Nail varnish inspo needed. Tell me what brands I should buy pls

[Kittenmumma]

Want to start making an effort with nails, don’t want gel/shellac.
What are the best brands in terms of quality and longevity?
Some nice shades to recommend? I just have 2 essies so far: bright red and plum. Want to start a collection!

I only buy NailsInc these days.

Mavala.

Morgan Taylor

Holo Taco is the best nail polish I’ve ever used. Shipping is expensive though as it is shipped from America I think.

Nailberry - great colours, cruelty free, don’t get gunked-up and thick.

Nail Kind is really good. I got sent a sample kit and really liked it.

Barry M is as about good as anything else amd has a really good range. Prep and application is more important than brand. Base coat, 2x coats of colour and top coat, capping the free edge and letting every coat dry fully. Push your cuticles back and make sure all trace of cuticle is off the nail bed.

Thanks! Would all these layers not make it easier to chip?

Essie & Nails inc are the only ones I don't chip within hours.

Have a look on the rainbow connection website, it’s amazing!

No not at all, the opposite!

Used to be an Essie girl but haven’t been keen lately. Have started using MyMood and it’s been brilliant. Stays on for ages with no chips

Opi for me. Have Cajun Shrimp on my toes at the moment, great summer colour.

OPI if price not an issue. Essie good and more affordable.

Essie

Chanel has the most pigment and best flow IME.

Lovely colours too, but I gave up wasting my money on it years ago because it chips so easily. Don't know if it's better now.

I find Essie chips quickly so I use OPI and Nails inc now.

As an aside, I want a French manicure for my hols using traditional varnish, can I get one, can I heck! Tried a number of salons and they only do gel, acrylic, shellac etc. 😤

I really struggle to find any that will use polish too. It's a pain.

Chanel has the most pigment and best flow IME.

True, I still have some that only cost £14. They are ridiculously priced now.

I exclusively wear Essie Mademoiselle. I apply it every Thursday, 2 coats, and it lasts until the following Thursday. No chips etc.

I love nail polish, and probably have far too much!

I like Zoya polishes (I buy from Nail Polish Direct), as well as Essie, OPI, Leighton Denny and some Sally Hansen. I agree with a PP, a good base coat, two thin layers of colour and topcoat (I always use Essie's Good to Go, it dries the polish quickly, too) will mean it lasts well

Nailberry is the only brand I can apply myself and it looks professional. Lovely colours too.

I actually find Rimmel 60 second nail polish to be fantastic. Loads of lovely colours and the brush is the best I've ever used. Very reasonably priced too.

Rimmel and Mabyeline are the 2 brands I always go back to and I’ve tried most over the years.

Would pay a bit extra but any time I have splashed out I’ve been disappointed - I recall that the Chanel ones were amongst the worst for chipping within days.