The 12 Best Gel Nail Polishes of 2024

We tested 19 different gel nail polishes, both in our lab and at home, evaluating each gel polish based on the application process, the overall look, how long each polish lasted, and how easy it was to remove each. Keep scrolling to see our picks for the best gel nail polishes.

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A long-lasting manicure doesn't just exist underneath the UV lights at a nail salon or with the slightly more involved process of opting for acrylics . Believe it or not, you can create a stunning at-home manicure with gel polishes that can last for up to two weeks &#;some even longer. Plus, a lot of these gel polishes don&#;t require a UV light, so you can just paint and go. They're formulated to be ultra-durable and withstand chipping for at least a week, and they come in really pretty colors, too.

The at-home manicure is a notoriously tricky endeavor. There's a lot that goes into it, between having to paint a small area with your non-dominant hand, impatiently waiting for the polish to dry, and then accidentally smudging it. Once your nails are done, you go do the dishes, and suddenly they're chipped .

Best Overall

Madam Glam Soak-Off Gel Polish

PHOTO:

Madam Glam 

View on Madamglam.com

View on Beyondpolish.com

What We Like

• Goes on smoothly

• Long-lasting

• Doesn&#;t chip

• Wide shade range

What We Don't Like

• Hard to find

Shades: About 300 | Size: 0.5 fl. oz | Finish: Shimmer, shine, matte, jelly, opaque | Cruelty-Free: Yes

After testing these polishes out at home, we were blown away. Even after three days of wear, we noticed that the Madam Glam Soak-Off Gel Polish still looked luxurious and creamy, and didn&#;t chip even when we accidentally snagged our nails on luggage while packing.

Not only did this gel polish not chip or get dull after two weeks of wear, but we were also incredibly impressed by how easy it was to take off. After you&#;ve soaked/foiled your nails in acetone for 15 minutes, the gel polish basically peels itself off your nails.

We did notice that it does leave your nails dry, which is typical after using a gel polish and removing it with acetone. Additionally, you can only really get Madam Glam nail polishes off their website, which makes them a bit more difficult to acquire.

• Byrdie / Jhett Thompson

• Byrdie / Jhett Thompson

• Byrdie / Jhett Thompson

• Byrdie / Jhett Thompson

• Byrdie / Jhett Thompson

• Byrdie / Elise Wang

Best Bolds

Londontown Lakur Enhanced Colour Nail Lacquer

PHOTO:

Londontown 

$16 at Amazon

View on Ulta

$16 at Nordstrom

What We Like

• Comes in bold colors

• Easy to remove

What We Don't Like

• Doesn&#;t last super long

Shades: 160 | Size: 0.4 fl. oz | Finish: Shimmer, shine, sheer, opaque | Cruelty-Free: Yes

There were a lot of things we liked about this polish from Londontown. We appreciate that this comes in a variety of bold colors, and you can find the color that matches your mood pretty easily. We also like that the colors were pretty vibrant even after one coat, and the polish was pretty easy to remove with regular nail polish remover. Although it didn't last super long, we think this is a great option for a quick, low-commitment manicure.

• Byrdie / Jhett Thompson

• Byrdie / Jhett Thompson

• Byrdie / Jhett Thompson

• Byrdie / Anna Mejorada

Best Long-Lasting

Dazzle Dry Nail Lacquers System Kit

PHOTO:

Dazzle Dry

View on Dazzledry.com

What We Like

• Beginner-friendly

• Very long-lasting

• No UV-light needed

What We Don't Like

• Some reviewers feel that the kit is expensive

Shades: 152 | Size: 0.5 fl. oz | Finish: Shimmer, shine, sheer, opaque | Cruelty-Free: Yes

This pick from Dazzle Dry Nails lasted over two weeks and didn&#;t chip, peel, or crack at all. We really liked that it doesn&#;t require a UV light, and we also loved that there was basically no learning curve needed for this kit&#;it was really easy to use.

We liked that the polish was easy to work with, and wasn&#;t thick or goopy at all. The polish spread nicely, and it took less than two minutes for it to dry. In fact, this is one of the fastest-drying nail polishes that we&#;ve ever used.

In order to use this gel polish you'll need to purchase the full kit which some may consider a bit pricey, but if you're looking to invest in your nailcare routine, we think this is a great choice.

• Byrdie / Jhett Thompson

• Byrdie / Jhett Thompson

• Byrdie / Jhett Thompson

• Byrdie / Sheila Tong

Best for Easy Application

Deborah Lippmann Gel Lab Pro

PHOTO:

Nordstrom

$20 at Amazon

$20 at Nordstrom

$20 at Bloomingdales

What We Like

• Made with high-quality ingredients

• Applies smoothly

• Dries quickly

What We Don't Like

• Expensive

Shades: 86 | Size: 0.5 fl. oz | Finish: Shimmer, shine | Cruelty-Free: Yes

This pick from Deborah Lippmann couldn&#;t have been easier to apply. We applied a base coat, then two coats of color, then a top coat, and all four coats went on smoothly and dried swiftly. Because this product doesn't require a UV light, the overall process was equally as easy&#;if not easier&#;than any non-gel polish.

Removing this nail polish was also really simple, too. We used the "stripper" product that came with the polish, which was just a little finger-sized mitt soaked in acetone and other ingredients. It worked well and removed the polish from each finger in less than five seconds.

The biggest downside to this formula was that it didn&#;t last as long as some of the other polishes on this list&#;it started to have significant chips around the edges of each nail after one week. The surface of the polish across each nail also started to develop very fine cracks, which were only noticeable upon close inspection, but still detracted from the overall smooth and glossy appearance. The shine wasn't completely gone at the end of the two-week period, but it was definitely diminished.

• Byrdie / Jhett Thompson

• Byrdie / Jhett Thompson

Best Glossy

Dior Vernis Gel Shine Nail Lacquer

PHOTO:

Nordstrom

$30 at Nordstrom

View on Dior.com

What We Like

• High-gloss finish

• Intense colors

• Dries really quickly

What We Don't Like

• Not a wide shade range

• Chipped quickly

Shades: 23 | Size: 0.3 fl. oz | Finish: Shimmer, shine | Cruelty-Free: No

Vibrant and glossy are the top adjectives that come to mind for this lacquer. We like that the polish has a luxurious quality to it&#;it's a thick, vibrant, rich color without being gloopy. We also like that it has a high-shine finish, too.

We were a bit disappointed with how long this polish lasted on our nails. After testing in the lab and at home, we noticed that the polish chipped after two days. The color and shine were never lost, but chipping happened pretty fast. Still, we think the drying speed, high gloss, and vibrant colors make this pick a worthy contender for a fast and luxurious gel manicure.

• Byrdie / Jhett Thompson

• Byrdie / Jhett Thompson

• Byrdie / Kelly Meehan Brown

• Byrdie / Kelly Meehan Brown

Best for Beginners

Essence Gel Nail Color

PHOTO:

Essence Makeup

View on Essencemakeup.com

What We Like

• Smooth polish coagulates upon application, keeping it neater

• Inexpensive

What We Don't Like

• Doesn&#;t last long

Shades: 16 | Size: 0.5 fl. oz | Finish: Shimmer, shine | Cruelty-Free: Yes

This polish from Essence was very easy to apply&#;great for any beginner. All you need is one swipe of a base coat, one swipe of color, and one swipe of a top coat. The color was thick and took shape of the nail easily. Plus, each layer dried very fast and evenly. We think this pick is beginner-friendly because of the short application process and the fact that you don&#;t need a UV light to cure the polish.

The polish did not smudge and remained shiny, however, after two days it did chip like regular polish. After one week, the polish was almost entirely gone so you shouldn't expect this pick to hold up as long as a salon gel manicure.

• Byrdie / Jhett Thompson

• Byrdie / Jhett Thompson

Best Shade Range

Essie Gel Couture Nail Polish

PHOTO:

Amazon

$13 at Amazon

Are you interested in learning more about oem ink gel nail polish? Contact us today to secure an expert consultation!

$13 at Ulta

$13 at Target

What We Like

• Smooth polish coagulates upon application, keeping it neater

• Wide shade range

• Easy to remove

What We Don't Like

• Darker shades might stain

Shades: 60+ | Size: 0.46 fl. oz | Finish: Shimmer, shine, opaque, sheer | Cruelty-Free: Yes

This polish has a relatively thin formula and is easy to apply. It also comes in a wide range of colors (we're talking really, really wide), from light neutral pinks to bold blues. When combined with the corresponding top coat, it can sustain up to a week of chip-free wear.

After testing this pick out, we noticed that the polish was a bit cracked after a week, but there was no chipping in the slightest. It was really easy to remove, too. One note is that we recommend applying a base coat before applying the essie Gel Couture Nail Polish on your nails, as the darker shades tend to stain a bit after removal.

• Byrdie / Jhett Thompson

• Byrdie / Jhett Thompson

• Byrdie / Tamara Staples

Best Fast-Drying

Maybelline New York Fast Gel Fast Drying Nail Lacquer

PHOTO:

Maybelline

View on Maybelline.com

What We Like

• Dries super fast

• Easy to remove

• Very affordable

What We Don't Like

• Formula is really thin

• Doesn&#;t last long

Shades: 18 | Size: 0.47 fl. oz | Finish: Shine, opaque, sheer | Cruelty-Free: No

If you&#;re heading out to an event and you need a last-minute, at-home mani, the Maybelline Fast Gel Nail Lacquer is the bottle you should pick up. This nail polish is really fast-drying, and can speed up the nail-painting process quickly. We noticed that this formula was easy to remove, and we also appreciate that it&#;s affordable at $3 a bottle.

The formula is pretty thin and watery, and we noticed that the polish only lasted about 3-4 days before it started to chip. If you&#;re on the hunt for a really long-wearing gel polish, this pick probably isn&#;t for you.

• Byrdie / Jhett Thompson

• Byrdie / Jhett Thompson

• Byrdie / Helen Liu

• Byrdie / Helen Liu

Best Neutrals

OPI GelColor

PHOTO:

Beyond Polish

View on Beyondpolish.com

What We Like

• Long-lasting

• Resists chipping

• Beautiful neutral shades

What We Don't Like

• Is mostly only available in salons

Shades: 100+ | Size: 0.5 fl. oz | Finish: Shine, shimmer, opaque, sheer | Cruelty-Free: No

This polish is a non-streaky, shiny lacquer that comes in more than 100 shades and stays looking fresh for up to 10 days. The OPI GelColor Nail Polish comes in a wide shade range, including many neutrals to choose from. This pick lasted a long time during our testing, and we felt like it lived up to salon-grade mani standards.

The issue with this pick is that it&#;s mostly only available in salons. You can purchase it on a few websites, but it&#;s more for in-salon use.

• Byrdie / Jhett Thompson

• Byrdie / Jhett Thompson

• Byrdie / Jhett Thompson

• Byrdie / Jhett Thompson

• Byrdie / Abby Grisez

Best Buildable Color

Orly GelFX Gel Nail Color

PHOTO:

ORLY

View on Orlybeauty.com

What We Like

• Long-lasting

• Dries quickly

What We Don't Like

• Pretty sheer

Shades: 100+ | Finish: Shine, shimmer, sheer | Cruelty-Free: Yes

The Orly Gel FX Gel Nail Color was our favorite for buildable color. This pick requires a UV lamp to cure, and the formula is pretty sheer, so you can build up the color to however opaque you&#;d like. When we tested this polish out, we noticed that it lasted for almost a full week. The polish on one nail popped off at the end of the sixth day, and a couple of nails had very small chips. But otherwise, the manicure looked almost the same as day one after a week.

Pro tip: Apply this nail polish in thin layers to allow the mani to last longer. Follow with the accompanying top coat for a manicure that stays shiny and chip-free far longer than its regular polish counterparts. The thing we liked about this polish admittedly won&#;t work for everyone&#;the colors are pretty sheer, so you will need to apply multiple layers to really get an opaque look.

• Byrdie / Jhett Thompson

• Byrdie / Jhett Thompson

• Byrdie / Jhett Thompson

• Byrdie / Jhett Thompson

Best Strengthening

Revlon ColorStay Gel Envy Nail Polish

PHOTO:

Walmart

$12 at Walmart

View on Revlon.com

What We Like

• Makes nails feel stronger

• Nice shade range

• No UV lamp needed

What We Don't Like

• Bubbles easily

Shades: 34 | Size: 0.4 fl. oz | Finish: Shine | Cruelty-Free: No

The overall application of the Revlon Colorstay Gel Envy Nail Enamel is pretty straightforward, as no lamp is needed and the polish paints on the nails as regular polish would. The polish lasted well on our nails for the first week, and continued to look fully painted without chips. The downside is that our nails became less shiny and the polish was still susceptible to bumps, scratches, and various forms of damage to the overall coat. This resulted in a fully-painted, but not-so-polished look over the course of the week.

The removal process was pretty straightforward&#;we just rubbed our nails with a cotton ball soaked in acetone. We loved how this formula did not damage our nails, and for the duration the polish was on our nails, they actually seemed to strengthen our nails.

• Byrdie / Jhett Thompson

• Byrdie / Jhett Thompson

• Byrdie / Elisa Elshamy

• Byrdie / Elisa Elshamy

Best Budget

Sally Hansen Miracle Gel

PHOTO:

Amazon

$7 at Amazon

$13 at Ulta

$13 at Sallybeauty.com

What We Like

• Smooth polish coagulates upon application, keeping it neater

• Flat, angled brush

• Inexpensive

• Wide shade range

What We Don't Like

• Hard to remove

 Shades: 123 | Size: 0.5 fl. oz | Finish: Shimmer, shine | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Applying this budget-friendly polish from Sally Hansen was a breeze. There is no UV lamp required, but you need to make sure that you apply the first coat very evenly, otherwise, the rest of the layers will look chunky or uneven. The application is pretty simple, fast-drying, and applies pretty thickly on the nail.

This polish lasted almost two weeks without issues. After a week of wear, our nails looked about the same as when we first applied the polish, with the exception of a few minor chips and wear down on the polish. The gel does smudge shortly after application if you don't properly let it dry for about 15 minutes, so that's something to be cognizant of. We liked that our nails did not become less shiny throughout the testing period.

Even though this formula doesn&#;t require a UV lamp, we still found that we had to file down the polish, use acetone and a cotton ball, and put foil on all of our nails to fully remove it.

• Byrdie / Jhett Thompson

• Byrdie / Jhett Thompson

• Byrdie / Jhett Thompson

• Byrdie / Jhett Thompson

"When applied and removed correctly, gels are completely safe to wear on an ongoing basis,&#; adds Rita. "Gels can certainly weaken the nails if they are peeled or pried off the nail, which can strip layers of the natural nail, or if the nail if over buffed prior to gel application."

3. The ingredients in the gel polish matter. 

"More than just nail health, I opt for total body health,&#; says Jenna, who warns against the &#;toxic trio&#; carcinogens that are present in many polishes: Formaldehyde, toluene, and dibutyl phthalate (DBP). "After clinical testing, in high doses, these ingredients were found to cause inflammation along with many other adverse side effects like disturbing liver and thyroid function for example,&#; Rita explains. Luckily, most all professional-grade nail polishes manufactured today do not contain these &#;nasties.&#; Jenna's own brand of lacquers, along with Jinsoon's, RGB's, Zoya's, and Sally Hansen's come formulated without those common culprits.

4. Try to limit your exposure to the UV lamp.

A recent study from the American Academy of Dermatology revealed that gel manicures may not be a safe option for people who are highly sensitive to UV light. &#;The UV dose that you receive during a gel manicure is brief, but it&#;s intense,&#; Dr. Adigun said in the study. &#;Over time, this intense exposure can add up to cause skin damage.&#;

"An additional concern is the rise in popularity of LED nail lamps," Dr. Adigun notes of her own research on the safety of gel manicures. LED lamps have become popular as much for their faster curing times as the belief that they're safer than UV lamps, but Dr. Adigun insists this is not the case. "Although many people mistakenly believe these lamps do not use UVA [rays] to cure, they in fact use higher intensities of UVA wavelengths in order to achieve the shorter curing times. This higher intensity of UVA irradiance means that it requires less time for these lamps to potentially harm the skin," she explains.

When you still need your gel fix, Dr. Adigun says you'll need to make sure you use a broad-spectrum sunscreen, meaning that it protects against UVA/UVB rays. Plus, the UVA light from the nail lamps is stronger than the usual exposure you get from the sun. "Applying sunscreen during a manicure is [also] logistically difficult," she adds. "By the time the hand-care portion of the manicure is finished, prior to the application of the gels, sunscreen would need to be applied, and then the consumer and the nail technician would need to wait the recommended 20 minutes prior to applying the gel."

Instead, Dr. Adigun recommends bringing along your own pair of YouVeeShield gloves to protect your hands against UVA radiation (which also causes signs of premature aging like dark spots and wrinkles). "It is the most protective material [because it] protects the entire digits and wrist," Dr. Adigun says.

5. Think of gel polish as liquid acrylics.

Ever wonder exactly how gel manicures stay so perfect for so long? "The chemical compositions for gel polish and regular nail polish vary with each brand, but the major difference is that gel polish will only dry under direct UV or LED light contact, while regular nail polish can air dry," explains celebrity nail artist Yoko Sakakura. "Gel polish applications cure under a lamp, creating a hardened layer of polish that makes it more durable and longer-lasting. The removal process for gel polish is more complex as well, requiring the nail to be soaked in acetone to properly dissolve the formula off of the nail." So not only will they last longer, but they'll look harder and shinier while you've got 'em, too.

6. Hot baths or showers can cause gel polish to lift.

"A gel manicure&#;s worst enemy is hot water,&#; says Rita, hence why soaking them is the most effective way to get them off. "Long baths, showers, or time spent in a hot tub can cause lifting, so try your best to avoid these or keep them to a minimum and always wear rubber gloves when you do the dishes!&#; Duly noted.

7. The soaking-off process can be harmful.

While your manicure may stay firmly in place until you're ready to take it off, the removal process can be extremely harsh. According to Jenna and Dr. Adigun, soaking your nails in acetone wrapped in foil is what leaves them dried out and brittle post-gel mani. Additionally, once the foils come off, manicurists may scrape the nail plate with a file, which can result in more nail trauma. Making sure that your manicurist correctly applies and cures your gel polish in the first place can help to lessen this damage. "Properly cured gels remove easily with the acetone soak, whereas improperly cured gels require tools to manually remove them," Dr. Adigun explains.

8. Give your skin some TLC after the gel manicure is removed.

"It's very important that the surrounding skin and cuticle, as well as the nail plate itself, be rehydrated with a thick emollient such as Aquaphor or an overnight mask like Nails Inc.'s Overnight Detox Nail Mask post-removal in order to rehydrate and repair the surrounding skin, cuticle, and nails," Dr. Adigun says.

10. Hydrate your nails.

You know the importance of drinking plenty of H2O for your health &#; and the same rules apply when it comes to nail health. Also, hydrate your nails as much as possible in between salon visits. Dermelect Makeover Ridge Filler acts as a base coat and quenches shriveled nail beds, while the Nails Inc. Back To Life Recover Treatment can be used as a base coat or sheer nude polish that camouflages damage while hydrating nails with vitamin C and coconut, apricot, and avocado oils.

11. Consider using nail wraps for protection.

Want the look of gels minus the damage &#; and dry time? Jenna recommends using painted nail strips like NCLA's topped with a clear gel coat, like Essie's Gel Couture Top Coat. "This way, the gel never touches the actual nail plate, and it seals in the wrap for up to two weeks," she says.

12. ...or "gel-like" polishes to use at home.

There's also a series of "gel-like" polishes available on the market, which have long-wear properties that, generally speaking, will last a full week. While several brands have launched their own versions of the gel finish, Sally Hansen's Miracle Gel Nail Polish comes in over 70 (!) shades, and Covergirl's XL Nail Gel offers a high-shine finish at a drugstore price.

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