaking off! I definitely want to try these since they just have the adhesive rather than glue. Thanks for sharing!

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    • Katie Garvin says

      October 18, 2015 at 11:34 am

      Yeah, this are different because they don’t require any glue, so no fear of things getting messy 🙂 I can’t stand it when they pop off. Who has time for that?! Especially during such an important shoot!

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  9. WhatLauraLoves says

    September 21, 2015 at 7:33 pm

    Oh wow these nails look absolutely gorgeous. I love the style of them and the colour scheme. Absolutely beautiful! xxx

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    • Katie Garvin says

      October 18, 2015 at 11:34 am

      Yeah, the color and design was right up my alley, too 🙂

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  10. Rachel says

    September 22, 2015 at 5:52 am

    Once they have been applied they look really good, I am quite impressed x

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    • Katie Garvin says

      October 18, 2015 at 11:35 am

      Thanks Rachel! I love that they look natural

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  11. Kristin Bassett says

    September 22, 2015 at 8:14 am

    These would be perfect for big events or weeks when you just can’t even with polish 🙂

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    • Katie Garvin says

      October 18, 2015 at 11:36 am

      I totally agree, Kristin — I keep a few sets at the ready just for such an occasion 🙂

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  12. Maria Gridley says

    September 22, 2015 at 11:08 am

    I have been a huge fan of these press on nails for a few years now. LOVE them!! And when I first discovered them, I too was like you and skeptical – remembering the press on nails from my childhood! lol But I was wow’d by how long these stay on too. And of course all the pretty designs! ♥

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    • Katie Garvin says

      October 18, 2015 at 11:36 am

      Totally my experience, too! I remember my frustration with fake nails as a kid. I wanted long, beautiful nails, but not when they would pop off every 5 minutes! 😛

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  13. Margo says

    September 23, 2015 at 11:53 pm

    These look so great on you and I loved the step by step tutorial! I can’t get enough of these!

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    • Katie Garvin says

      October 18, 2015 at 11:38 am

      Glad you found it so helpful!

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  14. Laura says

    September 24, 2015 at 11:12 am

    your nails look beautiful and it seems easy to use too x

    Laura
    Pink Frenzy

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    • Katie Garvin says

      October 18, 2015 at 11:38 am

      Thank you, Laura! It is really easy — only takes a few minutes once your nails are prepped 🙂

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  15. Amber says

    September 26, 2015 at 9:07 am

    These look really natural! I’m impressed, and might have to try. I love the gold accent nails!

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    • Katie Garvin says

      October 18, 2015 at 11:39 am

      Go get you some, Amber! You won’t know until you try 🙂

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  16. Sophia says

    October 4, 2015 at 1:33 pm

    I have never tried imPRESS befor but I have heard great things. These look so chic (love the glitter and patterns) and super natural too!

    Sophia Meola | A Beauty, Fashion & Lifestyle Blog

    x

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    • Katie Garvin says

      October 18, 2015 at 11:39 am

      I totally agree Sophia, they’re so much fun to wear. And I love trying out different designs and colors from them 🙂

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  17. Johanna says

    April 8, 2016 at 3:03 pm

    What do you do about the adhesive that sticks out under the nail at the top. (Did that make sense???) I find that the adhesive grabs my hair and collects dirt. I am not a fan of that, but so far I like them.

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    • Katie Garvin says

      April 14, 2016 at 10:09 pm

      Yes, I know exactly what you’re talking about! Depending on your personality, it might be annoying or frustrating for you, but I found that after a day or two the stickiness went away and didn’t get stuck in my hair or anything. It did collect little dirt and dust particles a bit, but since it’s so far back in my nail, it didn’t bother me. And I only kept the nails on for about 2 weeks, so when I removed them, I just gave my nails a good cleaning.

      One thing you could try would be to remove the extra adhesive with an exacto knife maybe. But for me, after a few times washing my hands, the stickiness went away so it didn’t bother me 🙂

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  18. Deborah says

    February 10, 2019 at 11:00 pm

    I love, love love imPRESS nails!!! I have used them several times. People find it hard to believe they are press on nails. I have worn mine for a week to 10 days. They have a good selection of colors and available in drug stores and Meijer’s. The real key for them to last is to make sure you clean your nails and use the alcohol wipe to get any oil off your nails. Five stars from me!!!!

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Trackbacks

  1. Articles from the Beauty Blog Coalition–September 27, 2015 - Glam and Uncensored says:
    June 5, 2020 at 3:03 pm

    […] My Vanity: Katie is sharing press-on nails that look like you went to the salon to get them […]

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