Best Brands for Nail Polish
Best Nail Polish Brands text overlay golden leaf and abstract color
Updated 2024.08.22. This page contains affiliate links and this site earns from qualifying purchases made through these sponsored links.
Of all the nail polish brands the staff at Lots of Lacquer has tested so far, there are four nail polish brands that stand out from the rest.
Through analyzing the nail products our readers prefer, Lots of Lacquer staff has noticed a few trends indicating what some of the most popular nail polish brands are.
These brand trends are based on what we’ve shared so far, what we’ve tested and liked enough to feature, and what we’ve seen our audience gravitate towards in terms of favoring certain brand names.
While the term best is always subjective, in our eyes, the best nail polish brands are those that are the most popular among our global audience base.
If you’re looking for a nail polish brand that’s popular, well-liked, easy to find and reader-trusted, the best nail polish brands, as determined by our audience, are listed below:
OPI Infinite Shine Bottles feat. color Let’s Be Friends! in front
OPI
OPI is one of the most well-known brands in the world today.
The company began in the 1980s as a dental supply company when the current founders discovered their clients were nail techs who used their dental products to create acrylic nails.
The founders saw the opportunity to grow into the beauty sector and meet this demand, so they pivoted to nails.
OPI is known for creating saturated colors with fun names and salon quality formulas.
A few cool things about OPI are first, they release new colors every season in 12-piece color sets. These sets will last you multiple seasons and are a great value.
Second, OPI often collaborates with other brands. If you have brands you love in other niches, keep an eye out. OPI may do a collaboration with them.
Third, they offer a variety of formula types for both at home and salon applications. Their colors share the same naming structure for all the formula types. If you like a color, you can try it in a variety of formulas.
essie pearl nail polishes
essie
essie is another awesome nail polish brand that was founded in the 1980s. They are known for their incredible color variety, and they do light pink and whites really well.
essie offers a wide range of products: a longwear line, called gel couture, a quick dry line, called expressie, a standard lacquer line, and they recently launched an eco-friendly line. For salons, they also offer gel formulas.
Two great things about essie are that you can find their products everywhere and in 2021, they pledged to reformulate all their products to be vegan-friendly and cruelty-free.
Sally Hansen nail polish bottles
Sally Hansen
Founded in 1946, Sally Hansen is one of the oldest nail polish lines on the market today.
They have polish lines to fit every interest: long-wearing, quick-drying, nourishing, and eco-friendly.
Sally Hansen is an innovative brand. Keep an eye on them if you like experimental, “indie-like” colors, but at drugstore prices.
They release a seemingly endless flow of fun limited edition shades. Some of their older releases command significant value in the third-party resale market.
L.A. Colors Mermaid Magic bottles
L. A. Colors
Don’t let the low price scare you off, though. Some of the lacquers we’ve tested from L.A. Colors have lasted longer than lacquers from more expensive brands.
L. A. Colors also offers “indie-like” formulas.
If you’re a fan of holographics, duochromes and other trendy color types but don’t want to take on a lot of financial risk playing with colors, L. A. Colors is the brand for you.
They also have excellent customer service. We’ve reached out to their team to help us identify unlabeled polishes received from our neighbors and they’ve been happy to solve the mystery.
Best Nail Polish Brands text overlay golden leaf and abstract color
All in all, the best brands for nail polish are:
OPI
essie
Sally Hansen
L.A. Colors
Within these brands are unique lines designed to satisfy a variety of nail color preferences.
Whether you’re looking for a longwear, quick drying, special effect or low cost nail polish option, chances are, you’ll find something that you like in one of these brands.
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