OPI Black Onyx Review (Plus essie licorice Comparison)

OPI Black Onyx swatch on gray background with bottle to right

Updated 2024.08.18. This page contains affiliate links and this site earns from qualifying purchases made through these sponsored links. 

A very good black nail polish is three things: it’s classy, it’s chic and it goes with everything.

To improve on that, to become outstanding, it would have to be opaque in two coats or less, easy to apply and quick drying.

OPI’s Black Onyx (color #NLT02) is all of these things plus one of the brands’ top colors in 2021.

Black Onyx is a cream finish classic black nail polish with no hidden undertones. 

It is opaque and dries with a sheen, which can be made shiner with a glossy top coat.

You could equate it with being the perfect little black dress, but for your nails. 

Below are OPI Black Onyx swatches in two coats: 

OPI Black Onyx swatch on gray background holding bottle

OPI Black Onyx swatch on gray background with bottle to right

OPI Black Onyx swatch on gray background showing bottle label

OPI Black Onyx VS essie licorice

OPI Black Onyx is commonly compared to essie licorice (color #720).

licorice is an essie classic. It is one of essie’s best sellers, it is also one of their original colors released first in 1982, according to The Polish Garden.

Like OPI Black Onyx, essie licorice is an opaque, two coat cream finish black nail polish. 

licorice really sets up on the second coat, and the formula seems to be slightly thicker, when compared Black Onyx’s thinner formula.

Here are swatches of OPI Black Onyx VS essie licorice:

OPI Black Onyx swatch vs essie licorice swatch

OPI Black Onyx swatch vs essie licorice swatch

These colors are basically identical in their finished look, though essie licorice does seem to dry a bit glossier pre-top coat. 

The main difference in these two colors is in the formula. Black Onyx is a bit thinner and it dries more quickly, although it is not marketed as a quick dry.

licorice seems to be a bit thicker going on the nail and it dries more slowly, yet it dries to a glossier finish. For best results with licorice, apply as thin of coats as possible and allow ample time for the color to dry between coats.

All in all, these are both classic black nail polishes that make a statement. They are both glossy, 2-coat cream classic blacks.

If you could only get one and speed is your top priority or you already have an OPI set up with base and top coats, OPI Black Onyx offers a quicker manicure, because it sets faster. If you could only get one and shine is your top priority or you already have an essie set up with base and top coats, essie licorice is the way to go.

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