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When it comes to scoring a totally amazing mani, the actual polish used is just as important as the polishing technique. In other words, no matter whether you're a nail painting novice, expert DIYer, or like to BYO polish to the salon, picking the right formula is essential. (Because if you're anything like us, there are few beauty issues more stress- and anxiety-inducing than a chipped manicure.)
From affordable drugstore options to splurge-worthy buys—and with shades to fit every preference—here are the best nail polishes for all of your mani and pedi needs.
Best Overall
Essie Nail Polish
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Courtesy of Ulta
Incredible color variety
Smooth application and even coverage
Could last slightly longer
Who else recommends it? Allure, Harper's Bazaar, and Glamour all picked Essie Nail Polish.
What do buyers say? 8,200+ Walmart reviewers rated this product 4.6 stars or above.
Arguably one of the most iconic polish brands out there, you'd be hard-pressed to find any nail salon that doesn't carry row upon row of these signature white-top bottles. Originally founded in 1981 with just a dozen shades, the mega-company continues to grow and expand with a wide range of permanent colors along with seasonal collections. (Although if you're overwhelmed by the selection, you can't go wrong with the classic Ballet Slippers, the beloved pale pink that's even a go-to for the Royal Family.)
No matter which color you choose, smooth application and even coverage are the norm. It's also a staple brand for professional manicurists. "I've used Essie for most of my career, and they have a wide variety of color options including long-wear, trends, and classics," says celebrity manicurist Michelle Saunders.
Price at time of publish: $10
Number of Shades: Hundreds | Size: 0.46 ounces
Runner-Up, Best Overall
OPI Classic Nail Lacquer
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Courtesy of Amazon
Incredible color variety
Smooth application and even coverage
Only 3-free
We appreciate the cute and clever names of OPI polishes (I'm Not Really a Waitress, Taupe-Less Beach) almost as much as we do the standout formula. Ultra-shiny, it delivers up to a week of wear. Plus, not only is there a jaw-dropping collection of colors to choose from, but there are also all kinds of unique textures and finishes, from metallics to mattes. Celebrity manicurist Kimmie Kyees is a big fan of the brand, specifically calling out their wide array of great neutral shades.
Price at time of publish: $11
Number of Shades: 240 | Size: 0.5 ounces
Best Drugstore
Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Nail Polish
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Amazon
No base coat needed
Very long-lasting
Wide brush for easy application
Best used with the brand's top coat
There's a good reason why this is the number one best-selling gel polish in the US. Simply put, the formula is pretty darn epic. It packs a serious shine and impressive staying power, and the flat-headed brush makes application a breeze. Not to mention, there are nearly 100 colors to pick from. For best results, the color is meant to be used on bare nails and topped with the Miracle Gel Top Coat. (But in our experience, even if you use that top coat over another brand of polish, it helps up the longevity.)
Price at time of publish: $8
Number of Shades: Almost 100 | Size: 0.5 ounces
What Our Testers Say
"I'm a big fan of the shiny top coat—it's thick, easy to apply, and similar in texture to a professional gel. If your polishing skills are on point, you can definitely achieve a glossy gel manicure that looks professional-grade." — Kelsey Clark, Product Tester
Best Gel Alternative
Deborah Lippmann Gel Lab Pro
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Sephora
Very long-lasting
Special brush
Expensive
If even the teensiest of chips is enough to send you frantically searching for cotton balls and remover, this is the polish for you. A unique combo of 10 active ingredients works to create the look and feel of a gel manicure without any curing light or extensive (and potentially damaging) removal required. The brush is also noteworthy, boasting 320 bristles plus a rounded tip to help you seamlessly coat your entire nail.
Price at time of publish: $20
Number of Shades: 46 | Size: 0.5 ounces
Runner-Up, Best Gel Alternative
Essie Gel Couture Nail Polish
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Ulta
No base coat needed
Very long-lasting
Easy removal
Best used with the brand's top coat
Byrdie Associate General Manager Lindsey Metrus loves this lacquer, Essie's alternative to an in-salon gel manicure. Chip-and fade-resistant, all you have to do is swipe on the color (onto bare nails, no base coat required), then top it with the Gel Couture Top Coat. Then sit back and prepare to admire your handiwork for days to come.
Price at time of publish: $13
Number of Shades: N/A | Size: 0.46 ounces
Best Non-Toxic
Nails Inc. Plant Power Vegan Polish in Free Time Is Me Time
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Sephora
Sustainable packaging
21-free
Limited shade range
First, there were 3-free, then 5-free, then 8-free polishes. We've even seen 10-free. But this option from Nails Inc. really takes the cake at 21-free.
This collection is dubbed the brand's purest and kindest to date. It's 73 percent plant-based and vegan while still providing the long-wear benefits we all look for in nail polish. Even the packaging is sustainable. The brand swapped out its plastic cap in favor of this eco-friendly 100 percent FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) ash wooden cap.
Price at time of publish: $10
Number of Shades: 10 | Size: 0.47 ounces
Best with Sustainable Packaging
Habit Cosmetics Non-Toxic + Vegan Nail Polish in 36 Moon Rock
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Habit Cosmetics
Thoughtfully sustainable packaging
Clean, non-toxic formulas
Great color selection
Somewhat pricey
Nail polish is one of the tougher products to package sustainably, an issue that Habit Cosmetics is working hard to change. It's the first and only polish brand on the market using recycled plastic components in its packaging, in addition to biodegradable bamboo overcaps and FSC-certified paperboard boxes. Plus, the formulas are vegan, cruelty-free, toxin-free, and infused with myrrh extract to boost nail strength. The impressive (and super fun) shade offering is just the icing on the cake.
Price at time of publish: $18
Number of Shades: 67 | Size: 0.3 ounces
Best Kit
Olive & June The Everything Box
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Courtesy of Olive and June
Contains everything you need for DIY manicures
Great for brittle nails and dry cuticles
Must buy more colors separately
Bring the nail salon home with this convenient kit, a one-stop-shop for amazing nails. There's also the polish to mention. You get to pick any six shades from the brand's wide selection, all of which are 7-free. There's also a polish remover included, plus all the tools you need. But perhaps our favorite part? Their unique "Poppy" tool. The tool is a universal polish handle that attaches to any cap and makes it legitimately possible for anyone to paint their own nails.
Price at time of publish: $85
Number of Shades: 6 per kit | Size: 0.46 ounces
Runner-Up, Best Kit
Pear Nova Hustle + Glow Duo
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Courtesy of Pear Nova
Contains gel polish with matching classic polish
Great for at-home manis and pedis
10-free
Requires a UV or LED lamp
Fan of doing your own gels at home? Each of these two-polish sets from Pear Nova contains one of the brand's best-selling gel shades, bundled with the matching classic polish to use on your toes. Our favorite is Hustle + Glow, a sparkling bronze that catches the light like no other. However, the brand offers a range of nudes and brights, as well.
Price at time of publish: $30
Number of Shades: 10 | Size: 0.34 ounces classic polish, 0.5 ounces gel polish
Best High-Shine
Butter London Patent Shine 10X Nail Lacquer
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Courtesy of Khol's
10-free
Extremely shiny
No base or top coat needed
Very long-lasting
Limited shade range
The name really does say it all. This polish packs a glass-like sheen and thicker, cushiony formula that's very similar to gel polishes. Incidentally, it also doesn't require a base or top coat, making it the choice for those looking to shave some time off their manicure. Also nice: It's free of 10 common toxins and lasts up to 10 days.
Price at time of publish: $18
Number of Shades: 36 | Size: 0.46 ounces
Best Matte
People of Color Matte Top Coat
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Courtesy of People of Color
Mattifies any classic polish
10-free, cruelty-free, and vegan
Affordable
Matte finish can fade over time
While we love a shiny, glossy nail as much as the next person, there's something about a matte mani that just looks cool. We're big fans of this top coat from People of Color that gives any of your current polishes a chic flat finish. Bonus points for the fact that the formula is 10-free, vegan, and cruelty-free. Pro tip? Try painting this one over a glittery shade for a speckled look.
Price at time of publish: $10
Number of Shades: 1 | Size: 0.5 ounces
Best Non-Polish
Color Street Nail Strips
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Courtesy of Color Street
Very long-lasting
Incredible color variety
Easy removal
Application can take getting used to
Those who don't love painting their own nails should consider trying these Color Street Strips instead. Think of them as stickers, yes, but ones that are made from real polish. Kyees is a big fan: "They go on so easily, and you don't have to wait for them to dry—they're the next best thing to gel polish," she says. Plus, when it comes time to take them off, they come off with regular removers—bonus points for a nice range of shades, as well as glitter and nail art options.
Price at time of publish: $12
Number of Shades: 75 + | Size: N/A
Best Splurge
Smith & Cult Nail Lacquer
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Incredible color variety
Deeply pigmented formula
Expensive
Another go-to for Saunders, she raves about the gorgeous packaging and beautiful bottle that's so pretty, it easily pulls double duty as a piece of decor. But these polishes aren't just splurge-worthy because of what they look like. The formula is 8-free and offers some of the most even and pigmented color of any polish we've ever tried. Plus, the cap is super easy to hold as you swipe on the polish.
Price at time of publish: $18
Number of Shades: 54 | Size: 0.5 ounces
Best for Damaged Nails
Orly Breathable Treatment + Color
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Ulta Beauty
No base or top coat needed
Good for nail health
13-free
Not necessarily the longest-lasting option
If your tips are in need of some serious TLC, most manicurists will usually recommend that you skip polish for a little while and instead load up on hydrating cuticle oil. But if bare nails just aren't your thing, reach for this formula. It's a unique, one-step polish (no base or top coat required) that's specially made to be breathable and let oxygen into the nail. On top of that, it's also infused with moisturizing argan oil and strengthening pro-vitamin B5.
Price at time of publish: $7
Number of Shades: 75 | Size: 0.6 ounces
Final Verdict
These days, there's a nail polish out there to fit anyone and everyone's particular polish preferences. That being said, you definitely can't go wrong with Essie Nail Polish or OPI Classic Nail Lacquer, two absolute classics that offer exceptional formulas and dizzying amounts of shades. The Sally Hansen Miracle Gel is a drugstore standout, affordable, and touting a super long-wear formula that's extremely impressive. And if you're seeking out eco-friendly alternatives, check out either Nails Inc. Plant Power Polish or Habit Cosmetics Nail Polish.
Meet the Expert
- Michelle Saunders is a celebrity manicurist and the founder of Saunder & James salon in Oakland, California.
- Kimmie Kyees is a celebrity manicurist who has worked with A-listers such as Adele and Rihanna.
What to Look for in a Nail Polish
Color
This may seem obvious, but it really is the first thing most people think about. Consider what looks good on your skin tone, what matches your clothing, and, most importantly, what colors just make you feel good, says Kyees.
Ingredients
Besides the hue, Saunders suggests taking into account the ingredients. More formulas today are omitting more potentially harmful chemicals. You can also consider things like whether or not it's environmentally friendly and the company's ethics, she says.
How We Researched & Tested
To compile this list, our team of editors and contributors spent hours researching the best products on the market in this category, evaluating their key features—like ingredients, shade range, or design—in addition to reviews from customers and other trusted sources. Our team also incorporated their own personal experiences testing products in their own lives. We then used these insights from our research and testing to assign a star rating from one to five (five being the best; one being the worst) to certain products on the list.
Why Trust Byrdie
Byrdie contributor Melanie Rud has over a decade of experience in the beauty industry, writing for some of the biggest magazines and websites out there. She has her nails polished 99 percent of the time and has used the majority of the polishes on this list at some point or another (though Essie remains her all-time favorite).
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