If you spend your days in a classroom or a room full of little ones, your hands never really stop. You wash them, tie shoes, help at snack time and turn a lot of pages. Then you wash them again. So it is fair to ask where press-on nails fit in. The honest answer depends on where you work. In child care, the guidance we found asks for short, clean nails, so we would keep press-ons for your days off. For schools, Quebec's guide asks for the same thing; elsewhere we found no official rule, but your own school's policy still matters. Here is what the sources say and how we would plan around your work week.
What the sources say about artificial nails in child care
We looked for official Canadian guidance that mentions artificial nails around children. The clearest English source we found is the City of Toronto's page on infection prevention and control for child care centres. In the Hand Hygiene section it says:
"Artificial nails, chipped nail polish, and jewelry can harbour germs. For this reason, it is recommended that staff at child care centres keep their nails short and clean."
The Food Safety section adds this:
"Child care staff should wear clean clothing. Hair must be tied back and fingernails cut short."
Source: City of Toronto, Infection Prevention & Control Measures for Child Care Centres.
Quebec has a similar document. The provincial health ministry (MSSS) publishes a guide on infection prevention and control in child care services and schools in Quebec. Chapter 4, on hand hygiene (March 2015), says the following in the Généralités section. We leave the quotes in French, as published:
« Les ongles doivent être courts et propres. »
« Les ongles longs, les faux ongles, le vernis écaillé ou les bagues favorisent la contamination des mains et rendent plus difficile un bon lavage des mains. »
In plain English: nails should be short and clean, and false nails make it harder to wash your hands well. The Toronto page is written for child care centres. The Quebec guide covers child care services and schools.
Teachers: check your school's policy
In Quebec, the MSSS guide covers schools as well, so its advice on short, clean nails applies there too. Outside Quebec, we did not find an official rule about artificial nails for teachers or education assistants, and we would rather say so plainly than make one up. School boards (in Quebec, centres de services scolaires) and individual schools can have their own expectations. Ask instead of assuming.
Before you order, check your school's policy and your school board's policy, or simply ask your principal. Days off are the safe choice. If your school has no objection to press-ons in class, go for our shortest shapes, Round and Oval Short.
Child care: keep press-ons for your days off
If you are an early childhood educator, both sources ask for short, clean nails, so we will not tell you that press-ons are fine at work. Press-on nails are artificial nails, whatever they are made of. Ours are handmade in soft gel and we are proud of them, but that does not change what is on your fingertips. This article is not professional advice. It is a plain reading of what has been published.
What works well is a days-off routine. We wrote similar guides for nurses in Canada and for dental hygienists in Canada, and the idea is the same: enjoy them when you are off.
A routine around your work week and school breaks
- Apply after your last working day. Pick the evening before a real break, such as a long weekend, winter break, March break or summer break.
- Take them off the evening before you go back. Soak your fingertips in warm soapy water and let the tabs loosen. Do not pull. They come off in a few minutes.
- Start with short, clean natural nails. Applying takes about 10 minutes, with no UV lamp and no drying time. Prepare your nails first with the nail file, cuticle pusher and alcohol wipes that come in the box.
- Keep your set for next time. Our press-ons are reusable with new adhesive tabs.
With tabs, a set lasts 1 to 2 weeks. Ten days is about average, and it is shorter when your hands are in water a lot. That suits a March break or a long weekend well. Summer break is longer than one set will last, so you would need fresh tabs along the way. Our guide on how long press-on nails last explains the details.
Short shapes and everyday shades for your time off
Our shapes run from short to long: Round, Oval Short, Square Short and Oval Long. Round and Oval Short are the shortest. If you like a quiet look, a nude shade is a good place to start. You can browse nude, short styles in our everyday collection.
Sizing and delivery in Canada
Each set has 10 nails plus 5 spares in your chosen size (XS, S, M or L). If you are between two sizes, take the larger one and file the sides to fit. Our size guide walks you through it. A set costs C$47.95. If you are not sure of your size, the Beginnerset Reflected has 30 nails in S, M and L, and it ships free. You can find it on the Beginnerset Reflected product page.
Shipping is C$7.95, and it is free from C$80. Delivery to Canada takes about 7 business days. Duties and taxes are prepaid, so there is nothing to pay when the parcel arrives. Plan ahead if you want your set ready for a specific break. More details are on our Canada page.
Frequently asked questions
Can I wear press-on nails at a child care centre?
The sources we found recommend short, clean nails for child care staff, and Toronto names artificial nails as something that can harbour germs. We suggest keeping press-ons for your days off and checking the policy of your own centre.
Is there an official rule for teachers?
Not a rule as such. In Quebec, the MSSS guide for child care services and schools asks for short, clean nails. Elsewhere we could not find one. Your school and your school board can have their own policy, so ask before you decide.
How do I take them off before going back to work?
Soak your fingertips in warm soapy water and they loosen in a few minutes. Do not pull. Plan it for the evening before your first day back.
What if the size does not fit?
You can exchange an unused set for the right size within 14 days in our returns centre. You pay the return shipping and we send the new size free of charge.
