I'm a Beauty Editor—Here's How I Save Money on Nail Appointments
I love a trip to a nail salon for a professional gel mani as much as the next person. But unfortunately I'm not made of money, so this can't be a bi-monthly occurrence; and I've also noticed when I get a professional manicure more than three times in a row, my nails become weak and brittle. My saving grace? A collection of long-lasting nail polishes I reach for when my bank account is looking sad and my nails are looking sadder.
What are the benefits of switching to a long-lasting nail polish?
Taking a break from gel really is down to you and your nails. If you're having regular gel manis the correct application, aftercare and removal is being done, and your nails still look and feel strong, then professional manicurist Saskia Fenwick says a break needn't be a regular thing. However, there are benefits to giving your nails a breather.
"Taking a break from gel nails can help get damaged nails back to a healthy state," explains Fenwick. "Nails that are free from gel allow you to hydrate and nourish the nail plate directly."
Plus, if you're starting to notice any anything like breakage, sensitive or that your gel manicures just aren't lasting as well as they used to, then Fenwick advises a break of around eight weeks while your nails recover. And while they return to health? A DIY mani is the perfect alternative.
Shop the Best Long-Lasting Nail Polishes We've Tested, Listed:
1. Best overall long-lasting nail polish: Maybelline Superstay 7 Days Gel Nail Polish
2. Best long-lasting nail polish for shine: Chanel Le Vernis Nail Colour
3. Best affordable long-lasting nail polish: Essie Gel Couture Long Lasting High Shine Gel Nail Polish
4. Best luxury long-lasting nail polish: Dior Vernis
5. Best strengthening long-lasting nail polish: China Glaze Nail Lacquer
6. Best chip-resistant long-lasting nail polish: Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Nail Polish
7. Best long-lasting nail polish for nail health: CND Vinylux Long Wear Polish
8. Best long-lasting nail polish for trending colours: Peacci Nail Polish
9. Best long-lasting nail polish for staying power: OPI Infinite Shine Long-Wear Lacquer
10. Best plant-based lont-lasting nail polish: Palette London Nail Paint
11. Best at-home gel long-lasting nail polish: Manucurist Green Flash
12. Best glossy long-lasting nail polish: Nails Inc Gel Effect Nail Polish
How we tested the best long-lasting nail polishes:
As I type this, I'm rocking my own at-home mani using my favourite long-lasting polish China Glaze Nail Lacquer in My Sweet Lady (keep reading to shop the shade). It's on its seventh day and still looks fantastic, if I do say so myself. As a nail obsessive, I have spent many years testing and trialling the best long-lasting nail polishes and they must meet three sets of criteria for me to recommend them—they have genuine longevity, they contain nail-nurturing ingredients, and they are highly pigmented. Plus, you don't need to just take my opinion—I've also called in the help of fellow beauty editors to share their go-to nail polish formulations.
Ahead, keep scrolling for the beauty editor-approved edit of long-lasting nail polishes which will give you even longer between nail appointments. Oh, and Fenwick's top tip for making a DIY mani go even further? Use a base coat and top coat to lock in the colour and avoid any staining of the nail plate.
The Best Long-Lasting Nail Polishes
1. Best overall long-lasting nail polish: Maybelline Superstay 7 Days Gel Nail Polish
I recently had a nail-related panic, and this polish saved me. I needed to film content but I wasn't at home and my nails were looking anything but camera-ready. I picked this up on the high-street for under a fiver, and was super impressed with the results. It stayed put for about five days, and I think it would have been longer if I'd also used a top coat. Midnight Red is going to be my go-to shade for autumn.
Colour: Maroon
Finish: Shiny
Pros: Lasts up to seven days
Cons: Slow to dry
I don't know about you, but I think I've seen enough hot pink to last me a lifetime. I'll be getting my pink fix with more muted tones now, like this shade.
Colour: Dusky pink
Finish: Shiny
Pros: Lasts up to seven days
Cons: Slow to dry
2. Best long-lasting nail polish for shine: Chanel Le Vernis Nail Colour
"I recently quit gel nails after developing an allergy, and I've since been on the search for the best long-lasting polishes that remain chip-free despite my heavy-handedness," says Who What Wear UK beauty editor Eleanor Vousden. "Chanel's Le Vernis nail polishes have become a firm favourite of mine. I often reach for the shade Ballerina; a healthy wash of sheer pink."
Colour: Pale pink
Finish: Shiny
Pros: Gives a gel effect
Cons: Expensive
"I always finish with Le Gel Coat, which leaves a plump, glossy layer that not only locks in the polish for days, but actually feels similar to gel polish," says Vousden.
Colour: Clear
Finish: High shine
Pros: Improves longevity
Cons: Expensive
3. Best affordable long-lasting nail polish: Essie Gel Couture Long Lasting High Shine Gel Nail Polish
I've honestly lost count of how many Essie nail polishes I have. I reach for Matter of Fiction when I want a fresh and clean finish.
Colour: Pale pink
Finish: Shiny
Pros: Wide brush is easy to apply
Cons: Can need a few coats
Designed to be paired with Gel Couture polishes, this top coat isn't only great at preventing chipping; it gives a gorgeous, glossy shine that could rival a salon mani.
Colour: Clear
Finish: High shine
Pros: Wide brush is easy to apply
Cons: Really long-lasting
4. Best luxury long-lasting nail polish: Dior Vernis
"I made it my new year's resolution to start doing my own nails at home," says Who What Wear UK junior beauty editor, Grace Lindsay. "Although I have broken this resolution a couple of times, so far I've done pretty well. To make doing my own nails more appealing, I treated myself to some luxury nail polishes, including two from Dior. The Dior Vernis polishes are long-wearing and have a shiny, gel-like finish. I love Red Smile, which is a bright, vibrant red."
Colour: Classic red
Finish: Shiny
Pros: Ultra pigmented
Cons: Expensive
"I also love shade Muguet—a soft, milky pink," she says.
Colour: Sheer pink
Finish: Shiny
Pros: Natural-looking finish
Cons: Expensive
5. Best strengthening long-lasting nail polish: China Glaze Nail Lacquer
The shade I'm currently wearing. Not only does it stay put, but the strengthening formula is great if repeated gel application has made your nails feel a little weak.
Colour: Baby pink
Finish: Matte
Pros: Long-lasting
Cons: Can require a few layers
Purple shades are a worthy investment as they look fab all year round.
Colour: Lilac
Finish: Matte
Pros: Long-lasting
Cons: Can require a few layers
6. Best chip-resistant long-lasting nail polish: Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Nail Polish
The Sally Hansen Miracle Gel duo makes your nails feel stronger and healthier whilst delivering a long-lasting, highly pigmented, gel-looking finish. Off the back of "latte makeup", I'm fully expecting coffee-toned shades to be everywhere this autumn/ winter, so I'll be giving Totem-Ly Yours a go.
Colour: Brown
Finish: Metallic
Pros: Gel effect
Cons: Thick formula needs careful application
One of the best in the game. Once you've applied two coats of Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Nail Polish, go in with this top coat to lock in the colour. I got 10 days from my at-home mani with minimal chipping, which I think is really impressive.
Colour: Clear
Finish: High shine
Pros: Gel effect
Cons: Hard to remove
7. Best long-lasting nail polish for nail health: CND Vinylux Long Wear Polish
An industry-favourite long-lasting nail polish, this formula is infused with vitamin E, keratin, and jojoba oil to help strengthen the nails with each wear. It's another great option if you're taking a break from gels.
Colour: Red
Finish: Shiny
Pros: Highly pigmented
Cons: Hard to get hold of
There's just something about a sharp, black mani on short nails, which is why I'm adding this shade to my collection.
Colour: Black
Finish: Shiny
Pros: Highly pigmented
Cons: Hard to get hold of
8. Best long-lasting nail polish for trending colours: Peacci Nail Polish
Freelance beauty journalist Tori Crowther, who counts nail artistry as her side hustle, is a big fan of this polish brand created by the founder of The Gel Bottle. "Peacci polishes last an impressively long time. Apply in thin layers, leaving plenty of time to dry in between," she advises.
Colour: Bright green
Finish: Shiny
Pros: Longlasting
Cons: Slow to dry
"Finish with the top coat and it'll remain chip-free until you're ready to switch up the shade (of which there are plenty to choose from)," says Crowther.
Colour: Clear
Finish: Shimmer
Pros: Longlasting
Cons: Slow to dry
9. Best long-lasting nail polish for staying power: OPI Infinite Shine Long-Wear Lacquer
For at-home french tips that last, I'd recommend this hard-working formula.
Colour: White
Finish: Shiny
Pros: Long-lasting and pigmented
Cons: Slow to dry
Blueberry-milk nails have been blowing up our social feeds thanks to the likes of Dua Lipa, Sofia Richie Grainge and Sabrina Carpenter. Here's the exact shade I used to create the trending mani from home.
Colour: Baby blue
Finish: Shiny
Pros: Long-lasting and pigmented
Cons: Slow to dry
10. Best plant-based long-lasting nail polish: Palette London Nail Paint
Every Palette London polish contains what the brand has coined as The Super 3—a combination of arginine to prevent nail damage, tea tree oil for its antioxidant and antiseptic properties, and nurturing vitamin E. The colour is glossy, long-lasting and comes in a range of stunning colours, with Sherbet Lemon being a personal favourite. Also note the very reasonable price tag.
Colour: Yellow
Finish: Shiny
Pros: Has nailcare benefits
Cons: Hard to get hold of
Okay, I'm obsessed with Palette's Holographic Top Coat. It adds an element of fun to any colour, as well as looking just as good on its own.
Colour: Holographic
Finish: Shimmer
Pros: Can be layered over colour
Cons: Hard to remove
11. Best at-home gel long-lasting nail polish: Manucurist Green Flash
Gel polish that you can apply from your sofa, doesn't have any damaging effects on your nails, and is easy to remove? Sign me up.
Colour: Dark blue
Finish: Shiny
Pros: Easy to apply and remove
Cons: Limited colour range
Colour: Sheer
Finish: Shimmer
Pros: Easy to apply and remove
Cons: Limited colour range
12. Best glossy long-lasting nail polish: Nails Inc Gel Effect Nail Polish
Created to mimic the effect and finish of a gel manicure but without the need for a UV lamp, Nails Inc's Gel Effect range has an ultra-glossy, super-shiny finish that really does recreate the plumped-up, highly-pigmented appearance of a salon mani. It does take longer to dry than their standard formula, but it's worth the wait. Bonus points for the fact it also contains nourishing flower extracts to help condition and strengthen nails too.
Colour: Deep aubergine
Finish: Glossy
Pros: Contains conditioning ingredients
Cons: Takes longer to dry than their standard formula
Colour: Soft pale pink
Finish: Glossy
Pros: Contains conditioning ingredients
Cons: Takes longer to dry than their standard formula
This story was previously published at an earlier date and has since been updated.
Mollie Burdell is a freelance beauty editor, presenter and host. She trained as a makeup artist at the prestigious Delamar Academy, covering everything from prosthetics and theatre to TV and film, and then went on to graduate from university with a First Class Honours degree in journalism.After completing internships at Grazia, Look, Cosmopolitan and Stylist, she landed her first writer role at Superdrug's Dare magazine. Mollie then joined the Harrods content team as a beauty writer before being promoted to the deputy beauty editor. There, she developed the content strategy, tone of voice and creative identity for H Beauty—Harrods's standalone regional beauty stores. When she wasn't interviewing the likes of Gigi Hadid, Miranda Kerr and Regé-Jean Page, you'd find her on a live broadcast, hosting an event, shooting video content, reviewing the lastest beauty launch on social or crafting a magazine feature. She has also hosted and contributed to the LuxeGirl by SheerLuxe YouTube series.When Mollie isn't writing about beauty, you'll find her talking about it on a TikTok shop, dancing to pretty much anything with a beat, reading a crime thriller or performing a solo rendition of "One Day More" from Les Mis.
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