Do you use *expensive* nail polish?

[misskitty100]

I am bored today (can you tell?;) ) and it is snowing outside AGAIN!!!

Just curious how many of you use department store nail polish instead of Cover Girl, Maybelline or other drug store brands? I have used both dept. store brands and drug store brands in the past and have never really noticed a difference. What has your experience been?

[tippy7]

I use OPI. It's much better than department store brands--mostly because it dries faster. And it isn't drastically more expensive than drugstore brands (it's around $7). Every salon or spa that I've ever gotten a manicure at uses OPI so I figure it's the best!

[KristiB]

They all chip. Some a little more than others.

OPI seems to last a little longer but if I really like the color I don't pay attention to the brand.

I have 2 Chanel shades that I love that I haven't found in cheaper brands. Those are a definite splurge!

[Miss_Liss]

I use OPI, which a lot of salons use, but that being said, it's not super expensive. I find it chips less and I love the range of colors. I also love their "Nail Envy", which is a nail strengthening treatment. I buy it in matte and once you paint it on and it dries, you can't even tell you have any kind of polish and it doesn't show chips like regular clear treatments that tend to be shiny.

[mayre]

I 2nd OPI. It is "nail lacquer" rather than "nail enamel". It dries quickly & to a very hard finish.

[testkitchen45]

I like Mary Kay and OPI, and I do see a difference b/w those and the CGirl, Maybelline, etc.

Bought some sparkly "little-kid" NP for my DD. It washed off in the shower!

[aggie94]

Another OPI fan. They have some great colors, so I usually pick them up when I see them and take them to my nail tech, who uses them for my manis and pedis (I don't do my own nails). Everything chips, but OPI seems to last a little bit longer than others.

[zackaboo]

Another OPI girl here! On my toes I think the only color that I ever use it I'm Not Really a Cocktail Waitress. :)

[donnamp14]

OPI for me, too. It really lasts a little longer than the drug store brands. Right now, I'm wearing "Nice colour, eh?". Bogata Blackberry is my fave.

-Donna

[tippy7]

Bogota Blackberry is one of my favorites too Right now I am wearing You're A Pisa Work, which was a recent purchase, on my toes and I love it!

[Lauren]

I don't polish my nails or get manicures regularly, but when I do it's OPI. :p

[Miss_Liss]

I only paint my own fingers with matte clear, as mentioned above, because I have very thin nails and fragile nail beds. Maricures are nearly always a disaster :eek: I do, however, get pedicures. I keep trying to choose different colors but I always go back to OPI 'Nice Hand, Great Nails' - makes me feel all summery. I even get it during winter, even though I'm the only one who sees it...well DBF does too, I guess, but he couldn't care less:p

[Krysia1031]

Another vote for OPI. It seems to last the longest out all of the ones I've tried.

[aggie94]

BTW, one of my favorite OPI colors for my toes is "I'm Not Really a Waitress." :D

[badunnin]

BTW, one of my favorite OPI colors for my toes is "I'm Not Really a Waitress." :D


Too funny! There is another BB member that has that as a favourite colour as well!

[Robyn1007]

Too funny! There is another BB member that has that as a favourite colour as well!

Me too! :D

[aggie94]

Too funny! There is another BB member that has that as a favourite colour as well!

Sorry, didn't catch that post by zackaboo. :o

[badunnin]

Sorry, didn't catch that post by zackaboo. :o

Actually, neither did I! I was referring to someone else! :D

[little_bopeep]

My fav OPI color is "Vampire State Building," but I can't find it these days. It's the very same as "I'm Not Really a Waitress," but it doesn't have the metallic sparklies. I think the color I have one now is "Where's My Gourd?" My OPI nails never chip anywhere except the very tips of the nails, and then it only wears off a tiny fraction of an inch. I love it!

[Debralynn]

OPI all of the time. The Best.

[Peeps]

I swear by Essie, I find that their polish lasts forever without chipping and is also only about $5-$7 in beauty supply stores (and is also used by a lot of salons). I love the shade Mademoiselle, I think I'm on my third bottle - the only nail polish I've ever bought more than one bottle of! It's the perfect pale pink.
http://www.essie.com/shop/images/384.jpg
I originally got it as a promo when I subscribed to Mademoiselle magazine, it just came randomly in the mail and I'd never even heard of Essie before. The magazine isn't still around but the nail polish was such a hit they are still making it (phew!).

[Miss_Liss]

My fav OPI color is "Vampire State Building," but I can't find it these days.

My fave is hard to find too but there are several websites that sell discontinued OPI colors and they also often pop up on eBay. :)

[LakeMartinGal]

I generally go by color, since I have a difficult complexion... I used to use Hong Kong Sunrise, by OPI, but when they discontinued it, I started using Rose Fantasy, by China Glaze.

I get my nails done every other week. I've started getting a gel finish, which lasts WAY better than a regular manicure or acrylic nails! In the summer, I get pedicures, but I hate them... sensitive feet! :o

[mbrogier]

Essie is formaldehyde free, and OPI isn't. I'm not sure that formaldehyde in nail polish is actually bad for you since it doesn't get ingested. I still use OPI since that's what most salons use.

There's a fall color I loved called Relax, You're Two Pence from the London collection. It was an orangy gold color. I think it's discontinued because I couldn't find it last time at Ulta. What websites sell discontinued OPI? I'm a bit concerned about buying nail polish on Ebay because it would be such a pain if the polish you bought was all old and nasty. The fight to get your money back wouldn't be worth all the trouble it would be for an $8 bottle of polish.

My mom gave me some of her polishes she didn't want. One was a gorgeous pink from Estee Lauder. I did like the consistency and staying power of that polish.

[greatcook]

I usually go for the cheapy stuff myself, since I usually buy Nail Polish on a whim when I'm at Target- I like Essie, but I never see it anywhere- do they only carry it at beauty supply stores?

[Deb67]

I like OPI the best, but if Covergirl or another has a great color I will buy it. If you know someone with a cosmetology license they can get OPI for about $3.50 a bottle. I like 'Aphrodite's Pink Nightie' on my toes in the summer and "Dancing in the Isles'. Sometimes I can spend minutes just reading all the fun names. Whose job is that anyway? I would like to apply!:D