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Press-On Nails, Gel Nails or Nail Stickers? A Complete Guide to Different Manicures

I'm one of the firm believers that having your nails done does make you feel like you have your life together. Think about it, when your manicures look perfect and beautiful, it does make you more confident and feel like you have your life together.

So what are the best manicures you can choose? Today we are going to look into the advantages and disadvantages of different manicure types: Press-On Nails, Gel Nails and Nail Stickers.


dashing diva press on nail christmas

Press-On Nails

dashing diva press on nail with moon magic aquamarine ring

Advantages:


This is one of my favourite. Quick and easy to apply, and often comes with gorgeous design. From neutral simples, glitter and marble, to different embellishment like pearls and crystals. All you need is to do is to peel off the adhesive tape and stick the nail onto your own. No glue needed. It could take you just 10 minutes to have an eye-catching professional looking manicure. Plus they are set on good price, with more than half price than going to the salon!




Disadvantages:


Durability: The durability of press-on nails varies. If you apply them nicely, it can last you for around a week to 10 days. The thing is, some of the nails may fall off from your daily activities and you may need to reapply or carry extra ones in your bag in case they fall off. But if you are just looking for a short term need like a vacation, special event or a photoshoot, press-on nails are really the go-to.


press on nail with flowers. parisian aesthetic style

DASHING DIVA PRESS ON NAILS ( HKD $60 - 120)

(Purchase link Click Here)


Gel Nails

gel nail with flowers at the background

Advantages:


Soft gel and hard gel nails are just perfect. They last super long, no chipping, no falling, they stay perfect no matter what condition you put your nails into. I've tried soft gel and was in love with how good my nails looked. Having gel nails at a salon means you have total control on how you want your nails to look. You can take inspiration of your favourite celebrity's nails and have your manicurist paint them for you, be like classic French nails, pattern and floral nails, marble and rose-quartz crystal nails and even a Monet inspired nail design. Anything you want, you can have them on your nails and it lasts super long.


Disadvantages:


Price: It is expensive to have your nails done in a nail salon. From HKD $250 - 500, excluding the price of taking them off ($100- $150) if you are not doing it regularly (i.e. Taking gel nails off is only free if you take them off and get another gel nails on at the same time).


Time: Depending on your design, it can take up to 1 - 1.5 hours to have your nails done. By putting multiple layers of the gel and curing them under LED lights. It is time consuming. Not to mention the possible side effect of LED/ UV light if you do your nails often.


Nail Condition : Getting gel nails often can weaken your nails. The drilling off process would make your nails weaker and more prone to chipping as your nails get softer. My advice is though it is super nice, try not to do it often. Give your nails time to rest before your next visit to the manicure salon.



Nail Stickers/ Wrap

a girl is pouting a kiss with sunflower and her yellow floral nails . a review of different kind of manicures, soft gel, press on nails and dashing diva stick on glaze nails

Nail Stickers are similar to press-on nails. They are pre-designed stickers that, well, stick to your nails. I personally prefer press-on nails to stickers as press-on nails appear shinier and harder while stickers may look dull on the nail.


Advantages :


Quick and easy to apply. Affordable. Sticker on nails last relatively longer than press-on nails since they are flat.


Disadvantages:


No glossy, shiny feeling. May need to peel off to remove. Gaps may exist as sticker doesn't fill the whole nail.


Variation


dashing diva glaze nails. yellow floral

Recently, there's a new nail sticker by Dashing Diva, called Glaze. They are nail stickers that can turn into hard nails when you put them under LED light. I find it interesting as stickers can stick relatively firmer than press-on nails while after putting your nails under LED light, it can turn hard and glossy.


Review of GLAZE by Dashing Diva ( Blackpink's Jennie as ambassador):

(Purchase Link Click Here)


They do turn into hard nails after putting them under LED light which i like. However, they have less design available and they do fall off like press-on nails. If you are lucky and do it nicely, your GLAZE nail can last longer than press-on nails since they stick better when they are flat. But the time in sticking and curing them under the light definitely takes a longer time than press-on nails.



Conclusion

Different manicure type, be at the salon or do it yourself have their own advantages and disadvantages. It really depends on your goal of archiving your manicure to best find the best type of manicure according to your times of need. Either way, there's no better feeling than having beautiful designed nails on your hands.



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