Use a clear straw, a white straw, or a straw that is the color you want your nails to be.
Most fake nails are about 1⁄4 to 1⁄2 inch (0. 64 to 1. 27 cm) longer than your actual nail.
Cut the segment straight across for a square nail. Taper the sides for a coffin nail. Snip the corners of the top for a rounded-square nail. Cut the straw into a curve for a rounded nail. The further down you start the curve, the narrower it will be.
Try to make all of the nails the same length. Some straws have a crimped segment to allow for bending. Do not use this segment!
The nails won’t be completely flat, which is fine. The goal here is to flatten the plastic so that it doesn’t curl as much.
Skip this step if you want to temporarily attach the fake nails to your real nails. To protect your nails from the glue, apply nail guards, which are thin, clear, and come in various shapes and sizes. The guards act as a barrier between your nails and the glue.
Apply enough glue so that when you press the fake nail down, it spreads to the edges of your nail without leaking. Leave a tiny amount of space between the fake nail and the nail bed. You don’t want to cover up the cuticle.
Be aware that this option is temporary. The nails will get knocked off easily. It is best for dress-up. Alternatively, use nail tabs (which are like double-sided tape) or small strips of wig tape.
If the straws are already the color you want your nails to be, you are done! The nail glue should take about 10 to 15 minutes to dry.
If your straw is clear or the right color, you can skip this step. If you don’t have nail polish, you can try acrylic paint. Be aware that the paint may chip more easily than nail polish.
Use at least 2 coats of nail polish. Let each coat dry before applying the next coat. You can try using acrylic paint, but it may chip. If the straw is striped or an unnatural color, such as green, you may need to use more coats of nail polish to cover it up. Be sure to paint the underside too.
If you used acrylic paint, consider using a clear, acrylic sealer.
Nails attached with double-sided tape may come off within a few hours. If you bump them against something, they may pop off right away. Nails attached with nail glue should last a few days.
If you have any residue on your real fingernails, wipe it off with a cotton ball dipped into acetone. If you attached the nails with double-sided tape, you should be able to just pop them off. If the tape is stuck to your real nails, just peel it off.
