Nail Polish - recommendations please ---

[FiveShelties]

I would prefer something easy to apply which lasts for a few days and is not too expensive. Does such a thing exist? Also should I use Gel or do these not work well at home? Many thanks.

I don't use gel. Seems like a faff with the lamp and everything, and I don't think my nails would react well.

I really like Barry M Speed Dry. Lovely wide, rounded brush for easy application and you need two or three coats (three for the pastels), but the coats are thin so I can get a week out of it without chipping, and it dries so quickly it doesn't take long to do.

I have tried many .. Cheap and expensive ! I always come back to Rimmel and no7 .
I use a base coat - OPI
2 coats of colour
Top coat - I think seche vite is the best .

Mine usually last a week

I like Barry M as well. Use a base coat, especially if you're using anything other than palet pink or clear. Add a top coat for extra shine & longevity.

I also like the Maybelline polish in the oval pots (forever strong), not the cylindrical pots (colour show). I find the colour show can be bubbly & not cover very well.

The Rimmel 60 seconds is not bad & has some nice pastel colours.

I don't like the Boots No7 polish. Poor cover & stays soft for days IME. Even when used with drying spray.

If you just want sheer pearlescent cover, I rather like Boots Natural Collection. Cheap, too. 1 coat of the pale colours gives a really sheer cover, 2 coats with a couple of hours between is better & gives better colour & cover. It's not great for staying power (chips after a day or two), but if you want to change your nail colour every day or two, it's a cost effective option. I tend to touch up the chips to stretch an extra day out of it.

Having tried many both expensive and cheap I really rate Rimmel.
I have though just bought a lamp and did them last Thursday ( well add 17 did them )and the still look good. Bought lamp and polish , basecoat, topcoat and 2 colours and bottle of acetone from eBay and including a massive bottle of alcohol it came to just over £30, nearly bought the sensational kit from boots at £70!!

Thank you so much - I will write them down and head for Boots/Superdrug or somewhere similar. I had a wander last week and was amazed at the sheer amount of choice and came away with nothing.

I use either Barry M or Essie

I like Rimmel, either Pro or 60 seconds. Nails Inc is good if you can find a good special offer (they're giving it away in Glamour mag this month, so it's 2 quid but only a choice of 4 colours of course.

Sensationail gel kit is usually on offer in books before Xmas.

Boots not books, bloomin auto correct

Rimmel and essie are my favourites. I always use Sally Hansen base and top coats. The insta dry top coat is the one I would choose.

To make sure your polish lasts make sure you clean your nails first with a swipe of nail polish remover before base coat, 2 coats of colour and top coat.

Are the fast drying ones better do you think?

I use whatever varnish, cheap, pricey, whatever but always finish off with Seche Vite - it's amazing. It will stay on for days.

I've tried many over the years!

Personally, I don't like the quick-drying nail polishes as I find them a bit "gooey" to apply.

The best at the moment on the cheaper end is the Boots No. 7 Gel Effect Polish - outlasts even my Nails Inc polishes.

And yy to Sally Hanson Base and Top Coat.

Barry M is honestly the best and I have Channel to Nails Inc to Ciate! - a few thin coats are much better than one thick one. I start with a Sally base coat (fully silver bottle) I then usually use a Sally top coat - the silver bottle with the blue lid - it seals and makes polish look like gel. You need a thicker coat of that.
Mine usually lasts at least a week

Another vote for Barry M here.

I also vote for Rimmel, esp. its Salon Pro line. Cheap and the best drugstore choice I've tried in terms of longevity and consistency. Even better than some Essies I have.
Seche Vite top coat is super glossy but I've found the bottle goes gloopy and really hard (like super glue) after a few months and I had to throw mine away. I now use and like Sally Hansen InstaDri.
I know lots of people rate Barry M but the one I tried was terrible, gloopy and impossible to apply right. Maybe it was the whitish color or a dud.

M&S Autograph one coats are good.

Oh dear I've committed a fashion crime - I mean Chanel not channel!!
feather I'm surprised to hear that I have quite a few Barry M and love them all. One year they did a really glittery red and it was so perfect and Christmassy !

Ooh the red glittery one by Chanel could have been malice - part of their Christmas collection in 2012 (I think!) I got it as a Xmas gift, it's stunning and still use it now! Shame it was limited edition though

BarryM gelly or Essie polishes are my faves. Usually paint my nails twice a week and have about 200 I get bored easily!

One of my all time faves is the gelly Barry M in chilli. Lovely deep red, classy and perfect for Autumn/winter

Thank you for all your posts.

So I should use a base coat, then two coats of polish, then a top coat - no wonder my one coat of 'whatever' did not last! Have lots of Boot/Superdrug point so will enjoy spending them.

I always find something decent in Poundland. Their own range really isn't bad and my local one sells brand names like Revlon and Sally Hansen.

www.poundland.co.uk/health-and-beauty/make-up-gallery/nails

I've only tried one Poundland polish. I did not like it. Thick & gloopy yet failed to cover - usually they're mutually exclusive.

The key with Poundland is to look for the decent brands (they'll be discontinued colours). However sometimes even they will be old and "off" so cast a sceptical eye for splitting.

Poundland looks very interesting - I did not realise they had brand names. Thank you.

Oh no, I often scour Poundland for brand polishes. I got some lovely Maybelline limited edition glitter polish (looks amazing, total bastard to remove.) I just didn't like their own brand stuff.