The $8 vs. $25 Debate: Drugstore Plastic vs. Handmade Gel Press-Ons

We’ve all seen them in the checkout aisle at Target or Walmart: boxes of press-on nails for under $10. It’s tempting to grab a box.
Then you see TsukiNails, which are handcrafted and cost a bit more. You might wonder: "Why should I pay more when I can get them cheap?"
The answer lies in the materials. It’s the difference between a "sticker" and a "manicure." Here is the honest breakdown of what you are actually paying for.

1. Material: ABS Plastic vs. Real Soft Gel

• Drugstore (The "Plastic" Feel):
  Mass-produced nails are made of thin ABS plastic ink-printed with designs. They are flexible but flimsy. They often split down the middle or bend white when you type.

• Handmade (The "Salon" Feel):
  TsukiNails are created using 7 layers of real salon gel polish. We build structure (an apex) just like a nail tech does in a salon. They are sturdy, durable, and sound like real acrylics when you tap them on a table.

2. The Design: Pixelated vs. Hand-Painted

• Drugstore:
  Look closely at a cheap nail. You can often see tiny dots (pixels) because the design is printed by a machine. The "glitter" is often just a flat photo of glitter.

• Handmade:
  Our artists paint every stroke by hand. The cat-eye gel has real magnetic depth. The 3D charms are embedded by hand. The texture is real. No one will believe they are press-ons because they reflect light exactly like a salon manicure.