I Tried Nicki Minaj's Pink Friday Nails, Here Are My Thoughts
Not *one* nail came off in the process.
I’m a beauty bae that loves to keep her nails done, but admittedly, I do not enjoy sitting in the nail salon for hours on end. This tug of war led me to discover my first set of press-on nails and I haven’t looked back since. Over the years, I’ve invested in higher-quality sets customized by nail artists and tried just about every press-on brand on the market. The way that makeup girls have a vanity full of products, I have a stash of nails ready for any occasion. I’ve applied nails in the back of Uber’s while stuck in traffic, 30,000 feet in the air on airplanes and poolside on vacation. I’d like to consider myself an aficionado at this point.
Yet, one of the biggest pain points I’ve encountered was finding nails that fit perfectly on my small nail beds. Another hurdle is finding a nail glue that can stand the test of my busy lifestyle and keep my press-ons in place for at least a month. When I found out that Nicki Minaj was dropping a press-on line, I knew I had to put them to the test as her nail game is next level.
Keep reading for a full breakdown of Nicki Minaj’s Pink Friday nails and our honest thoughts on them after wearing them for a month.
What to Know
Price: The nails range from $11 USD to $25 USD dependant upon the length and design. Pink Friday Nails can be purchased on the brand’s website.
Rating: 10/10
Best for: Press-on nail girlies or those looking to try something or take a break from the salon.
Why the Hype?
The Pink Friday Nails website offers a great shopping experience as it allows you to choose your preferred shape before fully entering the site for a curated shopping experience. The press-ons currently come in 11 designs, ranging from full bling to more demure short sets. The brand is first in its class, as customers can choose their preferred shape and length of each individual design that’s offered, an unheard-of feat in the category. The cool part about Pink Friday Nails’ offering is that a few of the designs are inspired by Minaj’s red carpet moments and music videos.
There are some blinged-out sets that have up to 400 gems on them, which is unheard of from a nail brand. The company also offers a set of five accent nails that can be mixed and matched with other sets to create unique and personalized looks.
How to Use
The best way to prep for press-on nails is to give yourself a mini manicure first. Wash your hands to ensure that they are clean and remove any dirt or natural oils from the nail beds. This ensures that the press-on nails are able to adhere to your natural nail with no issues. You’ll want to file down your nail length if the faux nails are shorter than your natural nails, like my set was.
Try on different-sized nails to find the ones that best fit the size of your nail bed and line them up on the table for a seamless application process. Apply a small drop of glue to both your natural nail and the back of the press. Once you adhere the press-on to the top of your nail bed, hold it down for about 10 seconds to ensure the two surfaces stick together. Lastly, with all of the nails applied, file the tips of each nail to ensure they are smooth and uniform.
An Honest Review
On record, these are the best quality of press-on nails that I’ve ever tried. I’ve never experienced press-on nails that are as thick and durable as these. I tried the “Crushin It” style in the coffin shape and small length and the color payoff and holographic shine blew me away.
I can be tough on my hands at times, especially with the many boxes I open as a result of working in beauty and these nails never chipped or lifted. I’ve even found myself tapping the nails on my desk at work or subconsciously biting my thumb nail when deep in thought and still every nail has retained its shape and luster. In fact, when I told friends and family that I was wearing Minaj’s nail brand when asked about my manicure, they shared that they were impressed by how high-quality the nails looked.
Aside from how durable the nails feel, I was also thoroughly impressed with the brand of nail glue. I typically find that the nail glue that comes with most press-ons does not have the best long-wear hold, but I never had to reapply a nail throughout the entire month.
The Final Verdict
Pink Friday Nails are now the number one brand in my press-on arsenal and I’ll immediately be purchasing more styles and lengths. I cannot stress enough how great the thickness and quality of these press-ons are; they have honestly changed the game.
For more on Nicki Minaj’s Pink Friday Nails, check out our interview with her lead nail artist and the brand’s creative director.
