ManiMe's Nail Stickers Have Basically Replaced My Need to Get a Gel Manicure (Seriously!)

While I love the look of a fresh gel manicure, it can be an expensive and time-consuming beauty habit. I also find that constantly wearing gel polish damages my nail beds, resulting in peeling, flaking, and breakage. Not ideal. 

While regular polish seems like the obvious alternative, you run the risk of chips or smudges. Also, my painting skills are limited at best, so cute designs and trendy art are out of the question. 

ManiMe, however, presents a seriously enticing alternate solution: a stick-on decal that requires zero skill while promising to give the effect of a professional gel manicure. With countless designs and options to suit all nail shapes, it seems (almost) too good to be true. So naturally, I had to put it to the test.

What’s included: One ManiMe gel sticker nail kit contains 18 stickers, a file, a wooden cuticle stick, and a prep wipe (used to remove all oils from the nail bed). The kits are one-size-fits-all, but you can pay extra for a custom set, should you prefer (for this, you’ll need to take some pictures to get accurate sizing). 

Designs: There are currently over 100 manicure designs on the ManiMe website, from patterned and solid-colored stickers to press-on nails. Many of the designs are submitted by artists, like @disseynails, so there’s always something new or trending to try. 

How I Tested

I am a gel manicure enthusiast, but I recently decided to give my digits a break after six months straight of shellac. While I’m fine with my bare nails, I had a steady stream of events upcoming (wedding season is well and truly here), so it was ManiMe’s time to shine. 

What initially struck me as amazing is just how many designs there are to choose from — you can go for a solid neutral shade, a classic French tip, or something more artistic. On the ManiMe website, there’s also plenty of info on each design, such as opacity and finish. 

I opted for the Standard Stick-On Gels in a gold spotty pattern called “Golden Disco” (the decal has a white background with a series of gold spots, which felt subtle but still fun). You get 18 per set, so there’s plenty to ensure all fingers are covered. To begin, I shaped my nail (I highly recommend this for a more uniform finish) before cleaning with the provided prep wipe. You could also apply a thin coat of the Bonding Base polish to strengthen your nails and increase longevity.

From this point, it’s as simple as positioning the sticker and smoothing it onto the nail. I found this easy enough, as any bubbles seemed to iron out with a little pressure just from your fingers. You then fold the excess over the top of the nail and gently file off. This is the trickiest step — if you file too hard, you risk ripping or tearing the sticker, but if you don’t remove the overhang, it looks messy. With some practice, I figured it out and finished the look with a coat of clear polish, as per the instructions (you can use ManiMe’s top coat or your own). It’s that easy!

The Results

ManiMe Stick-On Gels are innovative and user-friendly, and the finish is impressive, especially if you take the time to apply them carefully and then lock them in with a top coat. 

As far as longevity goes, I started to notice lifting around one week of wear, but I still think they last longer than standard polish. You can also stick them back down with a drop of nail glue. After using nail glue to reapply the stickers, I got about two to three extra days of wear (the company says you’ll get up to 10 days of wear, so this is right on par). To remove the stickers, you can simply peel them off, but if they persist, the brand suggests soaking your nails in warm water or using a bit of lotion along the edges of the sticker. You can also add a drop of the ManiMe Take It Off Nail Cleanser and use the wooden cuticle stick to gently push them off.

What to Know About ManiMe Stick-On Gel Stickers

If you’re thinking of trying out stick-on gel nail decals, here are some considerations:

• Your natural nail length: ManiMe stickers are best applied on natural nails, so consider growing them out for a week or two before application if you like a longer nail bed. 
• Your aesthetic preferences: Fortunately, ManiMe has loads of design choices available, from classic solid colors to cute designs, so you’re sure to find something you like. 
• How much you use your hands: If you find your hands constantly submerged in water or doing a lot of hands-on manual work, you’ll likely find the decals lift faster.

Other Nail Gels To Consider

Scratch Nail Wraps: These wraps are made using standard polish on a thin, adhesive sticker — all they require is a top coat to set, similar to the ManiMe stickers. There are eight sizes per pack, and 16 wraps in total.

Dashing Diva Gloss Ultra Shine Gel Palette: At only $8 a pop, these stick-on gels are a great value. Each set comes with a few different designs for a customized mani, and the finish claims to last 14 days.

Nail Wrap Co Gel Wraps: From hearts to marble to sheer cherry blossoms, these stickers offer an easy way to achieve seriously special nail art. In each pack, you’ll get 16 wraps.

Are ManiMe Stick-On Gel Nails Worth It?

In a word, yes! They do exactly as they promise, affording a salon-free alternative that looks great and takes no more than 10 minutes to apply. The longevity is also really impressive, considering the price. And in terms of removing the stickers, being able to just soak them in warm water and peel them off is an excellent reprieve from smelly, harsh polish remover.

While I don’t think they’ll completely replace my salon mani ritual, I love knowing I have the option.