Custom-made Metal Nails

1) How does it work? What happens when I buy them?

If we are conducting your scan:

-We will email you to arrange an appointment for your scan. We can usually fit you in comfortably within 2 weeks (we're based in Wimbledon, London, UK).

-The appointment will take 20-30 minutes. We'll check the scan data there and then, in case there are any issues with it, so you only come to us once.

-We process the scan data, then we print the nails using aerospace-grade metal 3d printers.

-We hand-polish the nails, before packaging them up and posting them to you.

-You glue them on, and you look amazing.

If you are providing your own scan:

-We will reach out and request your 3d scan, along with the specifications needed (specs can also be seen below).

-You send us the scan of your hand once you have it.

-We process the scan data, then we print the nails using aerospace-grade metal 3d printers.

-We hand-polish the nails, before packaging them up and posting them to you.

-You glue them on, and you look amazing.

The entire process from scan to delivery usually takes 3-4 weeks.

2) How do I attach them?

Regular nail glue is all you need. Apply a thin layer to your real nail and to the back of the metal nail, put the 2 surfaces together, and squeeze for a few seconds. Glue may squeeze out the sides, but you'll learn how much to use after doing it a couple of times.

3) How long do they last?

These nails will last a lifetime. They can be endlessly removed and re-applied.

The amount of time they stay on from the initial adhesion will depend on the nail glue used, how flexible your natural nails are, as well as how much you use your hands on a day to day basis. If you do a lot of manual work for example, you may find one pops off after a day, though if they don't get stressed, they may stay on for a week or more. Over time you'll learn the best combination of glue and application method to keep them on for as long as possible.

4) How do I remove them?

Every nail glue we've encountered is CA (CyanoAcrylate) based, the same as super glue / crazy glue. A normal nail-polish remover (containing acetone) will dissolve the glue. Simply soak your finger in the polish remover and the nail should come off without much pressure.

If the nail has been glued on for a while (a week or more) you may be able to just prize it off, as the glue will no longer have full coverage across both glued surfaces due to the slow flexing of the nail over time. If it hurts though, stop.

Once they've been removed, soak them in nail polish remover or acetone, and wipe with a pad to remove any excess glue residue.

5) If ordering replacements:

Your original set of metal nails will have a 3 character code on the underside of each nail. Please provide us with these codes when ordering any replacements.

Replacements usually take 2-3 weeks from purchase to delivery.

6) Why order duplicates?

The sad reality of owning metal nails is that you'll eventually lose one. We subsidise the price of replacement nails because of this inevitability.

Buying a full set of duplicates at the start means you won't need to spend those few weeks missing one of your precious metal nails. Its also cheaper buying a full set of replacements from the start than it is replacing individual ones.

7) If you're providing your own 3D scan:

We are happy to work with scan data from a 3D scanning company if you are unable to come to London in person for us to scan you. We may be able to help put you in touch with a company local to you, feel free to reach out and we'll see what we can do.

Required specifications for an external scan:

-Blue laser scanner (not structured light or photogrammetry)

-Resolution and accuracy of 0.05mm or finer

-STL file format

8) What do they feel like to wear?

It's a unique feeling that cannot really be described. You've lived your entire life with your nails being able to flex slightly when you touch them on things. Having metal nails stops that, so pressing them on one side can be felt across the entire nail, as the metal keeps them rigid. This is never painful, it's just unique. When you're not touching them on anything, it feels no different to normal.

9) Do they feel heavy?

In our experience, no. Some people say they can 'feel' the weight of nail polish, so for those people this may be a more extreme version of that, but it's not something we have ever experienced, even with a full set of metal nails.

10) Is this safe?

Yes. Solid metallic aluminium poses no risk at all to your skin or nails. Think of other aluminium items you touch all the time - phones, drinks bottles/cans, door handles, vapes, pens etc; you can even buy aluminium jewellery. On top of that, almost all of the contact with your nails and skin is with the glue, not the metal nails. Obviously, if you're allergic to aluminium then this would be an issue.

11) Do they get cold?

Metal will conduct heat better than your natural nails, but it's not something we've ever noticed, even wearing them through the winter. If you're happy wearing rings on your fingers, you'll have no issue with these.

12) Can you do them in other metals?

We currently only have fixed prices for Aluminium, though we can also do them in solid gold (9k-22k) on request. The price is roughly equal to the price for those same nails made in aluminium, plus the market price of the gold used. For an average person's hands, this currently comes to around £4000 if using 14k gold.

13) Can you do custom designs/shapes/textures?

Yes, we can do anything. Feel free to reach out for a more specific quote. Custom work carries an additional minimum charge of £40 per nail.