imPRESS Press-On Manicure Review

The imPRESS Press-On Manicure by Broadway Nails was one of the goodies included in the recent Mom VoxBox from Influenster.  I wore them for a week, and I was so “impressed” that I decided to give the manicure it’s very own blog post!

When I opened the VoxBox and saw the press-on manicure in the shade “Glisten Up”, I was both excited and frightened.  The last time I attempted any sort of press-on nail was prom night 1994.  Let’s just say that the experience was so unpleasant that I haven’t even considered something like that since.  Despite past horrors endured from similar products, I had hopes that in 18 long years there had been enough improvements to the technology to make this product the nail solution I’ve been looking for.

The manicure is packaged in a clever little nail polish shaped bottle.  (This might be my favorite product packaging ever; it’s just too cute!)  With it, you get enough nails for one manicure, along with a prep pad that you use to cleanse your nails before the application.  You’ll also have a bunch of leftover nails, but some of them won’t fit, so it’s not enough for another manicure.  Any usable remaining nails can be saved for a future manicure or for replacement purposes if you happen to lose or damage one that you’re wearing.

Application is as easy as they say it will be.  You select nails in the right size for each finger, peel off the film, and then press firmly onto your clean nail.  Voila!  Instant shininess.  Nothing needs to dry…nothing is going to smudge.  It’s quick and simple, and they end up looking a lot like a gel manicure you would get at a salon.  You can also cut or shape the nail to your liking, but for that you’ll need to wait 30 minutes.  Their default shape and size seems perfect to me though, so most people probably won’t need to bother.

I was pleased with how the process was going until I noticed something.  On some of the nails, there was a little plastic tab sticking out from the tip of the nail, presumably left over from the mold.  It was more noticeable on some than on others, but it was unattractive and sharp in every case.  Of the ten nails I chose to wear, six of them had that sharp piece of plastic, and so, I was forced to do some filing.  I was able to file away the sharp tab, but it left the nail a slightly different shape even though I tried hard to keep that from happening.  The difference wasn’t really noticeable to anyone but me, but I still wasn’t thrilled that my perfect nails were suddenly imperfect.

Other than that, I didn’t have any problems with the nails.  I was almost surprised by how secure they felt once applied.  Through seven days of dishwashing, diaper changing, and other such exciting and interesting mommy duties, the manicure remained attached to my nails; I never lost or broke one of them.  By the time the week was up, they were starting to loosen, but as they aren’t meant to last longer than that, it wasn’t any great surprise.

Removal wasn’t too difficult either, though it did require a certain amount of effort.  Working from the sides of the nail, you just gently peel them off.  I had to be a tiny bit less than gentle, but off they went.  If you have trouble removing them, they suggest applying nail polish remover to the sides of the nail.  I didn’t need to go that route.  I was especially happy to find that my own nails looked great after I took the fake ones off.  There wasn’t any sign that I’d had anything glued onto them for a week.  I’d been a little worried about that, so I did my happy dance once I saw that they were in perfect condition.

In the end, I really liked these nails.  I beg Broadway Nails to fix the excess plastic issue, but aside from that, they seem to have gotten this product right.  These nails are such a huge improvement from the press-on nails of the past.  They’re so easy to apply, they look fantastic, and they don’t come off easily.  The imPRESS Press-On Manicure is perfect for any time you’re looking for a quick and cheap way to add a little pizzaz to your nails.

Tips:  Go to their web site, follow their instructions, watch the videos, read the FAQ.  If you use the product as directed, I think you’ll be very happy with the results.  Don’t forget to grab the coupon while you’re there.

The imPRESS Press-On Manicure by Broadway Nails is currently available in 36 colors (around $5.99) and patterns (around $7.99).  You can find a list of participating retailers on their web site.

Stay tuned for a review of the other products included in Influenster’s Mom VoxBox.

As a member of Influenster, I received this product for free in exchange for my feedback.