There’s just something about having your nails perfectly polished that makes you feel like you have your stuff together.
Something we all missed during the lockdown period, trips to the local salon to get our digits designed is one of life’s smallest but greatest pleasures and a true act of self-care. However, during this time, many of us honed our skills in the at-home mani-predi game. We learnt the right amount of layers, the best way to apply and the foolproof textures in order to achieve a paint job worthy of the professionals. Others tried their best to not much avail.
Like any good workman knows, it’s all in the tools. Investing in your polish wardrobe will get you well on your way to creating enviable nail designs that deserve a place on your Instagram grid. It’s all about the ingredients, not just to ensure the lasting power of the colour but also to ensure that your nails remain healthy and strong beneath.
We consulted the experts to guide your polish purchases.
Which nail polish is best?
Pro nail artist for OPI Iram Shelton reveals that the best nail polish “depends on personal preference and what you’re trying to achieve”. She adds, “As a pro, I always analyse my client’s nails before choosing which gel I’ll use. If my client has weak nails, I’ll choose the OPI Stay Strong base coat because it helps to strengthen the nail. If you’re someone who has normal or stronger nails, I’d choose the OPI Stay Classic base coat. I really like OPI gel formulas because they’re easy to work with, have a lot of colours to choose from and leave a long lasting shine”.
Rosie Briggs, CND Nail Artist says for her, “it has to be CND™ Shellac”. But, “If you’re more inclined to do a DIY manicure or you don’t want to commit to a colour for more than two weeks, CND™ Vinylux is great”.
When shopping for your hue, she stresses that it’s important to “Do your research and use a reputable brand. There are lots of brands out there that use unsafe ingredients which can damage the natural nail”.
How has innovation changed the nail polish space?
“It’s made it so much easier for people to achieve salon-looking results from home” says Shelton. “You can get gel-like polish which have quick drying times and variations on strengtheners and nail treatments. If you don’t like to spend much money on getting your nails done, there are plenty of ways of doing gels yourself at home to create a long-lasting finish but without the use of an LED lamp. I also think brands are getting better at showing “how to” content online which has made the nail space grow since lockdown”.
Briggs also reports that “when used properly, CND™ Vinylux Long Wear Top Coat means a polish manicure can last more than seven days! This is huge for regular nail lacquer”.
How many layers of nail polish should you use?
“Two thin layers of product is always better than one thick layer” says Briggs. “‘Thin to win’ is the motto for CND!”.
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“It really depends on the colour and the look you’re wanting to achieve”, explains Shelton. “If it’s a nude colour and I want it as natural as possible I might only apply one coat of colour along with a base and top coat. However, if I’m applying a solid colour, I usually apply two. You shouldn’t really need to apply more than two coats of colour with polish. The trick is to apply thin coats and allow to dry for at least sixty seconds between each coat for a perfect finish”.
What are you favourite nail art designs/colours right now?
Shelton tells us, “Right now I’m experimenting with minimal nail looks. I really love adding a pop of colour to a nude nail so you’ll always find me creating something minimal but fun! I’m also a sucker for a French tip and I’ll always be creating different styles of it. It just never gets boring for me. As long as I have a nude base (usually OPI Bubble Bath), I treat it as a blank canvas. This then allows me to get creative whilst still being chic”.
So, which nail polish is best? We decode the biggest and most note-worthy brand on the market below.
