Best Nail Polishes?

hikebikebemerry

As much as I would love to go and get a gel manicure, I currently don't have the time (or extra money) to do so.  I'm perfectly content to paint them myself, but I feel like whenever I do, they chip instantly.

What do you use for at home nail polish that doesn't chip?

southernbelle0915

My faves are Essie and OPI. The key is base and top coat though - I like OPI for that.

ashley8918

I am no help. I can't keep polish on my nails to save my life. Maybe our resident beauty blogger @lacqueredlover can help?

kaos16

I love me some Essie too.

esstee33

Honestly, my fave is the cheapie Revlon stuff. That, and OPI if you want to spend a couple more dollars. I'm not a big fan of Essie, though -- even with a top coat, it chips super fast for me.

sarawifenow

They are a bit pricey, but I love Essie. This is the color I am using for my wedding:

It's called "Go Ginza". I have been using is for a few weeks now. Painted my nails two weeks ago and I am just now looking at having to touch them up.

theartistformerlyknownas

I have decently good luck with the Sallie Hansen Insta-Dri polish, since most of my nail fuck ups tend to happen while I'm waiting for them to dry. And it's only $4.

duhitsd

I use Seche Vite as my top coat. I like the shine it provides, dries quickly and doesn't chip for me. You can also apply this when the color is still wet and it still dries fast and is solid.

hellohkb

Jordana nail polishes are like a dollar and are better than OPI or other polishes I've used. I've noticed as long as I get a good gel top coat like American Classic Gel topcoat, I'm golden

birdybride2014

I don't usually have a problem with the cheaper polishes, but then I still do love Essie and OPI. Sallie Hansen has always been reliable. 

I don't know if other people have expereinced this, but from what I've seen I can't mix OPI and Essie. Like, use an Essie color with OPI top coat or visa versa... whenever I do this it seems to get gummy and sticky? But maybe I'm using older polishes? 

hellosweetie1015

I buy the little Pure Ice things from Walmart, and then put a coat of clear Sally Hansen Insta Dri. It means more changes since it's cheap polish, I had every color they made at one time, and I can try wasteful but nifty styles and it not be a thing. Plus they last like two weeks if I leave them alone.

WEE.

jdluvr06

OPI and Essie. Mainly OPI though.

esstee33

birdybride2014 said:

I don't usually have a problem with the cheaper polishes, but then I still do love Essie and OPI. Sallie Hansen has always been reliable. 

I don't know if other people have expereinced this, but from what I've seen I can't mix OPI and Essie. Like, use an Essie color with OPI top coat or visa versa... whenever I do this it seems to get gummy and sticky? But maybe I'm using older polishes? 

Maybe this is why my Essie was chipped as hell last time? I think I just used an Ulta brand top coat. I was super disappointed, since it was a brand new bottle. Oh, that reminds me, I love Ulta nail polish also.

emcme22

I usually go with OPI or Essie.  I have awful luck when it comes to chipping though, even when I get them done professionally I sometimes have issues.  Especially when I wash my hair, for some reason that always chips my nails, no idea why.  

hikebikebemerry

Thanks for the recommendations! I might have to try a different top/base coat.

cosenti7

duhitsd said:

I use Seche Vite as my top coat. I like the shine it provides, dries quickly and doesn't chip for me. You can also apply this when the color is still wet and it still dries fast and is solid.

THIS. I like OPI and Essie for the colors but Seche Vite is the best top coat out there right now.

theartistformerlyknownas

emcmac87 said:

I usually go with OPI or Essie.  I have awful luck when it comes to chipping though, even when I get them done professionally I sometimes have issues.  Especially when I wash my hair, for some reason that always chips my nails, no idea why.  

When I wash my hair, the polish PEELS OFF. I think the moroccan oil from the conditioner gets under it maybe?

hikebikebemerry

@duhitsd @cosenti7

I've never heard of Seche Vite, where can you get it?

cosenti7

Sally's Beauty Supply carries it, as does most specialty beauty supply stores.

mrsb53

cosenti7 said:

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duhitsd said:

I use Seche Vite as my top coat. I like the shine it provides, dries quickly and doesn't chip for me. You can also apply this when the color is still wet and it still dries fast and is solid.

THIS. I like OPI and Essie for the colors but Seche Vite is the best top coat out there right now.

Yep. You can go with any color from any brand, and Seche Vite will seal it in! I also like Orly Bonder for a base coat.

princessleia22

hikebikebemerry said:

@duhitsd @cosenti7

I've never heard of Seche Vite, where can you get it?

I buy Seche Vite at Target.

 

I almost always have my nails painted, but prefer to do them myself to save money.   A while back I spent a couple hours (literally) researching how to make my nail polish last longer, without doing gel polish.  Seche Vite came up as best top coat on nearly every site I checked. I also use their base coat, Seche Clear. For nail color, I haven't found too much of a difference in brand as far as lasting quality. I do tend to like OPI though. I think a good quality base & top coat are critical though.  Also, prepping the nails is critical. Wipe/clean them with rubbing alcohol before painting because it will eliminate any oils on the nails that could affect adherence. Mine don't usually chip, but they will start just wearing off on the tips after about a week, but it's still about 1-1/2 or two weeks before it would be noticeable to anyone else. If I really want it to last, I will put new clear top coat on every couple days to help reseal it. I can get it to easily last 2 weeks or longer that way.

ashley8918

lolo883 said:

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emcmac87 said:

I usually go with OPI or Essie.  I have awful luck when it comes to chipping though, even when I get them done professionally I sometimes have issues.  Especially when I wash my hair, for some reason that always chips my nails, no idea why.  

When I wash my hair, the polish PEELS OFF. I think the moroccan oil from the conditioner gets under it maybe?

I have this same problem. I never thought about this, but I do use moroccan oil products. It makes sense.

arrippa

emcmac87 said:

I usually go with OPI or Essie.  I have awful luck when it comes to chipping though, even when I get them done professionally I sometimes have issues.  Especially when I wash my hair, for some reason that always chips my nails, no idea why.  

Me too. Even when I use OPI or Essie and Seche Vite, my nails still chip. 

hikebikebemerry said:

@duhitsd @cosenti7

I've never heard of Seche Vite, where can you get it?

I found it at CVS.

raissyrais

Essie is the bomb! Make sure you have a good top coat to go with that though! I use the Essie No Chip Ahead. That's what we used when I was in make up school and been using it since

goldchocobo.defunct635829490514903826

I have like 200 bottles of the stuff, but I usually grab OPI and top it with Poshe.  

Sally Hansen makes a no gel polish with a special top coat (Miracle Gel).  It's pricier but that shit doesn't budge.  Total game changer.

Inkdancer

I have a problem, and it is China Glaze nail polishes.

I love Essie and OPI too, but China Glaze makes more colors I love.

duhitsd

esstee33 said:

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birdybride2014 said:

I don't usually have a problem with the cheaper polishes, but then I still do love Essie and OPI. Sallie Hansen has always been reliable. 

I don't know if other people have expereinced this, but from what I've seen I can't mix OPI and Essie. Like, use an Essie color with OPI top coat or visa versa... whenever I do this it seems to get gummy and sticky? But maybe I'm using older polishes? 

Maybe this is why my Essie was chipped as hell last time? I think I just used an Ulta brand top coat. I was super disappointed, since it was a brand new bottle. Oh, that reminds me, I love Ulta nail polish also.

Sometimes the formula of the two different brands and your body chemistry can do wacko things like that. I've had that happen before too but I don't remember what brand it was though.

I want to try those new Sally Hansen Gel polishes that don't require a lamp or anything. Every time I see the display at Target all the interesting colors are gone and only like the light pink shade is left. My friend has worn them for like 2 weeks without the special gel topcoat and they lasted nicely.

arrippa

Speaking of gel polish, does it kill your nails? I have been debating getting it done but my nails are so thin that I don't want to damage them.

theartistformerlyknownas

arrippa said:

Speaking of gel polish, does it kill your nails? I have been debating getting it done but my nails are so thin that I don't want to damage them.

For me, the only time it damages my nails is when they use that little metal scraper to gouge it off my nails. I can remove it at home (acetone on a bit of cotton, wrap the cotton onto each nail with a bit of foil, sit for 5 min) and they don't get damaged. I still have the gel polish on from the Thursday before my wedding (9/11) with no chips, and the polish itself is so hard that it's kept my nails from breaking.

arrippa

lolo883 said:

show previous quotes

Speaking of gel polish, does it kill your nails? I have been debating getting it done but my nails are so thin that I don't want to damage them.

For me, the only time it damages my nails is when they use that little metal scraper to gouge it off my nails. I can remove it at home (acetone on a bit of cotton, wrap the cotton onto each nail with a bit of foil, sit for 5 min) and they don't get damaged. I still have the gel polish on from the Thursday before my wedding (9/11) with no chips, and the polish itself is so hard that it's kept my nails from breaking.

Yikes!

Thanks for the info. I will definitely try the acetone removal if I do it.

JCbride2015

Just one more option to throw in the ring-- CND Vinylux is some amazing stuff.  I think you can only buy it online and in salons, but on my problem nails I really get two weeks out of it.  No base coat, just color + special top coat.  I buy mine on Amazon.