Melanie : Best Long-Lasting: OPI
I've loved OPI since I was little. Even though it's a nail brand, the themed collections, fantastical names, and editorial ad campaigns have always seemed very fashiony to me. Plus the color range is stunning. It has everything from classic reds (This is my personal favorite) to harder to find slime greens and dusty pastels at drugstore prices. The formula itself feels really luxurious and has a super-shiny finish, and the teeny tiny brush is perfect for painting your own nails. —Isabella Cacciatore, beauty associate....
Best Budget Nail Polish: Sally Hansen
Nail polish and I have a love-hate relationship. While I do love the polished, put-together appearance of a fresh coat, chipped and brittle nails are not the cutest accessory (to say the least)! Sally Hansen's Miracle Gel has quickly become my saving grace for painting my own nails. The two-step process dries in a matter of minutes, creating a smooth, chip-proof manicure. Plus you can say goodbye to harmful UV light; this miracle gel lasts up to 14 days without exposing your hands to ultraviolet rays. —Talia Gutierrez, beauty assistant.
Best Vegan: Zoya
Best Neutrals: Côte but this six-free polish is super easy to apply. It doesn't go on thick or so thin that you can't see the color—even in the white shade (No. 2). I love white nails, but I'm really picky with them, since some polishes can look like Wite-Out. This color is really pretty, and it lasted for a while without chipping. —Anna Moeslein, senior editor
Best Reds: CND
My nail polish collection consists of many, many shades of red, and the ones from CND always impress me. The brush covers your nail with two strokes, and the polish goes on thick and smooth. I like to use it with the brand's....bubu...for a long-lasting, glossy finish—and despite the fact that I'm washing my hands non-stop, the polish doesn't chip until the third or fourth day. —Talia Abbas, commerce writer
Best Pastels: Olive & June
L.A.'s coolest nail salon launched its own line of seven-free polishes in 2019, and it's not hard to see why people freaked out over it. You can tell a good polish from its shine, and these ones have a rich gloss. Blame it on the spring weather, but I especially love the Pastels collection. My favorite is JLR. It's a light, almost creamy yellow that works well alone.
Best Pinks: Sundays.
Best Blues: Smith & Cult
If you're looking for an eight-free polish that looks as good on as in the bottle, this is it. The colors are gorgeous—like this deep blue—and the finish is super glossy, which gave my nails that fresh-from-the-salon shine that didn't chip for days. So many blues stain your nails and cuticles when you try to remove them, but even the deepest navy polishes from Smith & Cult comes off with ease. I never fail to get compliments, whether I'm wearing a summery cobalt or dark-as-night indigo. —Halie LeSavage
Best Darks: Jin Soon
I love dark nail polish, but it's so obvious when it starts to chip. That's what makes Jin Soon's formulas so incredible. The shades almost always last me a week before showing signs of wear, and they keep their shine even after washing your hands a million times. Impressive for a 10-free lacquer. —L.S.
COURTESY OF BRAND
Best Special Effects: Paintbox
I have a huge repertoire of polishes, and this is, by far, my most used bottle of the bunch. Paintbox's formulas are top-notch in general: They last, go on like melted butter, and have a unique brush that gives you control so you're not slathering your skin instead of the sides of your nail. But this matte polish is something else. I've applied it over every kind of formula, and it ups the ante every time—it just looks so cool and effortless. Whether you use it alone, or \ with some glossy nail art, this polish is truly a vibe. —S.S.