No time for a salon appointment—and not exactly blessed with steady hands? No problem. The best press-on nails deliver salon-quality designs (and length, if you’re chasing a chic longer look) in mere seconds. Worried about longevity? Rest assured, with proper application, they can stay flawless for over a week. Today’s press-ons require zero painting precision, no plug-in drying tools, and offer a smudge-free, chip-resistant alternative to traditional air-drying polish and gel manis. Just look at major nail moments from fashion month: from croc-print French tips at Kim Shui to semi-sheer nude stilettos at Tokyo James, press-ons made every look possible. Or rewind to the TikTok-fueled obsession with Euphoria’s intricate nail art created by celebrity nail artist Natalie Minerva—yes, those were press-ons, too.
Vogue’s Favorite Press-On Nails
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While press-ons are more of a quick fix than a weeks-long solution, as long as you’re gentle when removing them, you can switch out your designs far more frequently (and for a fraction of the cost) than gong to the salon. Celebrity nail artist Natalie Minerva says it all depends on what products you use to apply your press-ons. “If you are gluing them down, you’ll likely need to take breaks between sets or make sure to wear them out for a full 7-10 days so you aren’t constantly peeling off nail layers. The other option is sticky tabs which cause little to no damage but are far more temporary,” Minerva tells Vogue.
