Wedding, hectic schedule, vacation, or simply because you like the look—there comes a time when you just need the long-wear of the best gel nail polish. “Gel polish is basically your mani’s long lasting BFF. Unlike regular nail polish that air dries, gel polish cures under a UV or LED lamp, which makes it super durable and glossy,” pro manicurist Iram Shelton tells Vogue. “It’s perfect if you want nails that last up to two to three weeks. The formula is a bit thicker than traditional polish, but the payoff? Glossy, salon-finish nails that don’t budge!”
Vogue’s favorite Gel Nail Polish
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While you’ll always find gel polish options at your local nail salon, similar formulas are also available for those who prefer to pain their nails at home. After 30 to 60 seconds under a UV lamp, your manicure is smudge proof and long-wearing. Below, shop the best gel nail polish brands—goodbye, air drying!
Best Plant-based: Manucurist Green Flash LED Gel Polish
- Why we love it: Made with 84% naturally sourced ingredients, Manucurist’s gel polish is a plant-based alternative to traditional gel polish—you’ll get the same shine and long-wear, without any harsh chemicals or damage to your nail bed.
- Shades: 22
- Staying Power: Up to 10 days
- Size: 0.5 fl oz
Best Viral: Olive & June Gel Polish
- Why we love it: Olive & June’s gel polishes have gone viral several times over, and for good reason—they boast one of the longest results of at-home gel polishes, with up to 21 days of wear, all while still maintaining a formula that’s HEMA-free (a common ingredient in gel polishes for adhesion and shine, which is also a known allergen). Plus, all Olive & June products are cruelty-free and vegan.
- Shades: 35
- Staying Power: Up to 21 Days
- Size: 0.46 fl oz
Best for Beginners: Le Mini Macaron Gel Nail Polish
- Why we love it: When you’re new to at-home manicures, applying top coats and base coats in addition to your color might feel like a challenge. For those looking to simplify matters, this gel polish boasts a 3-in-1 formula combining base coat, color, and top coat in one bottle. Best of all, the formula is free from nine key harsh ingredients, such as formaldehyde (and yes, it’s vegan and cruelty free). With over 100 shades, there’s no shortage of options when finding your favorite color.
- Shades: 100+
- Staying Power: Up to 14 days
- Size: 0.29 fl. oz
Best Gel-Like: Deborah Lippmann Gel Lab Pro Nail Color
- Why we love it: When you’re after a quick fix for a gel nail polish look, with no lamps or tools necessary, Deborah Lippmann’s polish is a close alternative. This polish doesn’t skimp on high shine, thanks to a blend of nylon and carnauba wax. Meanwhile, the formula boasts other skin-loving ingredients like keratin, biotin, and rice protein to boost nail health.
- Shades: 69
- Staying Power: Up to 14 days, when applied with a base coat and top coat
- Size: 0.5 oz
Best Trio: Aprés Gel Couleur Trio Set
- Why we love it: While Aprés is best known for its viral gel extensions, it also offers a range of self-leveling gel polishes (meaning, no lumpy nails with minimal effort). The brand’s trio set offers a classic color, along with a base coat and top coat—and the brushes are flat and densely packed with synthetic fibers for precision painting.
- Shades: 3
- Staying Power: Up tp 21 days (without gel extensions)
- Size: 0.5 fl oz
Best Set On Amazon: Beetles Nude Pink Gel Nail Polish Set
- Why we love it: For a trusted gel polish brand on Amazon, look no further than Beetles. The brand offers polishes for any style or trend you can imagine, ranging from neutrals to jewel tones (and even our favorite jelly nail colors). Each set offers six shades, all at a budget-friendly price point.
- Shades: 6 shades per set
- Staying Power: Up to 21 days
- Size: 0.51 fl oz
Best Duo: DND Gel Polish Set
- Why we love it: DND’s gel polish duo offers 36 shades in two different variations—no matter which color you choose, you’ll get an opaque and sheer version to create everything from a classic single-color manicure to semi-sheer nails (which just happens to be the perfect base for a French manicure).
- Shades: 36
- Staying Power: Up to three weeks
- Size: 0.5 oz
Best Salon Brand: Orly Gel Fx Nail Color
- Why we love it: When perusing the nail salon to pick your manicure color, you may have noticed Orly bottles lining the walls—it’s a salon mainstay that’s also available for at-home use. With antioxidants such as vitamins A, E, and B5, Orly’s Gel Fx formula is meant to promote nail health while providing long-wearing, shiny nail color. For best results, the brand recommends using a gel base and top coat to ensure longevity.
- Shades: 53
- Staying Power: Up to 21 days
- Size: 0.3 fl oz
Everything You Need To Know
How does gel nail polish differ from regular nail polish?
Long story short, gel nail polishes are built to last. “Gel nail polish is a special type of nail polish cured under a UV or LED lamp. It offers a high shine, chip-resistant finish that typically lasts 2-3 weeks,” celebrity nail artist Kim Truong explains.
Bad Bunny’s go-to nail artist, Yoko Sakura, adds that another perk of gel nail polishes is their high-speed drying once cured under an LED Lamp. Unlike regular nail polish, where air drying is always a guessing game, gel polishes are an exact science—after 60 seconds of curing, your nails are rock hard.
How To Apply Gel Nail Polish
All the pros agree—nail prep is key to ensure long lasting results. Shelton breaks down step by step the best practices for gel nail polish application:
- Start with Clean Nails: Shelton advises removing old polish, washing your thoroughly hands, and gently pushing back cuticles with a small metal or wooden cuticle pusher.
- Shape & Buff: “File your nails to your desired shape and lightly buff the surface to remove shine. This helps the gel grip better,” says Shelton.
- Use Rubbing Alcohol: An often overlooked step, Shelton encourages always wiping your nail bed with a lint-free cotton pad soaked isopropyl alcohol to remove any natural oils from that could interfere with application and drying.
- Apply a Base Coat: “The key to ensuring your manicure looks good is making sure all layers are thin and even—start with a base coat, then cure your nails under a UV lamp for 30-60 seconds,” says Shelton.
- Apply Color: “Don’t flood your cuticles. Keeping all your polish layers thin, neat, and below the cuticle ensures your manicure won’t lift,” says Shelton. Once your color polish is applied, cure your nails again.
- Top it Off: Always finish off gel with a top coat for an ultra glossy finish, and cure one final time. If you notice a sticky layer, don’t panic—simply wipe again with a pad soaked in alcohol to remove it.
How long should I cure my gel polish manicure?
While the general rule of thumb is 30 to 60 seconds per polish layer, the pros remind us that overall drying time can sometimes vary, depending on the nail polish’s formulation and the drying lamp’s strength, says Truong.
“Always check the bottle or manufacturer’s instructions. If your manicure still feels sticky or soft after curing, make sure the layers aren’t too thick and give it a little extra time under the lamp,” adds Shelton.
How To Keep Your Gel Nail Polish Bubble-Free
No one likes air bubbles in their manicure—it ruins the overall sleek and shiny look of freshly-polished nails. The pros share their tips on how you can prevent the dreaded bubbling in your at-home gel manicure:
- Shake It Up: “Always shake your polish (base coat, color, or top coat) the right way up. You can also roll it between your hands, like a cocktail shaker,” says Shelton.
- Apply Thin Coats: The pros agree thick layers of polish won’t cure properly and therefor trap bubbles. Before you begin applying, wipe off excess polish on a tissue or inside the bottle’s neck.
- Minimize Brushing: “Avoid overworking the polish. Once you’ve applied a layer, resist the urge to keep brushing it around,” says Shelton, advising to instead paint gel polish on in one consistent swiping motion.
- Proper Polish Storage: “Avoid applying gel polish in or near direct sunlight as the sun’s UV rays will cure the polish prematurely and can lead to thickening, bubbles, and uneven application,” says Truong. The same goes where you store your gel polishes—keep them out of direct sunlight and at room temperature.
How To Remove Gel Nail Polish
Proper gel nail polish removal is essential to maintaining your overall nail health. “Gently file the top coat to break the seal, then apply acetone-soaked cotton pads to the nails, wrap and secure with foil, and let sit for 10–15 minutes. Once softened, gently push off the gel using a cuticle pusher,” says Truong. “If your gel polish isn’t coming off easily, re-wrap your nails one more time,” adds Shelton. “Always avoid forcing gel polish off, as it can damage the nails.”
- Iram Shelton is a luxury nail artist based out of the Bulgari Hotel London Spa. She also served as OPI brand ambassador since July 2023.
- Yoko Sakura is a Los Angeles based celebrity manicurist whose clients include as Lily Gladstone, Elizabeth Debicki, Olivia Rodrigo, Bad Bunny, and more.
- Kim Truong is a celebrity nail artist with over 12 years of experience. Her clients include Chrissy Teigen, Taraji P. Henson, the Kardashians, Kylie Jenner, Kendall Jenner, Sofia Richie, Nicki Minaj, and more.
