Handmade vs pharmacy press-on nails: what changes
Handmade press-on nails differ from pharmacy sets in how they are made, not in how you wear them. Our handmade sets are thicker than pharmacy sets and can be worn again when you soak them off; you still choose a size, file to fit, and press them on the same way.
We make handmade press-on nails in a Dublin studio, so we are not neutral. This guide sticks to what we know about our own sets and leaves the rest to you. Pharmacy brands vary, and we do not name or rate them.
What “pharmacy press-on nails” means here
In Irish and UK shops, press-on nails are often labelled false nails or stick on nails. So if you have been searching for false nails in Ireland, this is the same product. By a pharmacy set we mean a ready-made set in a box on a pharmacy or high-street shelf, one you buy and take home the same day.
A handmade set is designed and made by hand. Ours are made by one maker in a Dublin studio and posted to you.
Handmade vs pharmacy press-on nails at a glance
The table only states what we know: our own sets, and where a pharmacy set is bought. For everything else about a pharmacy set, the pack in your hand is a better source than we are, and the checklist below tells you what to look for.
| Our handmade sets | A pharmacy set | |
|---|---|---|
| Where you get it | Online, posted from Dublin | On the shelf, the same day |
| Thickness | Thicker than pharmacy sets | Thinner than ours |
| Sizes | Three ready-made sizes: S, M and L | Varies by brand |
| Curve | A natural curve that suits most nails | Varies by brand |
| Reuse | Reusable when soaked off | Varies by brand |
| Adhesive | Glue (usually one to two weeks) or tabs (usually two to five days) | Varies by brand |
| How it goes on | Size, prep, adhesive, press | The same routine |
What to check on any pack
Whether you buy stick on nails in Ireland from a chemist or a handmade set online, the same questions tell you what you are getting.
- Count the sizes. More sizes in the pack means a closer match per finger. Fewer means more filing.
- Look for the adhesive. Is there glue, tabs, both or neither? If the pack gives a wear time, read it as a typical range, not a promise.
- Read the removal instructions. A set meant to be worn again should tell you to soak it off. If the pack says nothing, soak it anyway.
- Find the warnings. Glue away from eyes and children, and stop if your skin gets sore or irritated. Look for them on any set that comes with glue.
- Do a dry fit first. Hold each nail against its finger before you open any adhesive. Fit tells you more than the box does.
What changes when a set is made by hand
Thickness
Our handmade sets are thicker than pharmacy sets and take a light file well. That matters most when you fit them: you can narrow the sides of a nail that sits a touch over the skin. File a few strokes at a time and check against your nail after each pass.
Sizing
We make three ready-made sizes, S, M and L. We do not make custom widths, and we do not reshape a set on request. Choose the closest of our three sizes using the sizing guide. If you are between two, choose the smaller one and file the sides of any press-on that rests on the skin.
That is the same job you do with any set, handmade or not. A press-on that sits on skin lifts at the edge, whoever made it.
Curve
Our sets have a natural curve that suits most nails. The curve is not changed per order. If your nails are very flat or very curved, press the centre down as well as the sides and hold for 20 to 30 seconds. Our guide to press-on nails for short or wide nail beds goes through flat, wide and small nails one by one.
Reuse
Our sets can be worn again when you take them off by soaking. Clean the old adhesive off the back, dry and store them flat, and use fresh adhesive next time. How many wears you get depends on how gently each removal goes, so we do not put a number on it. The full routine is in can you reuse press-on nails.
With any set, the way it comes off matters. Pulling press-ons off dry is what damages nails, and it is also how a press-on gets cracked or bent.
What stays the same
The method does not change with the maker. Whatever set you buy:
- File to fit. No edge should touch the skin at the sides or the cuticle.
- Prep the natural nail. Push back the cuticle, buff off the shine, and wipe with remover or rubbing alcohol.
- Press for 20 to 30 seconds. Use a thin layer of glue or a fresh tab, squeeze the sides, then keep your hands out of water for an hour.
- Soak them off. Warm soapy water, oil under the edges, and lift gently. Never pull.
The apply guide has each step in full, and how to remove press-on nails covers the soak. Not sure which adhesive to use? See nail glue vs adhesive tabs.
When a pharmacy set makes sense
- You need nails tonight and cannot wait for the post.
- You want to try press-ons for the first time with a set from a shop near you.
- You found a design on the shelf you like.
When a handmade set makes sense
- You want a set you can soak off and wear again.
- You want a thicker press-on that takes a light file to fit.
- You like the idea of a small studio: one maker in Dublin, and an email you can write to.
- You are planning ahead for an event and can order with time to spare for the post.
Buying handmade press-on nails in Ireland
If you are looking for handmade press-on nails in Ireland, we post from our Dublin studio in a padded envelope to anywhere in Ireland, the UK and the rest of Europe. Every set is designed and made by hand. Questions before you order go to hello@squirrelnails.com.
Safety
Keep nail glue and any remover away from your eyes and out of reach of children. If the skin around a nail gets sore or irritated, stop wearing the set and leave your nails bare until it settles.
Read next: the sizing guide to choose your size, and can you reuse press-on nails to get more than one wear from a set. More in all our guides.
Questions we get asked
- Are handmade press-on nails thicker than pharmacy ones?
- Ours are. Our handmade sets are thicker than pharmacy sets and take a light file at the sides when you fit them.
- Can you reuse handmade press-on nails?
- Yes, when you take them off by soaking. Clean the old adhesive off the back, let the set dry, store it flat, and wear it again with fresh glue or fresh tabs.
- Are pharmacy press-on nails reusable?
- It depends on the set, so check the pack. Whatever the brand, soak a set off rather than pulling it, because pulling press-ons off dry is what damages nails and can crack the press-on too.
- Do you make handmade press-on nails to my measurements?
- No. We make three ready-made sizes, S, M and L, and we do not make custom widths or reshape a set on request. Choose the closest of our three sizes using the sizing guide, then file the sides to fit.
- Where do you ship handmade press-on nails?
- From our Dublin studio to Ireland, the UK and the rest of Europe, in a padded envelope.