candy claws
the press-on nails I actually use
why I started using them, and the styles I keep reordering
why I made the switch to press-on nails
From about 16 to 33, I was a salon nail girl through and through. I even had the same nail tech near my work in South Brisbane for almost a decade.
Then I moved back to the Gold Coast, I was a mum and social media manager whose schedule could change approximately every 47 seconds 😂
I film with my hands a LOT, so I needed them looking presentable for shoots, but if a shoot suddenly moved, I needed to be able to get an infill that day. I couldn't always book into the beautiful little boutique salons I'd been used to, so I started going wherever could squeeze me in quickly.
And if I’m being so real... I kept getting shit after shit 😂
My final infill was the one that ended my 17-year salon-nail era. While filing down my acrylic, half of my natural nail was accidentally filed/cut off with it, flew across the salon and landed in front of another woman getting her nails done. There was blood. I nearly fainted. It was a whole friggen thing. BAHA FML 😂
And because apparently that wasn't enough, I had a content shoot booked that day that involved my hands. So I didn't just lose half a nail, I lost income too.
I'd already been seeing Candy Claws all over my Instagram and thinking about trying them, but I had questions…
My hands are tiny. Would they actually fit?
I'm a mum. Would they actually stay on?
And with my chaotic schedule, could I genuinely apply them quickly and still have them look pretty?
At that point, I figured there was only one way to find out 😂 and spoiler: considering I'm now writing an entire page about the ones I keep re-ordering... the answers to my questions turned out to be YES.
my first go with Candy Claws
My first attempt was... unnecessarily chaotic 😂
I was rushing, and I also have ADHD, so naturally I'd read one step of the instructions, decide I understood the assignment, somehow find myself three steps ahead and then realise I'd completely missed something important.
So if you're also an ADHD / mum / busy-brain / permanently-doing-seven-things-at-once kinda woman, learn from me:
Do your first set when you have nowhere to be. Take your time. And READ THE FRIGGEN INSTRUCTIONS. 😂
Because once I actually did that, they were ridiculously easy.
okay, but did they answer my three questions?
Would they fit my tiny hands?
Yep. There are different sizes in the set, and I was able to find ones that fit my little nails without them looking oversized.
Would they survive mum life?
Also yep. This was probably my biggest surprise. I'm constantly cleaning, washing things, picking up kids and generally using my hands all day, so I wasn't interested in nails that looked pretty for approximately 14 minutes.
Could I actually do them quickly?
Once I stopped ignoring the instructions like they were merely a suggestion... yes 😂 Now I can do my nails at home around my own schedule, which is the whole reason I wanted to try them in the first place.
how to apply candy claws press-on nails
step one, nail prep
step two, application
how to remove candy claws press-on nails
when they start to lift, apply serum and pop them off
the press-on nails I keep re-ordering
grace (almond)
ghosted (extra short) + ghosted (toes)
Something I didn't fully appreciate when I first started using Sabbia Co is how much thought goes into their formulations.
Sabbia Co describes its approach as bridging plant-based ingredients with cosmetic science, using naturally derived plant extracts while avoiding a long list of ingredients they choose not to formulate with, including silicones, parabens, sulfates, mineral oils, fragrance and synthetic colours.
They're also really conscious of sustainability, including refillable and lower-impact packaging and transparency around their formulations.
I love all of that.
But if I'm being completely real, the reason they've stayed in my bathroom for six years is much simpler:
My skin likes them, I enjoy using them, and I actually finish the products. 😂
That's generally my test these days.
why I love Sabbia Co, even after all these years
A little affiliate note ♡
Some of the links and discount codes on this page are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you purchase through them, at no extra cost to you. I only share things I genuinely use and love, and I'll always be transparent about that. Using my links is never expected, but is very appreciated and helps support the content I create.