These days nail art is on the edge of popularity, and new ideas are appearing with every day. That is why you should keep in touch not only with all the recent trends but also with all the appearing products. Gel nail polish is something you probably have already heard about or even tried out. That is why it is time you learn all the truth about this recent type of nail polish!
*We may earn money from affiliate links on this page. Please check out our Disclaimer policy for more details.
All Things What You Should Know About Gel Polishes
To begin with, it should be interesting to know why gel polishes are so special and how they are different from regular nail polishes. The thing is that while regular nail polish is just the paint that dries out when exposed to air – gel polish dries out only when cured in a UV or LED lamp. What is more, it is crucial that you use base and top coat together with gel nail polish while with regular one it is optional. Another advantage of gel polish is that it lasts a lot longer than regular nail polish, the most – three weeks, the least – two. Impressive isn’t it?
However, even though many people claim that gel nails are harmful to your nails – you can harm only on your own if you use it improperly, other than that there is barely anything how the gel polish would harm your nails. LED light or UV light is not very harmful to you, but while creating the gel manicure, you have to make sure that you always apply a base coat to your nails.
Very often people wonder whether they can combine gel polish with the regular one. Theoretically, if you apply a base and top coat you can add regular polish in-between but it won’t last you as long as a gel nail polish that is for sure.
There is another thing that interests many people – what is the difference between shellac nails and gel polish. The truth is that there is almost no difference apart from the fact that shellac is a little easier to remove. As for the removal, that is where it gets interesting too. When you wonder how to remove gel nail polish, it may seem quite obvious that if it is a special type of nail polish you need some special means to remove it. The answer would be – no. Of course, the nail polish producing companies would like you to think so, just to make some more money. The fact is that you can remove your gel nails with the help of regular acetone or nail polish remover, but you will have to keep it on for a little longer than it takes regular nail polish to come off. That is why gel nail polish is called soak-off polish; you have to literary soak it off with cotton balls soak in acetone and some aluminum foil wrap around your fingernail.
Now when you know all these details, it is time to figure out which gel nail polish brands are the best ones. That is why we have gathered here 18 different nail polishes brands so that you can research the area and come up with the best possible option for you. Before we proceed, let’s summarize all the pros and cons of gel nail polish:
Pros:
- Variety of brands to choose from.
- Variety of shades to choose from.
- Durability.
- Long-lasting effect.
Cons:
- Price.
- The range of additional equipment and production required.
OPI Gel Color Nail Polish
OPI gel nail polish is seriously considered to be one of the best gel nail polish options throughout the globe, and we will try to explain why.
Pros:
- Lasts up to 14 days.
- Great formula.
- Huge variety of unique colors.
- Harmless.
- Used by professionals.
Cons:
- Pretty pricey.
Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Nail Polish
What makes Sally Hansen gel nail polish differ from all the other ones is that you do not need a LED or UV lamp to make it dry out, which almost as using good old regular nail polish with the ability to last up to a fortnight.
Pros:
-
- Long-lasting.
- Over 60 shades to choose from.
- No light required.
- Gentle to your nails.
- Affordability.
- Easy to remove.
Cons:
-
-
- Thick formula.
-
Bio Seaweed Gel Nail Polish
If judge a book by the cover it is time you judge the nail polish by the name. Bio Seaweed Gel actually speaks for itself and now we are going to explain precisely why.
Pros:
-
-
- Easy to apply even for a beginner.
- Easy to remove.
- Used both by professionals and beginners.
- Affordability.
- Variety of shades to choose from.
-
Cons:
-
-
- The formula may be the issue for some people.
-
Daily Charme Gel Nail Polish
Daily Charme is another gel nail polish to try out, especially if you are just beginning your journey into the realm of nail art. Here is what you should know before investing into this nail polish.
Pros:
-
-
- Affordability.
- Long-lasting.
- Great range of shades to experiment with.
- Easy to remove.
- Easy to apply.
-
Cons:
-
-
- Pigmentation leaves much to be desired.
- Colors may differ in real life.
-
Madam Glam Soak-off Gel Nail Polish
Very often when you are just getting addicted to something you have to monitor your budges closely, if you recently found yourself addicted to gel nail art – this is exactly the type of nail polish you need to consider!
Pros:
-
-
- Great variety of colors.
- Popular polishes included.
- Affordable.
-
Cons:
-
-
- Not long-lasting.
-
Deborah Lippmann Gel Nail Polish
Some nail polish companies just know the right way to capture your heart and Deborah Lippmann is surely one of them. The thing is that together with ever gel polish choice you get a regular one as a present. Sweet and convenient, isn’t it?
Pros:
-
-
- Lasting, up to two weeks.
- Same-shaded nail polish is granted as a present.
- A wide range of colors to choose from, holographic ones including.
-
Cons:
-
-
- Thick formula.
- You need add many layers to have a color.
-
BANDI Gel Nail Polish
Gel nail polish brands are all different, and each has something special to offer, that is true. When it comes to BANDI polishes, it is safe to say that this is one of the brightest nail polish company there is.
Pros:
-
-
- Long lasting.
- Bright and Nude shades.
- Durable.
-
Cons:
-
-
- Pigmentation required multiple coating.
-
CND Shellac Gel Nail Polish
In case you are looking for a shellac option instead of gel nail polish then CND shellac is surely the best option! However, it is important that you use the same brand for everything else, base and top coats, even lam including.
Pros:
-
-
- Lasting, up to two weeks .
- No need to rough the nail surface.
- Great variety of shades.
- Thin formula.
- Easy to remove.
- Used by professionals.
-
Cons:
-
-
- Should be used with other CND Shellac products.
- Expensive.
-
NCLA Gel Nail Polish
NCLA has a great gel polish collection too. That is why if shellac is not your cup of tea, there is a list of things to consider about gel polish option.
Pros:
-
-
- Durable.
- A wide range of colors.
- Great pigmentation.
-
Cons:
-
-
- Not long lasting.
-
Kinetics Gel Nail Polish
There are certain gel polishes that it seems almost everything is perfect about them. Here is where you learn why almost.
Pros:
-
-
- Lasts up to three weeks.
- Huge range of colors.
- Speed gel option.
- Color is shown on the top of the bottle.
- Great for stamping.
-
Cons:
-
-
- Thick formula.
- Has streaky.
-
Rimmel London Gel Nail Polish
Rimmel London is popular on the market, and we can say that it is going to make all the way to the top.
Pros:
-
-
- Very pigmented.
- Easy to apply.
-
Cons:
-
-
- Some polishes need several coats.
-
Artistic Soak Off Gel Nail Polish
Artistic are also popular at the market, and there is a range of things to take into consideration before opting for it:
Pros:
-
-
- Long-lasting.
- Easy to apply.
- Great formula.
- Affordable.
-
Cons:
-
-
- Strong smell.
- Requires more than two coats.
-
Essence Gel Nail Polish
This is another brand popular among people who are all up for a home manicure. In case you are willing to join the crowd, here is what you need to know about this gel nail polish.
Pros:
-
-
- Long-lasting.
- An infinite amount of color options.
- Low price.
-
Cons:
-
-
- Requires more than two coats.
- Thin formula.
-
The GelBottle Inc Nail Polish
The GelBottle Inc brand is the perfect brand for those of you who are all in for neutral and dusty shades. However, there are a few things to consider before giving in to it.
Pros:
-
-
- Long-lasting.
- Decent amount of colors.
- Used by professional.
-
Cons:
-
-
- Requires more than two coats.
- The formula can be streaky.
-
Essie Gel Nail Polish
Essie is surely very popular brand and if you are looking for the quality that would be your perfect choice.
Pros:
-
-
- Long-lasting.
- Durable.
- Huge range of colors.
- Great pigmentation.
- Easy to remove.
-
Cons:
-
-
- Expensive.
-
El Corazon Gel Nail Polish
If you are looking for something that can offer you mind-blowing color combos for a fair price – El Corazon would be it!
Pros:
-
-
- Dramatic colors.
- Easy to apply.
-
Cons:
-
-
- Requires more than two coats.
- Not long-lasting.
- Strong smell.
-
Was this article helpful?