These Nail Polishes Are Guaranteed To Stay Chip-Free for a Week (2025)

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When we don’t have the time, funds, or patience to head to the nail salon, we whip out the best long-lasting nail polishes. Their durable formulas are guaranteed to get through all the washing, scrubbing, and swatching our hard-working, well-moisturized hands go through daily—trust us, we’ve put them to the test on our very own digits just to prove it. While they won’t match the wear time of pro-level gel nail polishes, these staples in our at-home manicure routines are strong enough to hold their own, but, for extra precautions, we also tapped some of the most notable nail artists around (who’ve primed the hands of your favorite celebs, by the way) so you can learn all the tips and tricks of the trade to extend the life of your next mani.

Our Top Picks

Frequently Asked Questions

  • How can I make my nail polish last longer?
  • Meet the experts
  • How we test and review products
  • Our staff and testers

Best Overall: Essie Gel Couture Nail Polish

Essie

Gel Couture Nail Polish

Why it's worth it: When Essie’s Gel Couture Nail Polish first hit the scene in 2016, our editors were so impressed that we gave it an Allure Best of Beauty Breakthrough Award that very year, one of our highest accolades. To this day, you can find our editors swiping it on (exhibit A: the photos below). This drugstore nail polish is beloved by our team, our readers, and New York City-based nail artists Julie Kandalec and Sonya Belakhlef for its long-lasting, no-chip formulation that stays put for up to 15 days. “The special bottle is shaped like a twisted gown on a runway and has a brush stem that controls the flow of polish,” adds Kandalec. “The names are absolutely the cutest too, and drawn from fashion and couture, like ‘Bodice Goddess,’ ‘Chiffon the Move,’ and one of my personal go-to reds, ‘Rock the Runway.’

Allure content director Kara McGrath immediately after applying the Essie Gel Couture Nail Polish

Kara McGrath

McGrath seven days after applying the Essie Gel Couture Nail Polish

Kara McGrath

Tester feedback: “Essie, which launched over 40 years ago, has been one of my favorite polish brands since I started painting my nails in kindergarten, but when the brand swapped in wider brushes in 2018, it truly became the lacquer to beat,” says content director Kara McGrath. “That larger brush means fewer strokes to cover your nail, which makes it easier to apply thin layers—a crucial step in creating a long-lasting manicure with regular polish. On a recent test, mine looked almost perfect for five days, only suffering a few chips after some long kitting sessions on the last two days of wear.”

Wear time: 15 days | Finish: glossy | Available shades: 35

Best Shade Range: Olive & June Long Lasting Nail Polish

Olive & June

Long Lasting Nail Polish

Why it's worth it: When we want gel polish-like results without whipping out an LED or UV lamp, we reach for one of the 100+ shades (!) in Olive & June’s Long Lasting Nail Polish collection. Its ultra-wide brush effortlessly creates streak-free strokes, and its pigments are so rich that, depending on the color, you may only need one coat to reach your desired opacity. The best part: You don’t even need a base coat to enjoy this chip-proof polish (but you’ll definitely want to apply a top coat).

Psst: If you do want to go the gel route, Olive & June has an entire line of gel polishes that Kandalec gives two thumbs up.

Allure interim commerce director Deanna Pai immediately after applying the Olive & June Long Lasting Nail Polish

Deanna Pai

Pai seven days after applying the Olive & June Long Lasting Nail Polish

Deanna Pai

Tester feedback: "I'm a diehard manicure DIYer, which is why I have a million and one Olive & June colors. I've found them to be the quickest to apply with minimal chipping,” says interim commerce director Deanna Pai, whose go-to shade is SC, a deep red. “My hands go through a lot now that I'm a mom—bathtime, post-diaper change handwashing, you get the gist—but this still holds up for a week or more. Plus, I like that I don't need a base coat (it's built in, folks!) and that two coats of color usually dry in about 20 minutes."

Wear time: 10 days | Finish: glossy | Available shades: 100+

Best Traditional Nail Polish: Chanel Le Vernis Longwear Nail Colour

Why it's worth it: Our editors have been fans of Chanel’s Le Vernis Longwear Nail Colour for quite some time (since it launched nearly a decade ago, to be exact), and its multi-Best of Beauty Award-winning formula is definitely worth the viral hype. Available in 35 vibrant shades—which shopping director Shanna Shipin described as “simultaneously of-the-moment and classic”—Chanel’s luxe formula has a high-shine finish and a lifespan of, at the very least, seven days without its shine dulling or color chipping. Its quick-drying formula means you’ll be able to go about the rest of your day without worrying about lacquer smears. Shipin also attests to the long-lasting quality: "I've used these polishes with and without base or topcoats, and I've always been impressed by how long they last, even without any protective layers," she said.

Allure commerce editor Sarah Han immediately after applying the Chanel Le Vernis Longwear Nail Colour

Sarah Han

Han seven days after applying the Chanel Le Vernis Longwear Nail Colour

Sarah Han

Tester feedback: Commerce editor Sarah Han was pleasantly surprised when Chanel easily lasted a week’s wear—8.5ish days in total—without any chips because she’s notorious for chipping her nails in just a day or two. “I will caveat two things about this review: 1) I went a lot heavier than usual on the topcoat because I wanted to give the formula the best chance of surviving—as a result, my finish was a little rough/bubbly if you looked up close—but no matter! 2) I wasn’t wearing only Chanel on my nails—the shimmery pink is 181 Songe D’Ete but the purple is from Olive & June.

Wear time: 7 days | Finish: glossy | Available shades: 35

Best Splurge: Hermès Les Mains Hermès Nail Enamel

Hermès

Les Mains Hermès Nail Enamel

Why it's worth it: Willing to invest in a top-tier, luxury formula? Well, there are many luxury nail polishes to choose from these days, but the Hermès Les Mains Hermès Nail Enamel has a special place in our kits for its patent leather-like shine and stay-put formulation. Each of its 24 shades are just as stunning as the Birkin you’re trying to manifest, and its fluid, inky formula won’t clump or gum up as you swipe it on. And, of course, each bottle is encased in Hermès’s signature orange-colored box (talk about fancy, right?).

Allure commerce writer Jennifer Hussein immediately after applying the Hermès Les Mains Hermès Nail Enamel

Jennifer Hussein

Hussein seven days after applying the Hermès Les Mains Hermès Nail Enamel

Jennifer Hussein

Tester feedback: “Usually, my nail polishes get a little tacky by the time I get to the second coat (I think it’s from having my face so close to my hand while I paint, but I digress), but I’ve thankfully never had that problem with the Hermès Les Mains Hermès Nail Enamel,” says commerce writer Jennifer Hussein. “Once it dries, it’s not going anywhere for a full week no matter what you’re up to. My go-to shade, Orange Poppy, stayed put through rounds of yoga, hiking, and swimming with only the tiniest chip to show for it seven days later.”

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Wear time: 7 days | Finish: glossy | Available shades: 24

More long-lasting nail polishes we love:

Best Nail Polish Set: Dazzle Dry Truth System Kit

Dazzle Dry

Truth System Kit

Why it's worth it: When used properly (as in, you read and follow the directions), Belakhlef guarantees you can get 10 full days of crack-free color with the Dazzle Dry Truth System Kit. “I love the system and they have a great range of colors to choose from,” she says. When using Dazzle Dry’s regular nail polish kit, Belakhef suggests letting the polish take its time to dry instead of whipping out a fan to speed up the process —which will cause it to wrinkle—and reinforcing your nail polish color by adding another layer of top coat five days in.

Wear time: 10 days | Finish: glossy | Available shades: 23

Best Gel Nail Polish: Manucurist Green Flash LED Gel Nail Polish

Manucurist

Green Flash LED Gel Nail Polish

Why it's worth it: Doing your own at-home gel manicure is easier than ever with the Manucurist Green Flash LED Gel Nail Polish. Its formula cures under a gentle LED-powered lamp (bye, UV light) to create a vinyl-shine finish that’ll stay in place for 10 full days. “Manucurist’s range of colors is supreme, and I personally use these gel polishes instead of regular polish if I want a solid-color manicure,” says Belakhlef. She adds to apply two to three thin coats (depending on the opacity of your shade) for the best steak-free application.

Wear time: 10 days | Finish: glossy | Available shades: 10

Best Fast-Drying: CND Vinylux Long Wear Polish

CND

Vinylux Long Wear Polish

Why it's worth it: Kandalec is an avid fan of the CND Vinylux Long Wear Polish line—as are we, considering its top coat won an Allure Best of Beauty Award. Both Kandalec and our editors love its gel-like finish that takes a mere eight minutes of your day to dry down (and only needs a single swipe of an acetone-soaked cotton ball to remove). “It is formulated to adhere to the natural nail directly, so no base coat is used like regular lacquer needs,” she says.

Wear time: 7 days | Finish: glossy | Available shades: 20

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I make my nail polish last longer?

According to Belakhlef, prepping your nails before applying nail lacquer is key to extending the life of your at-home manicure’s color. Her words of wisdom: Always follow the directions of the system you are using, and, if you’re going to use a gel polish, make sure your gel lamp is compatible with the products you need to cure, as under-curing could lead to skin irritation. “Do not over buff your nail plate as the damage will also affect your nail’s ability to hold the polish in place,” she adds.

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New York City-based nail artist Elle Gerstein adds that ensuring your nails are clean of dirt, lint, and oil is key for a long-lasting, smooth finish. “Begin by scrubbing your nails with an antibacterial soap and think of it like washing your face—be thorough,” she says. “Let the nails dry and then use isopropyl alcohol (75% and up) to cleanse the nail.” She says doing this will act like an astringent and eliminate any dust and debris from your nailbed. “This will create a flawless, ultra-glossy, long-lasting and fast-drying manicure,” she says. Before you reach for a bottle of acetone-based nail polish remover to cleanse your nails, Gerstein notes that acetone can leave debris on the nail and cause polishes to chip faster or not dry. “It’s like painting on oil, which never dries,” she says.

After prepping, using a proper base coat that has a sticky, rubbery base will latch the polish onto your nails for longer, according to Gerstein (she recommends Orly’s Bonder Rubberized Base Coat, by the way). For an ultra-shiny finish and added barrier of protection against scuffing, swipe on a top coat like the Allure Best of Beauty Award-winning CND Vinylux Long Wear Top Coat, let your look dry, and take on the world and all it has to throw at your perfectly manicured hands.

Meet the experts

How we test and review products

When Allure tests a product, our editors look at it from every angle in an effort to best serve you. We review ingredients, scrutinize brand claims, and, when necessary, examine peer-reviewed scientific and medical studies. In addition to testing each and every product that's included in each and every review, we rely on experts who shape their fields, including dermatology, cosmetic chemistry, and medicine, to help us vet the ingredients and formulas.

For our list of best long-lasting nail polish, we considered each product's performance across five primary categories: product ingredients and efficacy, packaging, fragrance, texture, and product wear. Every product was determined to have excelled in each category by our editorial team, which is composed of in-house writers and editors as well as contributors—along with special consideration from board-certified dermatologists. To learn more information on our reporting and testing processes, read our complete reviews process and methodology page.

Our staff and testers

A beauty product is a personal purchase. You might be searching for a face cream to address persistent dryness or a new nail product to add to your Sunday self-care routine; you may simply be browsing around for the latest launches to hit the hair market. No matter what you seek or your individual needs and concerns, Allure wants to ensure that you love anything we recommend in our stories. We believe that having a diverse team of writers and editors—in addition to the wide range of outside testers and industry experts we regularly call upon—is essential to reaching that goal.

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After all, can we really say a skin-care product is the "best" for people over 50 if the only testers we've solicited opinions from folks who have yet to hit 30? Can we honestly deem a high-end diffuser worthy of your hard-earned cash if it's never been tested on curls? We're proud that our staff spans a wide range of ages, skin tones, hair textures, genders, and backgrounds, which means that we are able to fairly assess any beauty product that comes into the beauty closet.

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These Nail Polishes Are Guaranteed To Stay Chip-Free for a Week (2025)
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