Size is what makes or breaks a set of press-on nails. Too wide and the edges sit on your skin and start to lift. Too narrow and you'll see a thin strip of your own nail down each side. Get it right and they sit flat and neat from the first day. When you're ordering from Ireland you can't try a set on first, so it's worth measuring once, properly, and ordering that size every time after.
Every L'Adele set is handmade from soft gel in the size and shape you pick, with 10 nails plus 5 spares in your size.
The short version
- Measure the widest part of each nail, side to side, in millimetres.
- Check your numbers against the chart below and pick the size where most of your fingers fit.
- Between two sizes? Take the larger one. A nail that's a little wide files down in a few strokes, but there's nothing you can do with one that's too narrow.
- Rather not measure at all? The Beginnerset Reflected has S, M and L in one box.
How to measure your nails
All you need is a strip of paper or a bit of tape, a pen and a ruler with millimetres on it. A soft tape measure does the job too.
- Find the widest point of the nail, from one side to the other.
- Lay the paper over the nail and press it down along both sides. Make a small pen mark on the left and on the right, right where the nail meets the skin.
- Lay the paper flat and measure between the two marks. Round to the nearest whole millimetre.
- Do all five fingers. Your thumb and little finger are the ones most likely to be different, so don't guess those. Check the thumb on your other hand too.
- Measure twice. Same number both times? Then you can trust it.
Try not to hold a ruler across the nail in mid air. Nails are curved, so you'll get a reading that's too narrow, and a set that's too small. The paper follows the curve, which is exactly what you want.
Our size chart
Each size is worked out finger by finger. These are the widths across the widest point of the nail, in millimetres.
| Size | Thumb | Index finger | Middle finger | Ring finger | Little finger |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| XS | 14 mm | 10 mm | 11 mm | 10 mm | 8 mm |
| S | 15 mm | 11 mm | 12 mm | 11 mm | 9 mm |
| M | 16 mm | 12 mm | 13 mm | 12 mm | 10 mm |
| L | 17 mm | 13 mm | 14 mm | 13 mm | 11 mm |
If all five fingers land in the same row, that's your size. More often it's a bit of a mix, say M on your thumb and middle finger and S on the rest. Go with the size where most of your fingers fit, then read on.
Between two sizes?
If you remember one thing from this guide, make it this: when in doubt, go up a size. Torn between S and M? Choose M.
A nail that's half a millimetre too wide is easy to sort out. Take the nail file from your set and file the sides, working from the edge towards the centre and always in one direction. Try the nail on between strokes. A nail that's too narrow is another story. You can't make it any wider, it leaves a gap along the sides and it's more likely to lift.
One more tip: if your thumbs are wide and your fingers are narrow, go with your thumb size and file the other nails down a touch. A thumbnail that's too narrow shows straight away. A fingernail that's been filed doesn't.
Choosing your shape
Size decides the width. Shape decides the outline and the length, and you choose it separately. We make four, from short to long:
- Round: the shortest of the four and the handiest for everyday jobs.
- Oval Short: an oval tip that keeps things neat and natural without much extra length.
- Square Short: a squared-off tip at a short length, for a slightly bolder look.
- Oval Long: our longest shape, for a wedding, a night out or simply because you love a bit of length.
For day to day wear, Round and Oval Short are the easiest to live with. Your size stays the same whichever shape you choose, so you only need to measure once.
Still not sure?
The easiest way round it is the Beginnerset Reflected: 30 nails in S, M and L in one box. You try all three, see which one sits best and order that size from then on. It makes a handy gift too.
You'll find every shape and size together on our Find your shape and size page.
And if you do end up with the wrong size, you can exchange an unused set for the right size within 14 days of delivery in our returns portal: the return costs €4.95 and we send your new size free of charge.
Delivery to Ireland
We ship from the Netherlands, which is inside the EU, so there's no customs and nothing to pay when the parcel arrives. Delivery to Ireland takes 3 to 5 working days. It's free on orders from €50, and otherwise it's €4.95. There's more about ordering on our page for press-on nails in Ireland.
Sizing questions
What size press-on nails do I need?
Measure the widest part of each nail in millimetres and compare the numbers with the chart above. The size where most of your fingers fit is yours. If you're between two sizes, take the larger one.
What if my press-on nails are too big?
File the sides with the nail file from your set, working from the edge towards the centre. Keep the strokes small and try the nail on in between.
What if my press-on nails are too small?
Unfortunately that can't be fixed. A nail that's too narrow leaves a gap at the sides and is more likely to lift, which is why we always say to go for the larger size when you're unsure. If you do get the wrong size, you can exchange an unused set within 14 days of delivery: the return costs €4.95 and we send your new size free of charge.
Are both my hands the same size?
Not always, and the thumbs are the ones to watch. Measure both of them rather than assuming, and if they fall in different sizes, go with the larger one.
How do I measure without a ruler?
Mark the width of each nail on a strip of paper and hold it against a ruler or tape measure later on. If you've neither to hand, the Beginnerset Reflected with S, M and L is the easy route.
Two minutes of measuring and one look at the chart, and you'll know your size for every set after. Once you have it, have a look at all our handmade press-on nails, each one made in your size and your shape.
