"As a girl who has been referred to as “granola” one or two times in her life, I’ll be honest: Sometimes my love of having my nails done feels like a dirty little secret. While my general vibe gives off athleisure, low-maintenance, and bare nails, my heart of hearts simply adores a great manicure. There is quite literally nothing more satisfying to me than the click-clack sound of my own nails on my laptop keyboard.
Something decidedly less satisfying, though, is the price I have to pay for hearing that sound. With the cost of gel manicures creeping higher every day, I had given up on my not-so-little treat of cute nails earlier this year. But when a fit of summer-induced enthusiasm hit me, I knew I needed a fresh set. Desperate, I turned to the one press-on brand that has risen above the noise of the algorithm to get my attention: Glamnetic.
After two weeks of wearing a set of adorable gold reverse-French Glamnetic press-ons, I can honestly say that I will not be forking over the cash for a gel manicure for the foreseeable future. Here, I’m breaking down everything I loved about the Glamnetic press-ons.
What’s so special about Glamnetic nails?
If you’ve seen literally any TikTok beauty influencer apply a set of press-ons, they’ve probably been Glamnetic. These nails have an absolute chokehold on the internet, and for a good reason. At $20 or less per pack of nails, Glamnetic nails are easily more affordable than a regular gel manicure. All Glamnetic nails are vegan and cruelty-free, and each kit comes with at least 24 nails in 12 different sizes, so it should be easy for everyone to find a size that works for them. Glamnetic is AAPI and woman-owned, and was founded by Ann McFerran in her bedroom before growing into the massive business that it is today. Glamnetic nails get their well-deserved hype because they’re both waterproof and reusable—you can wear each set at least twice if you take good care of them.
How to use Glamnetic nails
Each set of Glamentic nails comes with a detailed set of instructions for how to properly apply them, as well as everything you need to DIY your own manicure. There’s a little bottle of nail glue, a wooden cuticle pusher, a double-sided nail file, and an alcohol pad included. I’ve never thoughtfully applied press-ons before (most of my previous experiences have involved running quite late for an event that was more formal than I had anticipated), so I appreciated how straightforward the application process was. I trimmed and filed my nails and pushed back my cuticles with the help of my beloved Sally Hansen cuticle-removing gel. Then, I buffed my nails and got to gluing!
I was nervous about trimming and filing the Glamnetic nails to my desired length once I glued them on. I’ve had trouble trimming and filing press-ons in the past, and my head was full of visions of the nails popping off once I took to them with the nail trimmer. However, I had no issues whatsoever with filing the “Goal Digger” set down to my desired length. For those who have similar press-on trauma, never fear: You can easily treat Glamnetic nails just like your natural nails once they’ve been applied. Cut, file, and trim to your heart’s content.
To reuse the Glamnetic press-ons, the process is fairly simple. Simply soak your nails in warm water until the nails pop off, dry them thoroughly, and reapply whenever you want using the same system of buffing and gluing. Halfway through my first week with my Glamnetic set, I started to feel like I had put my right thumb nail on alllll wrong, so I simply soaked it and reapplied, and it worked like a charm.
My Glamnetic review
In case it wasn’t already abundantly clear, I loved these press-on nails. But for those looking for more detail, allow me to break down the pros of Glamnetic for you:
Glamnetic nails are easy to use
Like I said, I’ve never been one for press-on nails, but the easy application process of this set has changed my tune. Even while taking my time, applying these nails only took me about 30 minutes total. And as the kind of gal who simply must have short nails, I can’t say enough good things about how easy these were to cut and file to my desired shape. Perhaps the only thing worse than a set of nails chipping is a set of nails that feel uncontrollably long, and I had no such issue with this set. The reusable nature of the Glamnetic nails is also a huge plus. Knowing that I’ll get twice the wear out of each set makes me feel even more justified in my purchase.
They last just as long as a gel manicure
After two weeks with the Glamnetic nails on my fingers, rest assured: nary a press-on is out of place. Though I probably will soak this set off before the three-week mark (I don’t want them to get too long), these puppies are still going strong. With a regular gel manicure lasting the same amount of time, I have truly no idea why I was wasting my money before. And, as someone who has attempted to DIY a gel mani far too many times to count, these definitely have lasted longer than anything I’ve done under my own at-home UV lamp, which I consider a huge win.
They’re super cute
I don’t know why I was under the impression that press-on nails never came in cute designs, because I am absolutely obsessed with the way these nails look. I’ve gotten so many compliments over the past two weeks on the gold details and how they look with my rings. If neutral isn’t your thing, though, fear not. Glamnetic has tons of styles, shapes, and colors to choose from.
So, is Glamnetic worth the hype?
TL;DR: There may be some beauty products out there that are unworthy of the viral attention they have received, but Glamnetic nails are not one of them. These nails are absolutely worth the hype for their cute designs, their easy application, and their wear. The reusability of the nails is a huge win for both you and your wallet, and the durability is salon-quality. Not sold yet? Consider how satisfying the clickity-clack of these nails on my keyboard was as I was writing this article, and maybe that’ll change your mind.
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