How to Apply Nail Wraps

Co-authored by Shun Pittman

Last Updated: April 23, 2021 References

Nail wraps can give you a professional, artistic manicure in minutes and they are much less expensive than a professional manicure. If you want to try these popular nail decorations, then you might want to learn more about how to apply them. It is important to make sure that your nails are prepped first. After you apply the strips, you will also need to smooth them out and get rid of the excess material. Before you decide what strips to use, you might also take some time to think about the look you want to create.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Getting Your Nails Ready and Applying the Strips

1
Remove any nail polish. It is important to remove any old nail polish before you apply your nail wraps. Use some nail polish remover to take off your old nail polish. Even if you do not have any nail polish on, you might want to swipe each of your nails with a little nail polish remover to ensure that they are totally clean.^{[1]
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- You can also wash your hands and nails to ensure that they are free of grease and dirt.
2
Trim and buff your nails. Next, you will need to trim your nails to your desired length. If they are already at the length that you’d like them to be, then just take a minute to even them out by shaping them with a nail file. Buff the tops of your nails with a nail buffer as well to ensure that they are smooth and even.^{[2]
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Expert Source

Shun Pittman
Master Cosmetologist, Global Salon Educator & Author
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- It is important to get the surface of your nails really smooth or they may not look right.^{[4]
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- If you have dry, brittle nails, then you might also want to apply a layer or two of strengthening top coat before you apply the wraps. Otherwise, the adhesive might damage your nails.
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3
Choose a strip that matches your nail size. Hold the strips up next to your nails to determine where the best placement for each strip would be. Try to select a strip for each nail that will fully cover the nail and line up with the cuticle. It may not be possible to find a perfect fit for every nail, but do the best you can.^{[5]
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- Don’t worry about choosing the strip that is meant for a specific finger. Just go with the one that fits your finger best.^{[6]
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4
Heat the strip slightly with a hair dryer. Some nail wraps are heat activated, so you will need to heat them up using a hair dryer. Turn on your hair dryer and set it to warm. Then, pick up one of your nail wraps and aim the hair dryer at it. Heat the nail wrap for about three to five seconds.^{[7]
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- Not all nail wraps require heat to work. You might be able to just apply the wrap directly to your nail and smooth it out. Check the package instructions to be sure.
5
Apply the strip to your nails. Use a cuticle pusher to apply the nail wrap and smooth it out on your nail. Make sure that there are no bumps and that the nail strip goes all the way to the edges of your nails. They should be lined up with your cuticles on all sides.^{[9]
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- Try not to touch the adhesive layer with your fingertips as you apply it or some if it may come off.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Shaping and Shining the Nail Strip

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Use the hair dryer again. Applying heat to the nail wraps again will help them to adhere to your nails better. It will also give you a chance to smooth out any bumps in the nail wraps. Hold each nail under the hair dryer for about three to five seconds.^{[11]
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- Use a cotton swab or an orange tipped cuticle pusher to smooth out any bumps after you apply heat for a few seconds.
2
Cut off excess nail strip material. The nail wraps are quite long, so most people will have some excess material at the ends. Use some nail scissors or a nail clipper to cut this excess material off.^{[13]
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- You do not have to cut it right along the nail, there can be a small amount of nail wrap material hanging over because you will be filing the ends as well.
- If you have really short nails, then you might even find it easier to cut off some of the excess strip material before you apply the strips.^{[14]
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3
File the edges. Next, use a glass file or emery board to file away the edges of the remaining excess nail strip material. File your nails from underneath the nail, not the top of the nail. This will help to prevent jagged edges.^{[15]
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4
Apply a coat of clear nail polish to the strip. Finish off your nail wrap manicure by applying a coat of clear nail polish over the top of the nail wraps. You might even want to apply a couple of coats for an extra glossy look.^{[17]
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- You can skip the clear nail polish if you like, but the nail wraps may have more of a matte look to them if you skip it.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Choosing and Using Nail Wraps

1
Go with a small design for shorter nails. You can use any design you like, but shorter nails may not show a larger design as well. Therefore, you might want to stick with a small design or something that has a repetitive pattern on it, such as polka dots or stripes.^{[19]
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- Try holding different designs up to your nails to get an idea of how much of your nails the strips will cover.
2
Try using a few different designs. Nail wraps often come in prints and intricate designs. However, if you want to create an even more interesting look, then you could pick out a few different patterns in coordinating colors.
- For example, you could use pick a few different black and white designs and alternate the designs so you have a different one on each nail. Or, for a holiday look, you could pick out some red nail wraps and some green ones and alternate those.
3
Make sure that you read the package instructions. Different nail wrap brands have different specifications for application and removal. Always check the package instructions before applying or removing your nail wraps.
- For example, some nail wraps can be removed by peeling them off with a cuticle pusher, while others require some acetone nail polish remover.
- Ensure that you have everything you need to use the strips you purchase. For example, you might need a hairdryer, nail polish remover, and an orange tipped cuticle pusher to use some strips.

Expert Q&A

Question

How do I get my nail wraps to stay on?

Shun Pittman
Master Cosmetologist, Global Salon Educator & Author
Shun Pittman is a Master Cosmetologist, Author, Owner, and Founder of Corps d’Elite Salon and Corps d’Elite Beauty. With over 25 years of international experience, she is dedicated to and specializes in providing luxury salon services to all hair types and textures and every skin tone and shade. Her services include hair conditioning treatments, cutting, coloring, styling, extensions, and makeup application. Shun has experience working with, coaching, training, and mentoring beauty professionals from multiple companies including L'Oréal, Wella, Matrix, Paul Mitchell, Redken, Big Sexy Hair, and Toni & Guy. She is also a host for national and local media outlets and her work has been featured in The Washingtonian, The Cheddar Network, and WJLA Good Morning Washington's Beauty and Fashion Police segments. Shun is the author of “50 Things Your Hairdresser Wants YOU to Know (and a few things we don’t...)".

Shun Pittman

Master Cosmetologist, Global Salon Educator & Author

Expert Answer

Make sure you wash and buff your nails before you apply the wraps to get rid of any natural oils.