Press On With Your Nail Business

Social distancing has brought about the golden age of press-on nails as artists around the world have started creating custom sets to offset business they've lost during the pandemic. The fantastic thing about creating press on nails, is that they can be sold to your clients or even worldwide as you unleash your creative side. Even when salons are going to be back up and running after the coronavirus break - you can continue to sell press on nails in salon, or even at craft fairs if you have a passion for the art.

So how can you make this a source of income? Suzanne Clayton, owner of Souz Nails & Beauty and admin of Nail Tech Awareness group on Facebook has created a press on nail guide for your needs.

Press on tips can be bought from most chemists and even places like Primark. Popular as a cheap alternative to getting your nails done or just as a weekend addition for those unable to wear gels or acrylic to work. Press on nails have come so far from the french or plain styles like you can get in chemists

Nail technicians across the country have been utilising their skills in the current pandemic and creating customised masterpieces. Nails are an expression of our personalities and for most women have become a necessity rather than a luxury, so press on nails keep women across the world feeling good without having to visit their nail technician personally.

Sizing

Press-on nails can either be made in a set sizing format of 10-20 nails or can be sized per client. I use a system whereby I’m a size 5 shoe with average size hands so anyone smaller than me I would go down a size per nails and anyone in a say size 7-8 shoe like models I would up a size or two. For a more personalised service (for which I would increase the price) clients can measure the width of their nails - as easily as with the use of cellotape.

Length & Strength

Most gel polishes don’t need a base coat on the tip so straight on with colour, design and top coat. It’s best to test your gel polish on yourself with tips and put hands in water to see if you need a base coat or not. Again according to what is used and how long it takes would depend on the pricing of a set. Shorter tips won’t need a strength layer added but anything like a long stiletto tip would need a builder gel layer or acrylic layer. This again would change the pricing. Its good to set out pricing according to length, design and time taken the same as we would in the salon.

Design

Anything can be added to the tips the same as in-salon including foils, crystals, 3d art and custom mixed designs. When painting the tips using a nail stand, it’s good to paint the base layer colours from the middle of the tip to the of edge both ends to refrain from creating a lip of colour at free edge or cuticle.

Application

Press on tips can be applied using sticky tabs for a 1-3 day longevity or using nail glue for a longer wear up to 2-3 weeks. This can be included in the package.

Storage

Necklace jewellery boxes available on ebay or amazon are great for sending and storing the nails, as they can be reused. Double-sided foam tape particularly from the works or Poundland are great for securing the tips for transport and won’t leave any of the sticky residue on them. All these should be added to costings to be able to price them properly.

Pricing

For a plain short set, I would charge somewhere around £10, I can make these fairly quickly especially if I know what sizes I am using. For longer tips and any kind of artwork, I would start pricing at £15 and go up to £30-£35. Swarovski crystals should be charged per crystal or design accordingly. The press on tips can be applied to clients using acrylic, poly gel or builder gel for even longer wear, this can be done for quickness so as to spend time on a specific design. Sets should take approx 30-60 mins to make, anything over that isn’t really worth it as a business once you add on the box, postage etc

You can add to the tips, glue, files, tabs anything you want for ease of use to client but charge extra for these additions.

Removal

Removal of the tips is easy when using tabs, it’s the same as removing a free sachet in a magazine! Glue removal needs any kind of oil placed around the cuticle and free edge to sink in for a minute or two to break the glue down. Tips can be scraped of glue and washed ready for re-use.