12 Best Press-On Nails Sets (Tested & Reviewed for 2023)
I’ll be honest: I totally f*ck with press-on nails. Not only are they cheaper, easier, and faster to do than traditional manicures, but today’s fake nails are also so realistic that they’ve tricked pretty much everyone around me into thinking they’re polish. Don’t get me wrong, I still love the pampering of getting a *regular* manicure in an actual salon, but I dread the removal process (see: tons of nail polish remover). So when I want an at-home manicure lasts without chipping, or flaking, or requiring the steady hand of an art major, I go for press-on nails every time.
That being said, some press-on nail sets legitimately…suck. Which is why I’ve not only tested a dozen press-on nails at home to give you a totally honest and real review, but I’ve also enlisted the help and expertise of celebrity manicurist, Julie Kandalec (a press-on nail stan) to fill us in on everything we need to know about press-on nails, below.
✔️ FYI: We updated this article in January 2023 to give you the most up-to-date info on press-on nails, including several we personally tested, a manicurist’s take on how to apply them, and how to choose the best set of press-on nails for yourself.
Our top picks for the best press-on nails in 2023:
So, since I’ve become the unofficial expert—and consulted an actual expert—on all things fake nails in 2023, let’s get to the fun part: The 12 best press-on nails, ranging from drugstore to expensive, along with how to choose the best set, how to apply them like a pro, and more.