Top 5 Most Popular Nail Polish Brands to Buy for Yourself or Someone Else

Every nail polish has pros and cons but not everyone knows the cons ahead of time. In this article we will talk about the five most popular nail polish brands (lacquers too) and provide their pros, cons and a mini-review.

1st Place - O.P.I. Nail Lacquer

The biggest hype behind O.P.I. is their massive color selection which they develop through trendy and creative collections like Nicki Minaj by OPI and SEPHORA by OPI. Their polishes are usually long lasting and bubble free with a minimal amount of chipping (after four to five days). It's important that you clean and dry your nails before applying nail polish to ensure that your nails are oil free.

Price: $8.50 per bottle

Packaging:

Semi-big bottles that fit in your hand with wide circular brushes. It takes an average of three strokes or less than four to cover your entire nails.

Pros:

1. 243 colors & shades to choose from

2. Themed collections like Touring America and Texas

3. Unique color names like My Address is "Hollywood" and Y'all Come Back Ya Hear?

4. Long lasting

5. Non-bubbly

7. Opaque and non-watery

8. Dries fast

9. Decent sized bottle

10. Large brush for easy applications

Cons:

1. More expensive than some of the other nail polish brands

2. Brush is to thick for a few people

3. Solution is too thick for a few people

4. Polish dries to fast for a few people

2nd Place - China Glaze Professional Nail Lacquer

If O.P.I.'s color selection is gigantic, China Glaze's collection is super gigantic. With 439 polishes to be exact, C.G. offers more of the interesting glittery and crackle nail polishes that other leading brands lack. Their solution is known to be a little thinner than O.P.I. and whether it's a good or bad thing, their brushes are a bit thinner too. Everyone has their preference as some people like O.P.I. while others like China Glaze. The biggest reason for avoiding China Glaze would be their nail polish dry time, whiles the biggest reason for buying would be that they offer value for each dollar you spend (good quality for an affordable price).

Price: $2.50 to $6.99

Packaging:

Upside-down version of O.P.I. with a thinner brush.

Pros:

1. 439 colors & shades to choose from

2. Themed collections like Capitol Colours, The Hunger Games and Prismatic Chroma Glitters

3. Unique color names like Electrify and Ray-diant

4. Good wear time

5. Much more affordable than other high quality nail polishes

6. Can be found online for 30% to 50% off

7. Smaller brush works better for people with small to narrow nails

8. Thinner than other brands for those who do not like O.P.I.'s thick solution

9. Interesting and crazy colors

Cons:

1. Takes longer to dry than other brands

2. Not as thick and opaque as other brands for those who like O.P.I.

3. Requires one or two more strokes than other brands since the brush is not as thick as O.P.I.

3rd Place - Essie Nail Polish

Essie is known for their non-funky sheer cream colored pastels which make them a favorite among students, office employees and wearers who are interested in a non-dramatic finished look. Aside from their lighter shades, they also have around 30 darker polishes ranging from reds and purples to blues and browns. Their polishes are known to be chip resistant, non-bubbly, but a little streaky when you apply the first coat.

Price: $3.50 to $9.00

Packaging:

Regular bottle with an unremarkable brush.

Pros:

1. 280 colors to choose from

2. Great cream colored and sheer pastel-like polishes

3. Nice color names like Pinking of the Pieces and Lollipop

4. Does not chip

5. Online sales via E-tailers with 25%+ off

6. Glossy finish

7. Thin brushes for small to narrow nails

Cons:

1. The retail value might be mildly over priced

2. Only a few dramatic, more interesting and funky shades

3. More watery than O.P.I.

4. Some of the colors are almost the same

4th Place - Butter London Nail Polish

Butter London is a high end nail polish provider supplying products free of formaldehyde, toluene and Dibutyl phthalate, resulting in less toxic formulas and a milder odor. The consistency is usually described as being thick like O.P.I. but in a bottle that is a lot smaller and rectangular instead. The rectangle cap can be difficult to use since it covers another more cylindrical cap with a grip and at $14.00 a pop, the price is more expensive than other brands but most buyers are pleased with their purchase.

Price: $14.00 per bottle

Packaging:

Semi-small rectangular bottles with a cylindrical cap covered by a rectangle cap.

Pros:

1. Doesn't contain formaldehyde, toluene or Dibutyl phthalate (less toxic)

2. Modern colors

3. Unique color names like All Hail The Queen and Frilly Knickers

4. Fashionable packaging

5. Long lasting

6. Chip resistant

7. Less odor than other brands

Cons:

1. Only 63 colors to choose from

2. Packaging is not user-friendly

3. More expensive than other nail polish brands

4. Smaller bottle than other nail polish brands

5th Place - Zoya Nail Polish

If Butter London is too pricey for you, Zoya Nail Polish may be a good alternative. Like Butter London, Zoya is toxin free and has a decent wear time as long as you use their base coat. It's important to use their base coat if you want good results.

Price: $8.00 per bottle

Packaging:

Regular bottle with a brush that some people may have problems with.

Pros:

1. Over 300 colors to choose from

2. Doesn't contain formaldehyde, toluene or dibutyl phthalate

3. More affordable than Butter London

4. Decent color names like Carly and Trixie

5. Less odor than other brands

Cons:

1. Requires Zoya's base coat and maybe top coat

2. More expensive than other drugstore brands

3. The brush may not be the best

Here is a list of other popular nail polish brands (and lacquers) ranked according to their price (most expensive to least expensive):

C. Le Vernis Nail Colour - Price: $26.00 per bottle

MAC Nail Lacquer - Price: $16.00 per bottle

Revlon Nail Enamel - Price Range: $1.69 to $11.25 per bottle

Sephora by OPI - Price: $9.50 per bottle

Orly Nail Polish - Price Range: to $5.00 (Regular) or $8.50 (Limited Edition) per bottle

Nicole by OPI - Price: $7.00 per bottle

L.A. Colors Art Deco Nail Art, Color Craze Nail Polish, Mini Color Craze & Nail Lacquer - Price Range: $1.10 to $4.50 per bottle

NYX Nail Polish - Price: $4.00 per bottle

Sally Hansen - Price Range: $2.82 to $3.95 per bottle

love & beauty Nail Polish - Price: $2.80 per bottle

NYC (New York Color) - Price Range: $0.99 to $1.99 per bottle

Essence Colour & Go Nail Polish - Price: $0.99 per bottle