The Best Nail Polish Brands Worth Adding to Your Vanity

If there's one nail polish brand that needs no introduction, it's OPI. You'll find it in every salon, on every beauty editor's shelf, and recommended by nail techs worldwide. The brand's ProWide brush makes application ridiculously easy—it actually fits the width of your nail, so you can get full coverage in fewer strokes. With over 200 top shades featuring clever names (we're looking at you, "I'm Not Really a Waitress"), OPI gives you options for literally any mood or season. The self-leveling formula means you won't get those annoying globs, and if you go with their GelColor line, you're looking at up to seven days of wear. You can grab OPI anywhere from Amazon and Target for convenience to Ulta for the full selection. It's the gold standard for a reason.

Essie gives OPI a serious run for its money, and honestly, choosing between them often comes down to which shade name speaks to you that day. The brand has over 1,000 colors in rotation, so you never run out of options. Ballet Slippers became famous as a royal family go-to (Kate Middleton wore this pink polish on her wedding day), and Essie shades like Marshmallow and Chinchilly have that cult following for good reason. We love the Gel Couture line for anyone who wants gel-level shine and two weeks of wear but doesn't want to deal with UV lamps and acetone soaking. Essie's also gotten serious about clean beauty with their 8-free formulas. The quality works for professionals and beginners alike.

Sally Hansen gets written off as "just drugstore" way too often, which bothers us because it consistently outperforms brands that cost three times as much. Their Miracle Gel system gives you eight days of glossy, chip-free wear without needing a UV lamp, which makes it perfect for people who want gel results but don't want to commit to the whole removal process. The brand recently rolled out a 16-free vegan line (Good.Kind.Pure), showing they're paying attention to what people actually want. Rich color payoff, quick-dry formulas, and prices that make it easy to try new shades without overthinking it. This is the brand we recommend when friends say they're "bad at nails"—it really is that beginner-friendly.

Zoya was doing clean beauty before it was trendy, and we have major respect for that. Their 10-free formula was genuinely groundbreaking when it launched—no formaldehyde, no toluene, none of the ingredients that make you side-eye the label. What really sold us, though, is that they didn't sacrifice anything to get there. You've got 550+ beautiful shades to choose from, the colors are rich and vibrant, and pedicures done with Zoya can go three weeks without chipping (we've tested this personally). The brand proved you don't have to choose between healthy and high-performing, which is why so many other brands followed their lead.

CND Shellac is the reason gel manicures became a thing everyone could get at their regular salon—it pioneered that whole soak-off gel category. But what people don't always know is that CND also makes Vinylux, which is designed for weekly wear at home and doesn't require a base coat (one less step is always a win). Both lines pack in nail-nourishing ingredients like keratin, jojoba oil, and Vitamin E, so you're not just covering your nails in color—you're actually treating them. Vinylux has this interesting feature where it gets more durable when exposed to natural light, which sounds like marketing speak but actually makes a difference. Whether you're a salon regular or a DIY person, CND has figured out how to deliver professional results. 

Chanel nail polish just feels special every single time you use it, even if you've bought it before. Shades like Rouge Noir and Ballerina aren't just colors—they're iconic, and Organdi (which sells out constantly) has that perfect "your nails but better" vibe. The formula includes Bioceramics and Ceramides, which sounds fancy but really means your nails are getting treated while looking incredible. High-gloss finish, colors that make you feel put-together instantly, and yes, the price tag reflects all of that. Celebrity manicurists keep Chanel in their kits, and these bottles disappear from shelves fast. We think of it as an investment in feeling glam, not just looking it. Find it at Nordstrom, Sephora, or Bloomingdale's—or go full experience at a Chanel boutique.

When you want to complete your look with designer nails to match, you reach for Dior polish. The gel effect formula gives you that high-shine, mirror-like finish without the UV lamp commitment, which is exactly what we want from a luxury polish. They've worked peony and pistachio extract into the formula, so your nails are getting actual care. The shade range pulls straight from the runway—if you follow fashion week, you'll spot the connection immediately. That signature 999 red has earned its iconic status. Yes, it's expensive, but you're paying for both the Dior experience and a formula that performs. You can find it at Nordstrom or Sephora, though we won't judge if you want the full boutique experience.

Deborah Lippmann built her reputation doing celebrity manicures before launching her own line, which means these polishes have serious credentials. The Gel Lab Pro system is particularly clever—it uses 10 active ingredients to mimic gel results without requiring UV light. Biotin and green tea are worked into the formula, so you're treating your nails instead of just painting them. The 320-bristle brush makes application genuinely easier. These polishes have that glossy, professional finish that beauty editors can't stop talking about. It costs more than drugstore picks, but it's the kind of splurge that makes sense when you need your nails to look flawless for an event.

Gucci went the plant-based route with their nail polish, which feels very now for luxury beauty. The formula has red algae and Vitamin E working to smooth out nail ridges while you're wearing color—basically getting two benefits at once. It dries fast and doesn't streak, which isn't always guaranteed even at this price point. The color range goes from bright turquoise to deep candy apple red, all with that Gucci sense of style you'd expect. It's definitely positioned as ultra-luxury, but if fashion house beauty that actually has substance behind the packaging appeals to you, this is worth trying.

Hermès charges over $50 for a bottle of nail polish, which sounds absurd until you understand what you're actually getting. The bottle caps are made from the same materials used in their handbags, and the colors are inspired by their iconic scarves and leather goods. If you've ever been into any Hermès product, you already know the level of attention to detail we're talking about. The pigments are incredibly fine, which creates this smooth, creamy application that's hard to describe but immediately noticeable. There's even a subtle signature scent. The orange box makes it feel like an occasion every time you use it. This isn't really about the polish—it's about turning your nail routine into something luxurious. Nordstrom, Bloomingdale’s, and Neiman Marcus carry it, but the boutique experience is something else entirely.

Nail techs love Gelish, and once you understand what it offers, you'll get why. The brand has over 200 vibrant shades, but the real selling point is that 30-second LED cure time—most gel systems take way longer. You're looking at two to three weeks of wear, which makes it worth the initial investment if you're doing gel at home. They've also expanded into dip powder kits and other systems, so there are options depending on what kind of manicure you prefer. It's professional salon standard, which means the quality is there, but it's also totally doable for DIY enthusiasts who want pro-level results. Find it at Amazon or professional beauty suppliers.

Manucurist exploded on TikTok—we're talking 3,768% growth, which is wild. But it's not just hype; the brand genuinely innovated with their bio-sourced formula that's up to 84% plant-based. The Green Flash system is brilliant for people who want gel-like results but hate the removal process—it comes off in under a minute without acetone. You get up to 10 days of wear, it's vegan and cruelty-free, and it's made in France with pharmacy approval. The brand now has distribution in 185 Bluemercury locations, so it's becoming easier to find. This feels like the future of clean beauty gel polish, and we're here for it.

We love China Glaze for those moments when subtle just isn't going to cut it. The pigmentation is genuinely impressive—you get full coverage in one coat with most shades, which isn't common even at higher price points. Their glitter formulas are some of the best we've tested, and the neon range actually delivers on being neon instead of just bright pastels. Nail art people constantly recommend this brand because the colors photograph well and layer nicely. One thing to know: their darker shades can stain your nails without a base coat, but that's pretty typical for highly pigmented polish. For bold color that doesn't cost a fortune, this consistently delivers.

Olive & June solved a problem we didn't even realize was holding us back—that most nail polish brushes are actually too narrow for most people's nails. Their wider brush makes such a difference, not just for how quickly you can paint your nails but for super even coverage. We also appreciate that they didn't just make a brush and call it a day; the actual polish formula has this gorgeous gloss and richness to it. The 7-free formulation is a nice bonus if you're trying to be more conscious about ingredients. What really wins us over is their whole approach to making at-home manicures less intimidating. At $9 a bottle, there's basically no risk in trying new colors.

Butter London feels very current in the best way—the color selection has that UK fashion sensibility without being overly trendy. We keep coming back to this brand because it sits right in the middle of what we want: clean ingredients (8-free) but still performs like conventional polish. The quick-dry aspect actually works, which saves so much time and stress. What we like most is that the colors feel sophisticated but not boring, and the finish is consistently good across different shades. It's priced right in that middle tier where you're getting quality without luxury markup.

We recommend Ella + Mila constantly to people who want to switch to cleaner polish but don't know where to start. The 17-free formula is the most comprehensive you'll find—they've eliminated more potential irritants and toxins than any other clean polish brand we've tested. What really matters is that you're not sacrificing anything to get those clean ingredients. The polish dries fast, doesn't chip easily, and the colors are so pretty. You can buy it at Target during a regular shopping trip, which removes that barrier of having to seek out specialty stores or pay luxury prices for clean beauty. The elephant packaging is adorable, but honestly, we'd recommend this brand even if it came in plain bottles.

ILNP has become one of our favorite brands to recommend to people who are bored with regular polish finishes or need party-ready nails. The holographic effect is actually stunning—not just a subtle shimmer but genuine rainbow flashes that catch light from across the room. Their MEGA collection lives up to the hype, and the Ultra Chrome® polishes that shift from black to red (or other color combinations) are legitimately mesmerizing to wear. We appreciate that it's a small, woman-owned business making really innovative products. Despite how dramatic these polishes look, removal isn't harder than regular polish, which is usually where specialty finishes fall apart. The price point is reasonable for what you're getting, especially considering these are the kinds of finishes that usually cost twice as much.

Beetles makes gel polish accessible in a way that didn't exist before. We've recommended their starter kits to so many people who were curious about gel but intimidated by the cost—under $30 gets you everything including the LED lamp. The quality is surprisingly good for the price point, and they've recently added HEMA-free formulas for people with sensitivities. What we really appreciate is the TikTok community around this brand; it's actually helpful instead of just being sponsored content. You'll find real troubleshooting advice and technique tips from people using the same products. Now that they're in Walmart stores, it's even easier to try gel polish at home without a huge investment.