YouLookFab Forum » Topic: The next nail thread--color and price

YouLookFab Forum » Topic: The next nail thread--color and price https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-next-nail-thread--color-and-price Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Sat, 11 Apr 2026 16:47:36 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 <![CDATA[Search]]> q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php MsMary on "The next nail thread--color and price" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-next-nail-thread--color-and-price#post-2401456 Sat, 27 Dec 2025 18:44:37 +0000 MsMary 2401456@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I only get my (toe)nails polished at the salon, and I almost always choose OPI and am plenty happy with it. I just get my fingernails buffed. Carol on "The next nail thread--color and price" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-next-nail-thread--color-and-price#post-2401144 Fri, 19 Dec 2025 20:48:22 +0000 Carol 2401144@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ cat2 and Christel--good recommendation--I will check that out. Kate--I love Sally Hansen. The "lost" brown sounds cute. I currently have a mocha color on my nails, which I applied myself. Andi--light pinks and nudes seem to be all the rage, with a few people doing them for years back. What is a "dip?" It is nice to have nails that last, but I don't know if it's worth it to me. Sal--I rarely do my nails, either, but I don't work in a professional environment, so I can paint them and let them chip. I am using a cuticle balm, and I will probably not stop.  Carol on "The next nail thread--color and price" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-next-nail-thread--color-and-price#post-2401142 Fri, 19 Dec 2025 20:41:24 +0000 Carol 2401142@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Sorry I have been gone so long. Jenni--I also like a good mini, but I find I don't spend much on the regular sizes anyway, so it doesn't matter. Robin--cool little kit--unavailable on Amazon right now. But I love finding out about products I don't know about, like oils, treatments, etc. Bella/Sisi--I don't know that a nail polish could be called organic, unless it has actual plant material, and I doubt they do...since organic refers to growing things without chemicals. Natural, sure...just avoiding the most harmful chemicals. Essie--good reminder--that is widely available to me, and has many colors. Donna--I have not tried that, and I wonder how it works. I actually like the idea of doing nails over 2 days--I also get smudges.  Helena--that is a great point. I don't know that I have ever gotten to the bottom of a polish, but there are certainly ones that had a lot of wears.  Sal on "The next nail thread--color and price" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-next-nail-thread--color-and-price#post-2401131 Fri, 19 Dec 2025 02:52:15 +0000 Sal 2401131@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I like OPI and Essie but rarely do my nails anymore.  I am just too hard on them with gardening and one thing and another. I have been trying to use nourishing oil on my cuticles and I think it is helping.... AndiB on "The next nail thread--color and price" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-next-nail-thread--color-and-price#post-2401066 Wed, 17 Dec 2025 19:50:04 +0000 AndiB 2401066@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I have kinda bad nails, and am notoriously rough on them.  I used to buy a new nude/pink every time I wanted to paint my nails.  My daughter recently asked if I could pull out my nail color box, she needed to borrow for a wedding.  I pulled out a box of indistinguishable neutral nudes and pinks, some of them over a decade old.  Tossed the lot of them, haha.  In 2024 I got a dip with my daughter and have never looked back.  Lasts 3 to 4 weeks, I pick either a soft white in summer ("It is what all the professional girls use", said my manicurist) or since fall "light pink".  Yes, with all the fancy and fun names for polish I pick "light pink".  I really enjoy nails that look as good at 3 weeks as they did on day one, save for a bit of grow out.  I guess that's why I pick light pink, makes the grow out much less noticeable.  For my toes I've used OPI Pompeii Purple for years, a perfect pinky - red with blue undertones and just a bit of sparkle.  Though I've done a no-polish pedi the last few visits, I am just giving the toes a bit of a break.  No longer sandal season although I do a yoga class 4 or 5 days a week, so my toes ARE out! Kate on "The next nail thread--color and price" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-next-nail-thread--color-and-price#post-2400755 Sat, 13 Dec 2025 06:31:37 +0000 Kate 2400755@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Cost does matter, and I most often use Essie polishes. They have some great brown colors, which I particularly like. I only wish Essie hadn't discontinued my favorite, Little Brown Dress. I've also used OPI and Sally Hanson polishes and found them perfectly fine. It's only my technique that's lacking!  I had a professional manicure today and chose a Zoya polish, which is new to me. It'll be interesting to see how long it lasts before chipping.  ChristelJ on "The next nail thread--color and price" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-next-nail-thread--color-and-price#post-2400414 Mon, 08 Dec 2025 12:50:57 +0000 ChristelJ 2400414@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Another fan of Zoya. Both the polish and remover.  cat2 on "The next nail thread--color and price" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-next-nail-thread--color-and-price#post-2400326 Sat, 06 Dec 2025 19:03:34 +0000 cat2 2400326@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I like Zoya. Less toxic. Fun colors, without the quirky performance of indies. Helena on "The next nail thread--color and price" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-next-nail-thread--color-and-price#post-2400323 Sat, 06 Dec 2025 18:26:06 +0000 Helena 2400323@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Another Kur lover here ... Donna, I haven't tried that one but their nail concealer does exactly what they claim in my experience, so I think it would be worth trying. With the exception of a very occasional burgundy (Essie gel), I use the concealer one almost exclusively. To me the cheapest nail polish is the one I use to the bottom, and Kur is it for me ... It's pricey but the cost per wear is prob the best I've ever gotten! DonnaF on "The next nail thread--color and price" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-next-nail-thread--color-and-price#post-2400269 Fri, 05 Dec 2025 16:37:35 +0000 DonnaF 2400269@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Unless I do my nails over two days I tend to end up with smudges. I was intrigued by the Find below. Anyone tried it? Sisi on "The next nail thread--color and price" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-next-nail-thread--color-and-price#post-2400268 Fri, 05 Dec 2025 16:31:02 +0000 Sisi 2400268@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ No, the price of nail polish does not matter to me. I agree with LJP, the quality of expensive brands is often the same as medium-priced ones. I find Essie very good. I only have one Dior - I could not resist the very pale pink with tiny glitters ...  Sometimes you are attracted to a color that is only available in an expensive brand. Bella, I would also like to find organic polishes and, possibly, removers - thank you for mentioning Yves Rocher.  RobinF on "The next nail thread--color and price" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-next-nail-thread--color-and-price#post-2400247 Fri, 05 Dec 2025 13:18:17 +0000 RobinF 2400247@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Carol - They sell online and on Amazon. I started with a mini kit like this.  Jenni NZ on "The next nail thread--color and price" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-next-nail-thread--color-and-price#post-2400137 Thu, 04 Dec 2025 04:08:34 +0000 Jenni NZ 2400137@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I enjoy thinking about nail polish more than actually using it I think. I remember applying it the day of a school ball I think it was, I was 17 and remember it as a very bright pink! Similar to what I have on my toenails right now that I did for that wedding 10 days ago. In years past I really enjoyed being able to buy some mini nail polishes. I think Maybelline used to do some, much smaller bottles, might have been called Maybelline mini. Because I don’t actually get around to applying it as often as I think I might, that was a way of trying some fun colours more cheaply and then they wouldn’t be as likely to go hard or crusty as I could use them up easier. I enjoyed a bright pink and a gold in those. I wish you could still get some Carol on "The next nail thread--color and price" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-next-nail-thread--color-and-price#post-2400136 Thu, 04 Dec 2025 03:32:08 +0000 Carol 2400136@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Bella--I worked in natural products stores for years, and really liked the brands we had. However, it depends what you are looking for. We had a very natural, affordable brand made of just pigment and beeswax, etc. mushed together, but it really didn't work as well as the others. (Honeybee Gardens) One of the best brands was Mineral Fusion, and I did look at the ingredients--seemed to have some chemicals, preservatives, etc. But it worked well, and it is so hard to make anything without those. I mean, hand sanitizer has a lot of alcohol, for instance--you need the alcohol. These brands just tend to avoid the more harmful chemicals. Their acetone-free nail polish remover worked better that the regular stuff, and always flew off the shelf. Robin--that system sounds promising. Where did you get it? Jules--cuticle care is so important!  I have right now Badger Cuticle Care, which is basically Shea butter with important essential oils. I do make my own deodorant, and support the making of beauty products.  Carol on "The next nail thread--color and price" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-next-nail-thread--color-and-price#post-2400135 Thu, 04 Dec 2025 03:21:13 +0000 Carol 2400135@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Agusta--good to know your two cents on indies, drugstore and dollar store.  That is rather hopeful, because drugstore polish tends to be affordable. Irina--premium products that do something unique can be worth it, true. I know a nail polish remover about 15 times the price of others, but it works well. I would buy that. LJP--I have tried to steer clear of Sephora from the beginning, though I would easily drop $100 on some natural make up. They have convinced us all that that is what we need to pay now. Also, who says you don't need all those variations of red or brown? Different moods. :D Angie--always good to know a product--I have not worn clear polish in years, but if I had the right hands and nails, I would. Jules on "The next nail thread--color and price" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-next-nail-thread--color-and-price#post-2400107 Wed, 03 Dec 2025 22:21:13 +0000 Jules 2400107@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I periodically get caught up in a trendy ‘must-have’ product such as Kur’s ‘nail concealer’, or some specific duo of mid-price colour and top coat that’s supposed to last a week, but find they never perform as promised. I only get a couple of days without chipping at any price point. As for trendy colours, I used to sometimes get them by Joe Fresh, which is a cheap Canadian grocery store brand. The quality isn’t as good in terms of application but nothing a second coat doesn’t fix. It’s not like I end up using it more than once before it becomes one of many colours I have collected over the years. I’m obsessed with cuticle/nail bed care and make my own ‘solar oil’ dupe because it’s just way too expensive for what’s essentially almond and jojoba oil. I ordered empty polish bottles online to fill and it’s been one of my more successful little projects in that I actually do make it and use it, lol RobinF on "The next nail thread--color and price" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-next-nail-thread--color-and-price#post-2400082 Wed, 03 Dec 2025 13:43:04 +0000 RobinF 2400082@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I am not a big nail polish person - rarely do my fingernails and toes only in the summer - but I recently tried Dazzle Dry and was impressed. I tend to pick at my nails when they are polished so it doesn't last but this does even for me. And supposedly all natural and comes off well. Fairly expensive though and you need the whole system for it to work as they say. It has a lot of steps but dries really fast so doesn't take any longer than other polishes. Now that we are talking about nails, maybe I need a few new colors... bella on "The next nail thread--color and price" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-next-nail-thread--color-and-price#post-2400076 Wed, 03 Dec 2025 07:03:05 +0000 bella 2400076@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I've switched to exclusively organic/natural makeup products as of January 25 and have found that nail polish and nail polish removers are notoriously difficult to find with those specifications. It shows that they are mostly synthetic compounds that contain many chemicals. I found one polish that is mostly (but not completely) organic/natural from Yves Rocher. The natural nail polish remover is even worse, because there are hardly any natural compounds that will remove polish, and the one that I found smells truly awful - not worth the trouble.  I now apply sparingly.  That said, these are both still spendy, and if anyone could point me in the direction of products that fit my requirements, I'd be happy to spend good money. At this point, ingredients are the most important thing to me.  Angie on "The next nail thread--color and price" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-next-nail-thread--color-and-price#post-2400069 Wed, 03 Dec 2025 00:08:21 +0000 Angie 2400069@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I do clear nail polish and no colour. The best one I've found - it lasts, and I like the shine! - is KUR by Londontown. It's not cheap. Yet I like it best.  LJP on "The next nail thread--color and price" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-next-nail-thread--color-and-price#post-2400067 Tue, 02 Dec 2025 23:18:11 +0000 LJP 2400067@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I've tried Chanel and Dior and didn't find any difference between those and say, OPI or Essie. I saw Gucci polish at Sephora the other day and almost burst out laughing at the $47 price point, but then had to admit I've paid close to that for lipstick. Prices for everything are insane and I'm done with it all. I stick exclusively to OPI and Essi, and now KUR/Londontown with the odd foray into Sally Hanson if it's some colour I can't find in another brand. I wouldn't buy dollar-store/discount store stuff . I'm kind of a sucker for nail polish and have to remind myself I do not need 4 variations of red or brown or nude pink or blue etc. Irina on "The next nail thread--color and price" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-next-nail-thread--color-and-price#post-2400066 Tue, 02 Dec 2025 22:19:03 +0000 Irina 2400066@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I would pay more for a premium product that is not exactly replicated by less expensive brands. I use Dior Nail Glow but I don’t have lots of nail polishes. Maybe a couple for my toenails and a clear top coat. I don’t attempt to apply darker colors myself, I don’t have a steady hand. I bought once Chanel but didn’t like it on me and gifted it to someone who would put it to a good use.  Augusta on "The next nail thread--color and price" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-next-nail-thread--color-and-price#post-2400060 Tue, 02 Dec 2025 19:57:16 +0000 Augusta 2400060@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <div>Yay, another nail polish thread Thanks!</div><div> </div><div>I am not planning to buy nail polish any time soon, but yes price absolutely matters to me. I will not pay luxury brand prices, not worth it to me. For that price they should apply themselves and wear like iron. They don't. I will also not buy no-name polishes from say dollar stores (or dollar twenty-five stores ;)) Salon and drugstore do nice colors and finishes. For example, I now have on an old OPI color called You Don't Know Jacques, and it did come close to basically applying itself - excellent formula!</div><div>If you want interesting and fancy colors and finishes, nowadays indies is where it's at. </div> Carol on "The next nail thread--color and price" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-next-nail-thread--color-and-price#post-2400056 Tue, 02 Dec 2025 18:48:47 +0000 Carol 2400056@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Still looking through the last post--thanks for the responses. Most people said they preferred natural or polished nails to an acrylic nail. And it  got me thinking how easy and accessible nail color/finishes are. You can put a lot of time in, but you can also slap on a color for a couple of days, if that's all you want. My question is--does the cost of polish/finish matter to you at all? As a person who much reveres the world of beauty, arts and crafts, I do believe there is probably a quality difference between a $50 bottle and a $2 bottle. But at the practical level for myself, I am just as happy with a cheap drugstore brand. One notable difference I see is that the pricier companies tend to come out with hit colors before everyone else. When mint was a sensation, that was first in fashion spreads, and only seemed to be made by Chanel, etc. Or Urban Decay, back in the 90s, had every vampy shade of the rainbow.