Squirrel Nails

Handmade press-on nails in Ireland: sizes and ordering

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Our handmade press-on nails are made in Ireland, by hand, in a small Dublin studio. Every set comes in one of three ready-made sizes (S, M and L) and ships to Ireland, the UK and the rest of Europe. This guide covers what handmade means for a set, how to choose your size, how ordering works and what to do when your set arrives.

Handmade press-on nails from our Dublin studio

Squirrel Nails is one maker in a studio in Dublin. “We” in this guide means that studio, not a team or a factory. Every set is designed and made by hand there.

Here is what that means for the nails you put on:

What handmade does not mean here: it does not mean made to your measurements. The next section explains how sizing works instead.

Three ready-made sizes: S, M and L

We make three ready-made sizes: S, M and L. We do not make sets to your measurements, we do not make other widths, and we do not reshape a set on request. We have not published the nail widths for each size yet, so this guide does not list them. Measuring is still the best way to choose.

  1. Measure each nail. Lay a strip of paper or a soft tape measure across the widest part of the nail, usually just above the cuticle. Follow the curve, read the width in millimetres and round down.
  2. Write down all ten. Most people have a different width on each finger, and the two hands are often not the same. You need every number to compare.
  3. Choose the closest of our three sizes. Compare your measurements with the sizing guide and pick S, M or L.
  4. If you are between two sizes, choose the smaller one. A press-on a fraction narrower than your nail leaves a hairline of bare nail at the sides, which polish or a top coat can hide. One that is too wide rests on the skin and lifts.
  5. Plan to file to fit. A few strokes along the sides of any press-on that touches the skin is normal, and easier to do before the adhesive goes on.

If your nails are short, wide, flat or small, our guide to press-on nails for short or wide nail beds goes through shape, length and filing for each.

How ordering works

Our sets will be sold through our Etsy shop. The shop is not open yet. Until it is, the button at the end of this page goes to our Instagram instead of Etsy. Once the shop is live, the same button takes you straight to it.

When the shop is open, ordering takes three steps:

  1. Choose a design. Pick the set you like from the shop.
  2. Choose your size. Pick S, M or L, the size you chose with the sizing guide.
  3. Check out on Etsy. You pay and give your delivery address there, as with any Etsy order.

There is no need to send your measurements in a note with the order. Your choice of S, M or L is all we need.

Prices, shipping costs and delivery times will be on each Etsy listing, where we can keep them current. That is why you will not find them in our guides.

Shipping to Ireland, the UK and Europe

Every set leaves our Dublin studio in a padded envelope. We ship to:

Before you check out, three things are worth a look on the listing:

  1. The size. Make sure it is the one you chose with the sizing guide. We cannot reshape a set after it is made.
  2. The shipping cost to your country. Check the cost for your address before you pay.
  3. The delivery time. Check it against your date if you are ordering for an event.

For anything the listing does not answer, email us at hello@squirrelnails.com.

When your set arrives

  1. Check every nail before you open the adhesive. Lay the set out thumb to little finger and hold each press-on against its nail.
  2. File the sides of any press-on that touches the skin. A few strokes at a time, then check again. No edge should rest on the skin.
  3. Apply with glue or adhesive tabs. Our guide on how to apply press-on nails walks through prep, pressing and the first hour.
  4. Choose the adhesive for how long you want to wear the set. Glue usually holds one to two weeks. Adhesive tabs usually hold two to five days. Our glue vs adhesive tabs guide compares the two.
  5. Soak the set off when you are done. Pulling press-ons off dry is what damages nails. The removal guide shows the soak.

Keep glue away from eyes and out of reach of children, and stop wearing the set if your skin gets sore or irritated.

Read next: the sizing guide to choose your size, then how to apply press-on nails. More in all our guides.

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Questions we get asked

Where are your press-on nails made?
Every set is designed and made by hand in our studio in Dublin, by one maker.
What sizes do you make?
Three ready-made sizes, S, M and L. Measure your nails, then choose the closest of the three using our sizing guide. If you fall between two, choose the smaller one and file the sides to fit.
Can I order made-to-measure press-on nails?
No. We do not make sets to your measurements, we do not make other widths, and we do not reshape a set on request. Every set comes in one of our three ready-made sizes, and a light file along the sides does the rest.
Do you ship outside Ireland?
Yes. We ship to Ireland, the UK and the rest of Europe, in a padded envelope.
How do I order?
Our sets will be sold through our Etsy shop. Choose the design, choose S, M or L, and check out on Etsy. The shop is not open yet, so for now the button on this page goes to our Instagram.
Can I wear the set more than once?
Yes, if you take it off by soaking rather than pulling. Clean the old adhesive off the back of each nail, let them dry and store them flat.

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