The 15 Best Nail Polish Brands to Always Keep in Rotation
From tried-and-true lacquers to buzzy, viral picks
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Perfecting an at-home manicure is a true art, and most of the time, it takes more than just the polish to nail it. Luckily, a handful of brands have made it easy with expert kits, pigmented polishes, and every tool you could need to get a salon-worthy result. You’ve likely seen a handful of these noteworthy brands at your local salon, and can enjoy them at home, too.
From holy-grail favorites, including OPI and Essie, to top luxury picks, like Gucci Beauty and Chanel, these beloved brands consistently feature long-lasting formulas that won't damage to your nails. Take French girl-favorite Manucurist, for instance, which provides a gentler approach to gel polish.
Shop the Best Nail Polish Brands
Plus, caring for your nails and hands is half the battle in a quality mani, so you'll also need nourishing nail oils, hand creams, and masks. Whether you're searching for an at-home gel polish, quick-drying formula, or the best sets to gift, scroll on for the top nail polish brands to keep on hand for your next DIY-manicure.
Pros
- Professional pick
- Long lasting
Cons
A nail care icon and fashion week legend, Jin Soon Choi started her beloved 10-free nail line in 2012, formulated without any harsh chemicals. JINsoon is inspired by Choi's industry experience working on photo shoots and editorial campaigns, plus her years of knowledge working as a salon and spa owner.
Customer review: "Love the nail polish, so much that I bought 3 more from JinSoon. Beautiful color, goes on very smooth with minimal color. Minimal chipping after a few days (as expected). Nails feel strong after using it! Highly recommend." –Maja
| Finish | High shine |
|---|
Pros
- Long-lasting
- Easy brush for application
Cons
- Pricey
The nail polish selection from the fashion house is as luxurious and beautiful as their ready-to-wear clothing and accessories. Pick from dozens of classic colors, like Dior's signature 999 red reimagined in a polish, plus a constant rotation of seasonly shades, such as 900 Black Rivoli, a shimmery eggplant purple, for the colder months.
| Finish | Shimmer, matte, glossy |
|---|---|
| Ingredient Callouts | Gel-like hold |
Manucurist
Pros
- Skincare-infused
- Easy removal
Cons
Gel polish without the damage? Manucurist makes a strong case for a good-for-your-nails gel with its at-home Green Flash system. The polish goes on like a gel, dries instantly with an LED lamp, and can be taken off in under a minute without the use of acetone. Even though the Green Flash polishes allow for easy removal, the lacquer lasts for up to 10 days.
Customer review: "This stuff is miraculous. It holds up to all the hype. Base and color coats cure in 1 minute each, top coat in 2. But most amazingly, it really does just slide off after 1 minute soaking in remover. I can't rave about this stuff enough!" – AC
| Finish | Opaque high-shine |
|---|
Pros
- Plumping effect
- Great for beginners
Cons
Our associate beauty editor Katie Intner loves the Olive & June Mani kit, which allows you to create your own set of polishes and comes with care tools like a nail brightener and bottle handle that makes it a breeze to pain your own nails.
| Finish | Gel-like |
|---|---|
| Ingredient Callouts | 15-free |
Pros
- Long lasting
- Lasts for up to 8 days
Cons
When it comes to quality and affordability, few brands can compete with Sally Hansen. This vibrant pick from their Miracle Gel collection combines polish color and its top coat for an easy, eight-day manicure.
Customer review: "Actually liked this a lot! Didn't think it would last as long as it did because I'm constantly washing my hands, but it actually did last 6 days before chipping! I purchased the white polish combo and followed the directions exactly. I did my toes as well and they haven't chipped at all and still look great 9 days later!" – Sarah
| Finish | Gel hybrid, high-shine |
|---|
Pros
- Biodegradable formula
Cons
Harry Styles's talents go beyond singing and performing; the artist also has great taste in nail polish. His beauty and lifestyle brand, which started with nail polish at its inception in 2021, features a slew of bright and colorful polishes, nail stickers, and hand care. Our editors love Pleasing polishes because they are quite sheer and buildable for a very customizable manicure.
| Ingredient Callout | 12-free |
|---|---|
| Finish | Shiny, sheer |
Pros
- Glide brush for quick application
- Full coverage
Cons
Founded by Essie Weingarten in 1981, her namesake brand Essie has been a staple in the beauty industry for over 35 years. It also happens to be a go-to for royals like the Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton and Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle. Essie polishes are vegan, and have a glossy-shine finish.
Customer review: "When I use this polish it barely lasts two days, but I just love the coppery shade so much that it does not matter. The chipping issue is popular with chrome like metallics like this one...just love it so much!"
| Finish | Shiny |
|---|
Nails Inc.
Pros
- Strengthens nails
Cons
Another nail staple, UK-based Nails Inc. is a mainstay in both the fashion and beauty worlds, collaborating with popular brands like Victoria Beckham, Diane Von Furstenberg, and Alexa Chung.
Customer review: "Thick polish. Two layers needed maximum. Perfect for work, colour looks good on darker skin tones, (im a black woman) brand is so good I am a bit of a loyalist after trying other nail polish's (cheaper ones) that don't compete. So although costs more its worth it. lasted 5 days without chipping with top coat x" – Elaine E.
| Finish | High-shine |
|---|---|
| Ingredient Callouts | Aldehyde, zinc, calcium blend, alcohol-free, 10-free |
Pros
- Longwearing
Cons
- Pricey
The storied fashion house Chanel not only makes some of our favorite closet essentials but also many of the most covetable nail colors as well. Although we're fans of their collection of classic neutrals, we recommend taking a closer look at a few of their bolder colors—like the deep wine Vamp—that are each worth the investment.
Customer review: "As always, Chanel never disappoints with their range of nail polish colors! I receive so many compliments on Oiseau De Nuit. Chanel's nail polish is a long lasting polish, and rarely chips." – Sandra
Pros
- Includes glass nail file
Cons
We won't blame you if you decide to show off your manicure on Instagram after painting on a few coats of Mischo Beauty's long-lasting polish, which comes in a stylish, sculptural bottle with 15 versatile shades to choose from.
Customer review: "Perfect for natural nail giriles. I do my own nails and having a glass file is not only better for the nail but takes up the at home experience." – Teneice
| Finish | Shiny |
|---|
Pros
- Full-coverage
- Skincare infused
Cons
- Pricey
We're fans of just about everything Gucci makes, including their nail collection. Formulated with red algae and tocopherol (a form of vitamin E), the brand's polish is made to smooth out nail ridges and imperfections on its surface and dry quickly without leaving streaks behind.
Customer review: "Hands down the best nail polish I’ve ever used. Goes on smooth, even, and lasts forever. It’s easy to tell that this product is made with high quality ingredients." –Jenstpaul
| Finish | High shine |
|---|---|
| Ingredient Callouts | Free of parabens, formaldehydes, and triclosan, contains AHAs |
Pros
- professional-favorite
- Nourishing
Cons
Tenoverten is a female-powered salon and brand with a mission to make nail care more simplified and sustainable. And, as a fun twist, many of their nail colors are named after beloved streets in New York, where the brand is originally based.
| Ingredient Callout | 8-free, cruelty-free, vegan |
|---|---|
| Finish | High-shine |
Pros
- Long lasting
- Professional favorite
Cons
If you have even one nail polish in your bathroom, there’s a good chance it’s by OPI. A staple in salons and homes since the early '80s, the brand is known for its long-lasting formulas and fashion-forward shades, complete with cheeky names like the rosy “For What It's Earth."
Customer Review: "The polish had lasted a week and the shine has not disappointed." – Prena
| Finish | Gel-like, high shine |
|---|
Pros
- Super pigmented
- Luxe packaging
Cons
- Pricey
Our beauty director Jenna Rosenstein counts herself as a fan of Hermès' pigmented collection of polishes, which she says helps transform the mundane into something a little more opulent. Did we mention each shade features a rounded brush and arrives in the brand's signature orange box?
| Finish | Smooth, shiny |
|---|---|
| Ingredient Callouts | contains 71 percent natural ingredients |
Sundays
Pros
- Long lasting
Cons
Known for combining salon-quality formulas with a mission of self-care, the 10-free polishes from culty NYC nail brand Sundays consistently deliver a high shine, opaque, vibrant color payoff worthy of any beauty wardrobe.
| Ingredient Callout | Non-toxic, 10-free, vegan, cruelty-free |
|---|---|
| Finish | Opaque gloss finish |
What brand of nail polish lasts the longest?
Any nail polish can last a week or more if applied correctly. For the best results, start with cuticle care, then apply a base coat to dry nails, followed by two coats of polish, as well as a top coat. As a general rule, those with gel-like finishes are more likely to last longer than a regular polish.
What is the healthiest nail polish for your nails?
Unless you're breathing the fumes from your nail polish directly on a regular basis, applying nail polish on occasion is relatively low risk. (This is why most nail technicians wear masks, and why nail salons should have excellent ventilation to protect staff.)
However, formulas that are listed as "free" means that they are formulated without certain so-called harmful ingredients. For example, a polish labeled "10-free" denotes that the ingredients do not include harsh chemicals such as toluene, formaldehyde, camphor, dibutyl, phthalate, xylene, or resin. You can also look for polishes that are fragrance-free, gluten-free, vegan, and cruelty-free.
Is it ok to wear nail polish all the time?
While nail polish is not detrimental to your nail growth, it is a good idea to take a break from polish every six to eight weeks and apply cuticle-care products like hand cream or cuticle oil every day. By doing so, your nail beds can rehydrate and remain strong while you wear polish.
Why trust Harper’s Bazaar?
For more than 150 years, Harper’s Bazaar has been the preeminent fashion and beauty resource for women at every age. We cover what’s new and what’s next in beauty by working with the world’s leading authorities in dermatology, plastic surgery, cosmetics, skincare, hair care, and fragrance. Every story we publish has been thoroughly researched and vetted by our team of beauty editors and industry experts.
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