I'm really not a nail girl. Not. At. All. I am WAY too harsh on them, they're naturally long and strong (meaning they don't need much upkeep... don't hate me!), and they grow extremely fast (making polish not usually worth the effort). I only tried these strips because of the Influenster program - it was the product in my box I was least excited about. Imagine my surprise when I gave it a quick try, without reading the directions, and was able to figure out this super-simple system in a snap! Select the size that fits your nail, place the strip on and smooth it down, fold it over the end of your nail and file through it with the attached nail file. Voila - beautifully dressed nails!