When it comes to polishing your at-home manicure, a little practice goes a long way and having a collection of the finest nail polish colors will help you get the type of salon-quality results you’re accustomed to. Everyone has a favorite hue, whether it’s a classic red, a deep navy, or a soft, dreamy pastel that’s all over your Instagram feed. But, as anybody who has ever painted their own nails knows, not all nail paints are made equal: Some leave a smear; some take hours to dry, and still others chip the next day. You might easily waste years searching for the perfect brush and formula, which is why we did the legwork for you and compiled this list of tried-and-true polishes. Scroll through some of the greatest nail polish colors to add to your collection, from unquestionable classics to small companies with nontoxic formulations.

PearNova

I’m not afraid to use color on my nails—the brighter, the better, in my opinion. During the summer, my go-to color is generally a bright neon, and no one does bold like PearNova. The polishes are simple to DIY at home and the best nail polish color for toes since they offer exceptional coverage and color payoff. The long brush, however, is arguably the nicest element since it wonderfully hugs the curvature of my nail beds. If you’re looking for something a little more subtle, the brand offers all of the most popular nail colors.

Gelish

While the argument over whether to use gel nail polish or dip powder nails continues, I’ll be sticking to

Gelish when I want a long-lasting manicure. The gel is simple to make at home, particularly if you have a UV lamp to cure your polish. When going to the salon isn’t an option, it’s nice to know that you can achieve salon-quality gel nail results at home.

Gucci

For almost three years, I’ve been thinking about the green jumpsuit Lana Del Rey wears in this Gucci commercial, and the company has finally manufactured it in a form I can really afford. The hue looks so fresh and cool on my nails, and it makes me feel a bit artsier than my regular red, so it was well worth the wait. The polish is gleaming and smooth, and the larger handle is not only attractive, but it also makes DIY manicures a breeze.”

Luxe Lacquer by SIS

I just found SIS nail paints and have been completely enamored with them ever since. The attractive manicure colors vary from bright neons for spring and summer to dark, brooding colors that are ideal for winter nail designs. I’m not the greatest at self-manicuring, but the large brush makes it simple to do so. Plus, isn’t the bottle gorgeous?

Essie

When people are asked to pick their favorite nail paints, Essie is almost always at the top of the list. I mean, the fact that even Queen Elizabeth has one says a lot. (That’s the famous Ballet Slippers color, which is also said to be the color Meghan Markle wore to her wedding.) If those awards aren’t enough to persuade you, the brand’s wide color variety will. Essie has produced over 900 colors in 35 years, 250 of which are permanent and all of which are stunning, to suit a wide variety of nail forms. Meanwhile, the product’s lasting power is virtually always a week—too if you add a topcoat. If there’s one brand that manicurists consistently recommend, it’s this one.

Chanel

We may not, everyone, be able to afford a Chanel purse, but $28 on nail paint is far more realistic. Nothing beats the feeling of removing the cap off one of these stylish glass bottles. The hues are rich and timeless, which are two adjectives that perfectly describe the Chanel way of life. Nothing puts me more in the dream zone than a red-wine-inspired manicure, which Rouge Noir is ideal for. The deep burgundy tint is a moodier version of cherry red, but it’s still ageless.

OPI

Since I was a kid, I’ve been a huge fan of OPI. Despite the fact that it’s a nail brand, I’ve always found the themed collections, fantasy names, and journalistic marketing campaigns to be quite fashionable. In addition, the color palette is amazing. It includes everything from traditional reds (my personal fave is ChickFlick Cherry) to hard-to-find slime greens and hazy pastel manicure colors, all at drugstore pricing. The substance itself is quite luscious and glossy, and the teeny, tiny brush is ideal for painting your own nails.

Sally Hansen

I have a love-hate relationship with nail polish. I like the shiny, put-together look of a new coat, but it’s all too easy to end up with cracked and brittle nails, which aren’t the prettiest accessory (to say the least)! Sally Hansen’s Miracle Gel has rapidly become one of my go-to nail polishes. The two-step method (color and topcoat) dries quickly and leaves a flawless, chip-resistant manicure. Plus, you can say goodbye to dangerous UV light; this miraculous gel lasts up to 14 days without exposing your hands to UV rays and comes in a variety of colors for your pedicure. Non-toxic nail paints have improved and become more accessible than ever before, yet they’re still hard to come by in the drugstore manicure aisle. Sally Hansen’s new vegan polishes are here to alter that. The series is available in 30 colors and has a 16-free, plant-based recipe (including the brush bristles). Which one is my personal favorite? Laven-Dear is a lovely muted lavender that applies smoothly and lasts for days.

Essie Expressie

I like my nails to dry quickly, even if I have nowhere to go. Who, after all, appreciates sitting powerless with their hands akimbo? Essie’s new Expressie Quick-Dry Nail Color has a brush that is large enough to cover my whole nail in one stroke without making a mess. I finished painting both hands in about a minute. I required a second coat to get the desired opacity, but if I was genuinely in a hurry, I could get away with just one. But here’s the big kicker: Not only did it take a minute to paint all of my nails, but it only took 66 seconds for this Glamour Beauty Award winner to dry. Yes, I kept track of the time.

Olive & June, L.A.’s trendiest nail salon, debuted its own collection of seven-free paints in 2019, and it’s easy to understand why people were shocked. You can tell whether a polish is excellent by how shiny it is, and they have a deep sheen. I think it’s the spring weather, but I’m particularly fond of the Pastels collection. JLR is my personal fave. It’s a bright, almost creamy yellow that looks great on its own or as a nail art basis.