If your nail tech just blessed you with a fresh set of almond stilettos or coffin extensions, congratulations. But also, condolences to your fine motor skills. The moment the glue bottle opens, a deep panic sets in. How do you grip that tiny, wiggly lash without bending it into a paperclip or gluing your highlight to your forehead? The problem is not your inability to apply lashes. The problem is that the standard technique was designed for bare fingertips. You need a completely different operating system for long nails. Here are the five hacks that changed the game for our team of nail-loving beauty editors.

Tip 1: The Reverse Grip Technique (Sounds Wrong, Works Perfectly)

Standard tweezers pinch the top of the lash. Your long nails hit the band, causing the lash to buckle or flip. Instead, hold the lash from the top edge of the band with your tweezers, curving it downward. This elevates your nails completely away from the glue and the eye. It looks backwards, but it provides the exact three-inch clearance your long nails need to operate without interference.

Tip 2: Abandon the Glue Po