Can Glamnetic’s Viral Press-On Nails Replace My Regular Mani?
Main Image – Courtesy of writer
As a mani addict who’s been getting my nails professionally done for years (I often found at home kits would chip/break after a couple day), when I think of press-on nails it takes me back to the early 2000’s when they were pretty much pharmacy only and (I hesitate to say) slightly unglamorous.
Happily for beauty fans like me though, times have evolved and tons of brands have started making more durable products with on-trend nail art designs.
Enter Glamnetic, the TikTok viral press-on company founded in 2019 who have already accrued an impressive over 4 million likes on Tik Tok.
But while the US website has long had a wide range of nail shapes (oval, squavol & coffin), nail lengths (super short to long) and nail designs, UK nail fans were left out… until now.
Yes, Glamnetic has finally launched a UK site. And ok, it may not have the same variety of options yet, but I was still keen to see whether these cult nails could solve my professional mani addiction.
Glamnetic claim their salon quality press-ons take 5 minutes to apply and last for up to two weeks. Let’s see whether they live up to the claims.
The kit
Each kit comes with 30 nails in 12 inclusive sizes, nail glue, nail file, cuticle stick and alcohol pad.
I chose the Pure Intentions set, which is a pale pink shimmer shade described as ‘semi-transparent’ on their website.
Image – Courtesy of writer
The application process
Image – Courtesy of writer
Firstly, I laid out the nails by size and tried different ones on each of my nails to find the perfect fit. Despite having pretty small nails, I managed to comfortably find a perfect size.
Next, I pushed my cuticles back and wiped my nails with the alcohol wipe. I then filed my nails until the base of my nail was rough. Having a rough base to the nail allows for the press-on nail to stick easier as it creates a bit of grit.
I then applied a layer of glue to the back of both the nail and my natural nail. I would recommend not being stingy with the amount of glue you put on the nail as you want it to stick properly. I firmly pushed them down for 20 seconds, using a timer on my phone to make sure they had enough pressure on them for the recommended amount of time to set.
The process was quick, taking around 30 minutes to do both hands. I’m sure I could easily reduce this with practice though.
Image – Courtesy of writer
My results
While the length of the nails was described as ‘short’, I’d say the length was still longer than my natural nail, which did take me some getting use to.
The nails felt like an acrylic nail rather than a gel nail too, which is unsurprising since they’re made of plastic.
And yes, I probably do prefer my natural nail shape and length, which you get to keep with salon gel nails.
But overall though? The results are natural enough that I don’t think anyone who didn’t know would be able to tell these were press-ons. At the same time, the finish and shine make me look like I’ve had a professional mani and I love the subtle shade and shimmer of the Pure Intentions set I chose.
Image – Courtesy of writer
How long they lasted
After wearing the nails for 4 days doing day-to-day tasks I was genuinely impressed; the nails had lasted significantly longer than other brands.
On day 5 I had two nails pop off, but it was easy to glue the nail back down. I kept the glue and file in my bag and was able to reapply when on the move.
I was a bit nervous reapplying, as often once glue has dried on the back of the nail it never sticks the same again. But I was pleasantly surprised that the nails felt secure.
After a few more days a couple more nails popped off and I made the decision to temporarily remove them. The Glamnetic website states that the nails are ‘reuseable’ which I would agree with to an extent, but I think that will depend on how much glue you’ve still got on the back of the old nail.
Image – Courtesy of writer
Removal
By the time I decided to remove my set, I’d lost a few already. For the remaining nails, I soaked my nails in warm water with soap, and with the cuticle stick I slowly pushed the press-on away from my natural nail.
The set came off with ease, but I did notice a layer of hard glue which remained on my nails. I filed this down and the glue dissolved, leaving my natural nails behind.
Happily, my nails still felt strong, which was a pleasant surprise as I often find that kits can leave my nails feeling really weak once removed.
Image – Courtesy of writer
Value for money
Since professional gel manis can cost anything from £20 to £45 in the UK and $30 to $100 in the US, the Glamnetic Press On Nails (£16.99 from Glamnetic UK and $21.99 from Glamnetic US), are significantly cheaper.
Since they’re reusable too you really feel like you get your cost per wear.
The ability to swap between different designs quickly also make these more cost effective than a new professional mani every time you want a new look.
My verdict
My overall thoughts? I loved the finished look of my set- you genuinely would find it difficult to tell these were press-ons- and I think they’re a great quick, more affordable alternative to a salon visit.
If you rarely get your nails done too, or are in an industry where you can’t wear nails at work, then I think Glamnetic nails would be a great option as you can apply and remove the nails at home within a couple of days if necessary.
And while you can’t completely replicate a luxury salon manicure at home, these do provide a similar effect for a fraction of the price.
I’ll definitely be keeping a pair in my cupboard from now on for those days when I can’t get a nail appointment, am pushed for time, or just feel like a nail glow up!
Get Glowing!