Whether you’re heading to the nail salon or have mastered the at-home manicure, choosing one of the best nail polish brands is key to achieving a perfect naked manicure or flawless periwinkle nails. While traditional nail polish often gets a bad rap compared to gel polish, it’s usually healthier for your nails. That said, it can be frustrating when your polish smudges hours after application or chips just a few days in.
Vogue’s Favorite Nail Polish Brands:
In recent years, there’s been a surge of nail polish brands offering innovative formulas designed to address—and improve—the pain points: streaking, smudging, chipping, and wear. However, some of the best brands are still surprisingly the ones we’ve grown up with. Below, we’ve rounded up seven of the top brands, including vegan options and luxury splurges, all co-signed by celebrity nail artists. We also asked the experts what to look for in a high-quality nail polish and how to make your manicure last longer. Keep reading for our top picks of the best nail polish brands.
In This Story:
Chanel
As with all Chanel beauty products, quality is paramount. The Le Vernis collection offers a protective, long-lasting nail color that delivers a glossy, high-shine finish with each coat. Infused with a rich concentration of pigments and naturally-derived camellia eco-ceramides, the formula guarantees an even application and exceptional wear. Expressing her fondness for its range of shades, celebrity nail artist Naomi Yasuda shares, “I love the colors. Reds and nudes are always my go-to polishes— I carry them to every job. [The formula is] streak-free with even coverage.” Celebrity manicurist Lily Nguyen adds, “The long-wearing formula resists chipping and can stay put for days. The brush design also allows for easy and smooth application.”
JINsoon
JINsoon was founded by Jin Soon Choi, a celebrity nail artist with over two decades of experience in editorial shoots and runway shows whose become a household name in the beauty industry. Her namesake polishes have earned a cult following for their long-lasting wear, high-gloss finish, and impeccably smooth application. The brand proudly boasts a 21-free formula, meaning it excludes the 21 most harmful chemicals typically found in nail polishes. This makes JINsoon a clean, non-toxic option that doesn’t compromise on performance. It’s vegan, cruelty-free, and made with plant-based ingredients like UV filters to safeguard nails against yellowing and brittleness.
O.P.I
Founded in 1980 as Odontorium Products, Inc. (store that away for Jeopardy), OPI was the brainchild of George Schaeffer and Suzi Weiss-Fischmann. After noticing a growing number of local manicurists purchasing dental supplies for nail services, they enlisted a chemist to create high-quality polishes tailored to professionals’ needs. Today, each O.P.I. polish is vegan and plant-based, yet delivers the same rich color payoff and long-lasting finish as traditional formulas—no compromise necessary. Nguyen says, “O.P.I. has the best color collections, classic shades, and their summer lines are always pleasant. They offer such a wide variety of finishes, and the polishes dry quickly after application.”
Gucci
If you’re after something glossy, celebrity nail artist Sonya Belakhlef recommends Gucci, praising their “great core collection” with 10 standout shades. The vegan formula is enriched with stearalkonium bentonite, which helps promote uniform pigment dispersion, along with red algae extract, known for its high calcium content. “If you’re a creature of habit with a signature color that happens to be in the collection and want to treat yourself, you should definitely try the Gucci line,” Belakhlef suggests. “The color payoff is fantastic—a true one-stroke application with each shade. They’re staple colors that somehow go with everything.” Nguyen agrees adding, “Gucci’s nail polish formula gives your nails a beautiful, high-gloss finish that mimics the look of a professional manicure. The bottles are also so chic.”
Essie
With over 40 years in the game, Essie delivers salon-quality formulas at an accessible price point. Belakhlef puts it perfectly: “This polish is in every salon and drugstore for a reason. Essie is the most cost-effective option in the group, with the most variety of shades and finishes.” Some of their bestselling collections include Essie Enamel Shades, the original formula that provides rich, high-shine color with salon-quality wear; Essie Longwear Shades, an enhanced formula that promises about 15 days of gel-like wear; and Essie Quick-Dry Shades, a fast-drying formula that’s ideal for those on the go, drying in about a minute for streak-free, glossy color. Nguyen is also a fan, adding, “Essie has a great line of everyday colors, and their consistency is really nice. With such an extensive range of shades, there’s something for everyone’s preferences. Essie polishes are also 8-free, affordable, and widely available for purchase.”
Dior
Inspired by the brand’s fashion line, Dior Vernis is the perfect option for those seeking a luxury polish that also protects the nails. Its formula is infused with peony and pistachio extracts, which enhance the nails upon application. It also includes an ergonomic brush, which Belakhlef likes, in addition to its “solid color range.” Expect a glossy finish and gel-like hold, without the damage of actual gel. For the best results, the brand recommends starting with a thin coat of Dior Vernis applied to the center of the nail, followed by the sides. Afterward, apply a second, more generous coat to enhance the color depth. To maximize shine, finish with a layer of Dior Top Coat for a flawless, glossy finish.
Hermès
Hermès’s nail enamel comes in 24 stunning shades, inspired by the emblematic number of 24 Faubourg Saint-Honoré, the brand’s iconic address in Paris since 1880—perfect for your next nail polish trivia night. And let’s not even get started on the brush, which Belakhlef co-signs, saying, “They have the best brush out of all the brands listed. I love a short brush; it gives more control with application.” The rich, intense shades offer “great color payoff,” with a formula that features a high concentration of ultra-fine pigments. “The formula is smooth, creamy, and easy to apply. While it’s almost twice the price of other luxury brands, it’s definitely a splurge you can feel in the quality. I’ve personally repurchased several shades for my kit multiple times—the shades are that unique and good!” Belakhlef adds.
Everything You Need to Know:
What brands of nail polish last the longest?
The answer varies, as each brand has its own strengths, and it ultimately depends on what you’re looking for. “If you’re aiming for a long-wearing polish, it’s not just about the formula. Longevity depends on how you prep your manicure, how you treat your hands, and your base and top coats. With these three things locked in, you can make most manicures last,” says Belakhlef.
To do so, proper preparation is key, according to Yasuda. She recommends removing any dust and oil from the nail bed before applying polish. “If you can, use a dehydrator, or you can also use 99% alcohol or pure acetone,” she advises. And of course, always use a base and top coat as needed.
What to Look For in a Good Nail Polish
According to celebrity nail artist Jin Soon Choi, several key factors should guide your choice of a quality nail polish. First and foremost, she recommends opting for 21-free or clean formulations that avoid harmful chemicals while maintaining high performance. Pigmentation is also essential—a great polish should offer full opacity in just one or two coats. Choi advises choosing richly-pigmented shades that glide on effortlessly for smooth, even coverage.
“The formula should be long-wearing and chip-resistant,” she adds, highlighting the importance of durability. Application is just as important, with a brush designed for precise, streak-free results. Finally, she stresses the need for a glossy, long-lasting finish and a color selection that reflects current trends. “Performance matters,” says Choi, “but staying on top of color trends makes all the difference.”
- Lily Nguyen is a celebrity manicurist and founder of Labo Beauté Salon in Los Angeles, CA.
- Jin Soon Choi is a New York-based celebrity manicurist and the founder of JinSoon. Her work has been seen on the hands of Bella Hadid, Gigi Hadid, and Anne Hathaway.
- Sonya Belakhlef is a celebrity nail artist who has done manicures for the likes of Mary J. Blige, Ashley Graham, and Natasha Lyonne.
- Naomi Yasuda is a celebrity manicurist whose clients include Lady Gaga, Greta Lee, and Charli XCX.
