How Long Does Nail Polish Stay On

Whether you tend to gravitate towards trendy boom art or like to stick to a traditional monochrome manicure, a recent survey revealed that more than lxx% of Good Housekeeping readers paint their nails at home — and you want that DIY manicure to last every bit long as possible.

While in that location are hundreds of formulas on the marketplace, some boom polish brands are better than others. That's why the Adept Housekeeping Plant tested smash polish brands to observe the best polishes you lot tin buy. Nosotros started with thou ore than forty offerings from various brands and whittled down to the 10 all-time, with the help of over 174 consumer surveys. For the written report, our team conducted consumer, Lab, and good tests to analyze dry time, longevity, polish, chip score, coverage, and whether or non the polish would stain nails. We besides scored the polishes on whether the castor was piece of cake to use, if the polish went on evenly, and how easy it was to remove.

Finally, the Beauty Lab considered consumer feedback to observe the best smash laquers including nontoxic polish picks, and seasonal colors for autumn nails, spring nails, and beyond:

Best Overall Nail Polish

Sheer Enamel Nail Polish

Essie was conspicuously the best of our test: It received top scores from testers, experts, and consumers, and testers also raved about its high gloss value and commented on how shiny the polish remained throughout its unabridged wear-fourth dimension. Testers raved, "I liked the color and ease of application," only also rated information technology easiest to remove, noting the smooth left "no ugly yellow stains."

Height Lab scores for shine, chip-resistance, and ease of application
Easy to remove

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Best Value Boom Polish

New York Color Evidence Nail Lacquer

We plant that on boilerplate this budget-friendly shine lasted the longest ofany polish nosotros tested, with a wear ofalmost half-dozen and a half days without a base or top coat. I tester exclaimed: "I am very hard on my hands… planting, sports, pot scrubbing with my nails… The smooth has stayed perfectly on my hands as if information technology were the first day." It also tied with Essie for the highest shine score.

Longest-lasting shine in Lab tests
High-shine finish rivaled pricier brands

All-time Gel Boom Polish

Phenomenon Gel

Get results that rival the salon'south with this innovative gel smoothen/top coat duo, which d oesn't require the usual light to cure. A divide Lab test showed that this lacquer dried fast, chipped less, and lasted longer than regular boom smooth, though information technology didn't last for two full weeks as the brand claims. "Deeper colors were rich and fabulous fifty-fifty later on ane coat," i tester raved.

Gel-similar shine without a salon visit
Groovy colour pigmentation

Best Quick-Drying Nail Polish

Blast Lacquer

This OPI shine outshone the competition when information technology came to dry out time. Its average dry out time was almost a infinitesimal and half faster than the next runner up, and our smash technician gave OPI a perfect score for coverage. One tester noted that the terminate meant she "really didn't demand two coats!"

Fastest drying time in consumer and Lab tests
Slap-up, even color payoff

Best Chip-Resistant Nail Polish

Outlast Stay Vivid Nail Gloss

This CoverGirl shine received, by far, the highest scores for chip-resista nce, and lasted more than six days without outcome. On average, testers reported getting their beginning chip on 24-hour interval four and the shine lasted for an average of six and a quarter days.

Resisted chips for over 6 days
Nail pro and consumer tester favorite

BEST 6-Costless NAIL Polish

Toxin-Free Blast Smoothen

Nosotros oasis't put this make to the test in the Beauty Lab yet, but information technology's a GH editor favorite for a super-shiny finish that dries quickly and looks professional even without a elevation coat."The colors are perfectly pigmented, and then it's like shooting fish in a barrel to pigment layers without them looking streaky," says one editor. Plus, the brand is six-free, vegan, and cruelty-free.

GH beauty editor favorite
Shiny, quick-drying finish

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BEST LUXURY NAIL POLISH

Nail Lacquer

"This collection has colors y'all tin can't find anywhere else, like this minimalist putty shade," says GH Beauty Director April Franzino. "They fifty-fifty come in custom-matched 'power couples' of hues meant to complement each other, taking the guesswork out of mani/pedi shade choice." Notation that we haven't yet tested the make's clothing in the Lab, but our beauty editors are fans.

GH Beauty editor favorite
No-fuss, mix-and-match colors

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BEST Smash Polish FOR Calm MANICURES

Nail Polish

A favorite of multiple GH dazzler editors, Olive and June is a DIY manicure must-have. "Every time I pigment my nails with this brand, the smoothen lasts and lasts," says Beauty Assistant Katie Berohn. The "fanned out brush shapes make applying at dwelling a breeze," and yous tin can opt for the mani system that includes "Poppy," Olive and June'due southpatented shine canteen handle that makes it easy to paint both hands mess-free.

GH Beauty editor favorite
Custom handle attachment for easy application

BEST 10-Gratis Nail Polish

No.17

We oasis't tested it formally in the Lab yet, just our editors say this x-free, cruelty-free, and vegan smoothen is great for at-domicile manis. The make is "known for its manicure kits (they also offering classes) that make an at-home manicure experience as professional equally possible," says Berohn.

RELATED: What Does 'Cruelty-Complimentary' Beauty Mean?

GH Beauty editor favorite
Cruelty-complimentary and vegan

ten Nail Polish

Made in the U.S., thiscruelty-free, vegan, and 10-free brand offers creamy polishes in gel and classic finishes. Nosotros haven't tested the brand's performance in the Beauty Lab nevertheless, just the cult post-obit and gorgeous shades speak volumes.

Gel and classic finishes
Rich, creamy colors

Pia Velasco Pia Velasco is the Associate Dazzler Editor at Skilful Housekeeping, Adult female's Day, and Prevention magazine.

Jessica Teich, Good Housekeeping Institute Deputy Editor Jessica is the deputy editor at the Good Housekeeping Institute and a longtime product tester, reviewer, writer, and editor of beauty, lifestyle, and home content.