KISS Salon Acrylic French Manicure Set

I’ve been doing my nails myself usually using builder gel or full cover tips but have also used acrylic and polygel before. I haven’t had the time or energy to do a full set myself lately so after watching LongHairPrettyNail’s Kiss review on these, I decided to pick up some. They’re much more sturdier than regular press ons and don’t have much (if any) give to them in the extension parts. The nail bed portion is flexible. The length is a nice medium, I’m usually a long/xlong girl but these are work appropriate and easy to handle. Sizing: I had a little issue with sizing since my nail beds are wider than my cuticles meaning that since the nail is tapered in early on, my natural nail would be exposed unless I cut them to nail biting length. I used a 2 for my thumbs, 6 for pointers, 5 for middles, 4 for rings, and 12 for pinkies. I had to file every single cuticle to fit my nail since my cuticles are rounded and the nails had a square shaped cuticle. I did the least filing on my pinkies and thumbs but had to heavily file the ring finger cuticles and sidewalls to make that 4 look decent. Application: I am keen on long lasting nails and usually have trouble with cuticle lifting when my full cover tips grow out and stop molding to my nail shape. Here’s how I prepped to really make them stay. I buffed my natural nails. Wiped with isopropyl alcohol. Applied a dehydrator, max pro bond, and primer. Put on a thin layer of gel base coat, cured, then wiped with isopropyl alcohol. I buffed the base coat lightly then applied dehydrator to it. After filing and prepping the nail, I flicked off any dust. I applied dehydrator to the inside of the nail bed. I applied the nail glue to my natural nail covering everything accept the cuticle and not putting heavy amounts on the side wall to avoid leakage. I applied nail glue to the false nail’s cuticle area. I applied by sliding down the false nail from the middle of my own nail which makes sure that the glue does not flood the cuticle and fully coats the entire nail. It also allows you to find the perfect resting spot for the false nail. I then held down the middle and cuticle for a few seconds then pinched in the sidewalls to avoid gapping and bubbles. After this, I let them rest for a few seconds then filed and shaped them better to my nails and finally wiped them Well with the isopropyl alcohol. I’m not a pro at glue on nails anymore but I know sometimes they didn’t feel the most secure with just the glue. The base gel allows you to fill any gaps from the nail not fully fitting your nail bed that you’d otherwise do with nail glue. Right now they feel like they’re apart of me and I can slam my hand into my counter and they won’t budge. Additionally, the base gel protects your natural nail from the nail glue! Cons: I couldn’t really glue and go with these, they needed a lot of cuticle alterations since my nail beds are rounded. Otherwise, the price can’t be and they honestly look like I got them done at a salon. I absolutely recommend as long as you’re ready to put in a little work to make them look their best Additionally, these are also nice because you could buff the shine off the surface and change the color of the nails with your own polish if you’re not into the French style (which I plan to do when I get tired of the look) or even just add one or two accent nails or apply rhinestones or stickers.