Guides & answers
Get the fit right
A set that fits and is applied properly lasts weeks. One that doesn't lifts in a day. Here's everything we'd tell you in person.
Nail size guide
Press-on sizes run from 0 (widest) to 11 (narrowest), and almost nobody is a single size across all ten fingers. Measure each nail once and you'll have your sizes for good.
- 1Lay a strip of paper or a tape measure across the widest part of your nail, sidewall to sidewall. Don't follow the curve — measure straight across.
- 2Write down the width in millimetres for all ten nails. Your two hands will very likely differ; measure both.
- 3Match each measurement to the nearest size in the chart. Landing between two sizes? Take the larger one — you can file a nail down, but you can't add width back.
Rather not measure? Ask for a sizing kit when you send your brief. You try on a sample set, send us the numbers, and we cut from there — it's the surest way to get a first set that fits.
| Size | Nail width | Usually fits |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | 15.9 mm | Thumb |
| 1 | 14.3 mm | Thumb |
| 2 | 13.5 mm | Thumb |
| 3 | 12.7 mm | Index · middle |
| 4 | 11.9 mm | Index · middle |
| 5 | 11.1 mm | Index · middle · ring |
| 6 | 10.3 mm | Ring |
| 7 | 9.5 mm | Ring · pinky |
| 8 | 8.7 mm | Pinky |
| 9 | 7.9 mm | Pinky |
| 10 | 7.0 mm | Pinky |
| 11 | 6.2 mm | Pinky |
Widths are the industry standard. “Usually fits” is a starting point, not a rule — measure rather than assume.
Shape guide
Shape changes how a set wears as much as how it looks. Longer and more tapered means more drama and more care; shorter and squarer means you'll forget you're wearing them.
Almond
Tapered sides rising to a soft rounded point. It lengthens the hand and is the most forgiving of the long shapes — there are no corners to catch on a sleeve.
Medium to long. Suits almost every nail bed.
Squovalalso called Soft square
A square with the corners filed soft. It is the most durable shape we make and the one that survives a keyboard and a gym bag without chipping at the edges.
Short to medium. The safest pick if you're unsure.
Square
Straight sides and a flat tip with the corners left sharp. Crisp and graphic — the corners are the whole point, so they aren't softened.
Short to medium. Flatters wider nail beds.
Round
Follows the curve of your fingertip. The shortest and sturdiest option, and the least likely to snag on anything.
Short. Good for narrow nail beds and hands-on work.
Coffinalso called Ballerina
Tapers like an almond, then cuts flat across the tip. It needs length to read properly — on a short nail the taper has nowhere to go.
Long to extra long. A statement shape.
Stiletto
A long taper to a sharp point. The most dramatic shape and the least practical — lovely for one night, demanding for a work week.
Extra long. Events rather than every day.
How to apply
Fifteen minutes, start to finish. Rushing the first step is the reason most sets lift early.
Start clean and dry
Wash and dry your hands, push your cuticles back, and buff the shine off your natural nail. Wipe each nail with the alcohol pad in your kit. Glue will not hold over oil, lotion or polish — this step is most of the wear time.
Size the set before you glue anything
Lay all twenty nails out and match one to each finger. The right size sits inside your sidewalls without pressing them. Between two sizes, take the larger one and file the edges down.
Pick glue or tabs
Glue holds one to three weeks and is the better choice for a trip or a wedding. Adhesive tabs hold a day or two, come off with no soaking, and let you reuse the set — better for a single night out.
Press and hold
Run a small bead of glue down the inside of the press-on, meet your cuticle line at about a 45° angle, then press the nail down flat. Hold firm for twenty to thirty seconds. Squeeze out any air as you go — bubbles are where lifting starts.
Finish and give it an hour
File the free edge to taste once everything is set. Keep hands out of hot water for an hour so the glue can cure fully.
Taking them off
Soak your fingertips in warm soapy water for ten to fifteen minutes, then work a wooden stick gently under the free edge until the nail releases on its own. Never pry a press-on off dry — that takes layers of your natural nail with it.
Common questions
How long will a set last?
Glued, one to three weeks depending on how hard you are on your hands. On tabs, a day or two. Prep is the single biggest factor — a nail buffed and wiped with alcohol holds far longer than one that isn't.
Can I wear a set more than once?
Yes. On tabs they come straight off and go back in the box. Glued sets can be reused too if you soak them off gently and clear the old glue from the underside with a buffer.
Will press-ons damage my natural nails?
Not when they're removed properly. Damage comes from prying a set off dry, which pulls away layers of your natural nail. Soak first, every time, and be patient with it.
Can I shower, swim and wash up in them?
Once the glue has cured for an hour, yes. Long soaks in hot water will shorten the wear, so wear gloves for washing up if you want the full three weeks.
What if the set doesn't fit?
Tell us and we'll remake the nails that are off. If you're ordering for the first time, ask for a sizing kit with your quote — it's the surest way to get a set that fits on the first try.
How long does a custom order take?
Two to three weeks from the point we agree the design. If you're working to a date, say so in your brief and we'll tell you straight away whether it's realistic.
Can you recreate a design I've seen somewhere?
Usually. Send the photo with your brief and we'll tell you what's achievable as a press-on and what we'd change. We won't copy another artist's original work outright, but we're glad to build something in the same spirit.
What comes in the box?
Twenty-four hand-finished nails so you have spares in your sizes, plus glue, adhesive tabs, a file, a buffer, an alcohol prep pad and a wooden cuticle stick. Everything you need is in there.
Still not sure what to ask for?
Send us what you're picturing and we'll work the length, shape and sizing out with you.