I (finally) tried nail polish stickers and all I can say is WOW!

I was always a nail-biter, at least until I committed to regularly-scheduled manicures. Over the past 10 years, I went from weekly regular manicures to bi-weekly gels (but had to stop because they completely trashed my nails), and ultimately powder-dip manicures that only required once-a-month upkeep (though with a fair share of damage). At some point I decided to give my nails a break, but I always keep them filed and tidy, even if just wearing clear polish.

Then quarantine happened. My nails were the least of my concerns and although my toes are always done (thanks to my own handiwork), I gave up on DIY manicures by mid-April simply because the constant dish-washing and newfound housekeeping responsibilities just didn’t make the effort worth my while. (As my husband would say, “The juice just isn’t worth the squeeze.”)

Despite my practicality, I’ve missed the visual joy of having perfectly-polished fingertips. This prompted my initial press-on misstep (but I have to admit I ordered another set to play with when the mood strikes and the time is right), and then I decided to try nail polish stickers. Off to Amazon I went, and after spending way too much time finding a bundle that included colors I would actually consider wearing, I ordered these.

After sitting in my office for more than a week, I finally had my window of opportunity to try them. I filed my nails, used my Blue Cross Cuticle Remover, pushed everything back, did some minor trimming and gave my nails a swipe of nail polish remover (to eliminate excess oil that could affect their staying power) and off I went.

I have pretty small hands (and fingernails) so sizing is always a concern when it comes to anything nail related. Since each set of stickers included 8 options for each hand, I was pretty much OK, but I figured out a hack for my middle and pointer fingers: I flipped them around so the tapered ends better fit my nail bed. After applying the stickers, smoothing them down with my finger, trimming them with a scissor and filing off the excess I was good to go! And the fact that there was no drying time involved kind of sealed the deal.

So immediately after my nail-sticker experiment, I’m kind of thrilled. There are a few lumps and bumps but nothing that’s making me want to take off the stickers immediately. I’m sure with a little practice I can perfect my technique (and I have about 15 other sets to play with).

The big question is (or was) how they’d hold up, especially with bathroom cleaning on the next day’s to-do list. Unfortunately, they did not hold up—at I looked down at some point and realized two stickers had fallen off. A few others were lifting at the edges so I just yanked them all off since I still had three bathrooms to go.

This was pretty much to be expected, so I’m still into the idea of them moving forward. I haven’t had a chance to apply another set, but when I do, I’ll be sure to keep my housekeeping schedule in mind!