Press-Ons Are the Only Way to Stop Me From Biting My Nails

I spent nearly two decades trying to quit biting my nails, and nothing worked. Not covering my fingertips in that nasty-tasting polish, not snapping a rubber band every time I felt the urge, not getting consistent manicures—my nails always ended up bitten to the quick. For the most part, I learned to live with my stubby little nails.

And then 2020 happened.

You’d think that a global pandemic would be able to keep me from sticking my fingers in my mouth, but my anxiety and OCD said, “LOL—no.”

So I picked up a pack of press-on nails as a last-ditch effort and quickly discovered that as long as I kept them on, I wouldn’t feel the urge to bite.

Magic!

Sure, I had to pretty much relearn how to do basic tasks—like typing—with long nails, but it was all worth it.

Since then, I’ve tried a LOT of different press-ons. Below, I share my three favorites that also happen to be cruelty-free, vegan, and have non-toxic, non-damaging glue.

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Chillhouse Chill Tips Nail Art Press Ons

Price: $16

Chillhouse

I am wearing these as I type this. I consistently come back to Chillhouse press-ons because they’re durable (and reusable!), they don’t look fake, and the length is perfect. They also come in a wide variety of designs, from simple French tips to bold, colorful checkers.

The glue is gentle but provides long-lasting adhesion. I consistently get a week’s worth of wear before any pop off, and when they do, it’s easy to quickly reapply and avoid regressing into my old nail-biting ways.

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Round Pop-On Reusable Manicure Set

Price: $20

Static Nails

These long-lasting press-ons are available in different shapes—almond, coffin, round, and square. They’re a great option if you’re looking for a single-color mani, but they also have some cute nail art designs.

They can be repainted, reshaped, and reworn (aka extra versatile).

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Press-Ons Medium Oval

Price: $10

Olive & June

Made with 94% post-consumer, recycled materials, these press-ons are available in four shapes, four lengths, and a variety of designs. The Instant Mani kits come with 42 nails in 21 sizes (many other kits only come with 24 or so nails), so it’s easy to find the perfect fit for each finger.

Lately, I’m obsessed with the fig color (pictured). It’s the perfect, cool, pinky-mauve shade and looks so chic with the medium oval shape.

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