9 Best Nail Polish Brands of 2024, From Long Lasting Gel to Drugstore Lacquer Faves (2025)

You have your favorite fashion brands, your must-have beauty brands, and even your essential grocery brands (where are our Trader Joe’s lovers at?!) — but what about the best nail polish brands? If you’re yet to declare your loyalty, we’re here to make it a little easier with this list of the best nail polish brands of 2024, from drugstore faves to professional gel lacquer.

So whether you’re just starting your nail polish collection or are looking for high-quality options for your next mani, we’re breaking down everything you need to know about these top-rated brands — from their ingredient lists to how budget-friendly they are. Plus, we also created a complete guide for at-home manicures, including our best tips, tricks, and tools of the trade. Let’s get into it!

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Our Methodology – How We’ve Narrowed Down Our List Of The Best Nail Polish Brands

To curate this list of the best nail polish brands, we polled our GWS audience (as well as our nail-loving editorial team) about their most-loved lacquers. In other words, these brands have been tried and tested by real people, and they’ve come out on top!

And since not all nail preferences are the same, we also split our rankings up based on different nail polish needs — from affordable drugstore brands to the best lacquer for a salon-inspired manicure. After all, there’s no such thing as a one-size-fits-all nail polish, and these brands all have their individual superpowers.

Now without further ado, let’s dive into the awards!

GWS Pro Tip! Wondering what qualifies as non-toxic when it comes to nail polish? After studies found that your body can absorb the harmful chemicals in nail polish, many brands started eliminating major toxins such as toluene, formaldehyde (a known carcinogen), and dibutyl phthalate —aka, the “Big 3,” or three biggest offending chemicals.

While 3-free formulas are now a baseline for nail polish, we’re also seeing more and more brands take this non-toxic formulation to the next level, with 5-free, 7-free, and even 17-free polishes (like the Ella + Mila brand above!). These brands have eliminated even more toxic chemicals — including parabens, acetone, xylene, and camphor — to make their nail polish as safe as possible.

It’s About More Than Just The Polish – Everything You Need to Know To Get The Perfect Manicure At Home

Choosing the best nail polish brand is the first step. Now let’s get into the rest of our tips and tricks for how to ~nail~ your at-home manicure! From the must-have tools to DIY your nails (in addition to the best nail lacquer brand) to our advice for keeping your nails damage-free, we’re breaking down everything you need to know to become a nail pro. Let’s get into it!

Tradeoffs To Consider When Choosing The Right Nail Polish Brand and Type For Your Manicure

No nail polish brand is perfect, and the best nail lacquer for one person or occasion may not be the best for another. So to help you choose the best brand for your next at-home manicure, here are few trade-offs to consider first!

• Long-lasting vs. quick-dry: We’re huuuuuge fans of quick-dry nail polish —as any impatient nail lover knows, it can be a serious lifesaver when DIYing your nails at home. But for most brands, quick-dry nail polish isn’t as long-lasting, and vice versa. Before choosing your brand, think about whether you want a quick and easy manicure that’ll need more touch-ups, or a slower DIY process that’s built to last.

• Drugstore vs. luxury: If you’re on a budget, drugstore nail polish brands are the best affordable way to do your nails at home. But because they’re more affordable, they also tend to be lower quality than professional or luxury options. For a perfect chip-free manicure that uses high-quality ingredients (think: less harmful chemicals), you may want to spend a little more on your nail lacquer brand. However, if you want something easy and budget-friendly, but slightly less durable, the drugstore has you covered!

• Gel vs. classic nail lacquer: Gel nail polish brands will give you that ultra-shiny, rock-hard finish that lasts for weeks —no chipping, no dulling, pure perfection. However, a gel manicure also requires a UV or LED light to cure, and removing the polish is a long process that can easily damage your nails. On the other hand, regular nail lacquer might not last as long, but it’s easier to DIY, better for your nail health, and great if you like to switch up your look week by week.

Currently in your clean beauty era? Check out our list of the best clean beauty brands for your skincare routine —best paired with our favorite non-toxic nail polish!

The Essential Elements To A Successful (And Long Lasting) At Home Manicure

Ready for your best at-home manicure yet? In addition to choosing the best nail polish brand for your lifestyle, here are all the essential elements for DIYing a long-lasting and professional-looking manicure from the comfort of your bedroom —no salon appointment necessary!

• Quality Prep Time: The best manicure starts way before you add your nail polish. Get your nails prepped and ready by filing them into your desired shape, pushing back your cuticles, and buffing the surface to help your polish adhere better. It can also be helpful to give them a quick wipe with rubbing alcohol to remove any oils, lotions, or residue, which can mess with the polish’s ability to stick.

• A Good Base Coat: A base coat is like a primer for your nails —it creates a smooth surface, helps the polish grip, and even protects your nails from staining (a must-have for dark nail polish or highly pigmented brands). In other words, don’t skip it!

• Smooth Application: No matter what nail polish brand you choose, the final look of your manicure will come down to how you apply your lacquer. Thin, even coats are the best way to create a smooth and professional-looking mani. Start with one coat, let it dry, and then apply a second (or third, if needed) for that perfect opacity. For extra durability, you can also run the brush along the edge of your nails to “cap” the tips. This seals the polish and helps prevent chipping.

• A Strong Top Coat: The top coat is your manicure’s bodyguard —it seals in your color, adds shine, and protects against any damage. Most of the best nail polish brands also have great top coats to choose from. We’re digging this OPI quick-dry one if you’re in a rush, or these shimmery top coats from Essie for a trendy finishing touch!

• Patience, Patience, Patience: We know how tempting it is to start using your hands right after you finish your nails, but trust us, patience is KEY. Give your nails at least 15-20 minutes to dry before you touch anything, and avoid any heavy lifting for a couple of hours. For a shorter process, quick-dry nail polish brands (like our fave, Essie Expressie) are your best friend!

• Nail Health Check: Once your nails are dry, apply a cuticle oil or hand cream to keep your nails and skin hydrated. Hydrated nails are stronger and less likely to peel or break — which is essential if you want your mani to last. The Olive & June brand has a great kit for your nail health, in addition to their amazing nail polish!

• Finishing Touches: For a manicure that looks fresh for as long as possible, we suggest doing frequent touch-ups at home. You can add a fresh layer of top coat every few days to extend the life of your manicure, or fill in any chips using the same nail polish brand. Now all that’s left to do is show off your gorgeous nails!

How To Reduce Damage To Your Nails When Doing Them At Home

Healthy nails are happy nails, amiright?! To keep your nails looking and feeling good, here are a few tips for how to reduce damage when doing an at-home manicure. Your nails will thank you!

• Choose non-toxic nail lacquer: While most nail polish brands are now 3-free (aka, they don’t include the three most common harmful chemicals), it doesn’t hurt to choose a formula that’s even less toxic, such as a 5-free, 10-free, or even 17-free polish. This lacquer is kinder to your nails and better for your overall health —the fewer chemicals the better!

• Keep them moisturized: Dry nails are more brittle, which means they’re prone to cracking, breaking, or splitting. Always use a cuticle oil or high-quality hand cream when doing your nails at home —and then re-apply it every day. This is especially important after using nail polish remover, which can be extra drying.

• Remove your polish gently: Removing nail polish is where a lot of damage can happen, especially if you try to peel off the lacquer or if you’re using a gel nail polish brand. Resist the urge! Always use a gentle remover (try to avoid acetone, which can be harsh on your nails) and be patient. Soak a cotton pad in remover, place it on your nail, and let it sit for a few minutes before wiping away the polish. A little patience goes a long way!

• Give your nails a breather: Even the most gentle and non-toxic nail polish brands can eventually wear down your nails, so try to give them a break every now and then. Going polish-free for a few days will let your bare nails breathe and recover from the constant cycle of polish, remover, and re-application. Use this time to give your nails some extra TLC, like nourishing serums or masks —they deserve it!

GWS Pro Tip! For the healthiest nails, it’s also important to look beyond the surface-level techniques and tools. Strong nails start from within, so make sure you’re eating a balanced diet rich in vitamins and minerals like biotin, zinc, and iron, which all contribute to healthy nail growth. You might even consider a nail-strengthening supplement if your nails are particularly weak or prone to breaking. This one has great reviews!

Need Inspo For Your Next Manicure? We’ve Got Your Back.

Now that you know the best nail polish brands for your at-home manicure, let’s dive into some cute nail inspo! We’ve rounded up our favorite nail ideas for every occasion, from festive seasonal designs to the latest nail trends (cherry nails, anyone?!). For all of our best nail ideas and inspo, check out our complete nail hub here!

Which of these nail polish brands are your favorite? Are there any that we missed? Let us know in the comments below!