The best gel nail polishes according to user reviews

The best inexpensive gel polishes: budget up to 250 rubles.

Untidy nails can turn off your interlocutor. The uniform length and shape of the nail plates is only half the success. When the preliminary preparation is done, the matter remains with the most interesting part - the design.

Gel polishes have become an integral attribute of fashionistas, many of whom prefer manicures at home. Beginners in this matter are the target audience of manufacturers whose pricing policy can be classified as budget. The price for a bottle of color, up to 250 rubles, is not too expensive, especially in comparison with the emotions received from a personal manicure.

Gel polishes in this segment are slightly inferior in quality to more famous manufacturers, but overall they have proven themselves to be good.

FAQ

Which base coat is best to choose?

The choice of base coat depends on several factors, they differ both in consistency and drying time:

• Skill level. If you are just starting your acquaintance with gel polishes, it will be most convenient for you to work with medium-thick bases; they are the easiest to distribute and dry quickly;
• Condition of nails. Thicker bases are professional and are designed to smooth out significant unevenness in the nail plate;
• Nail length. Some types of bases (elastic, fragile) behave differently on long or short nails.

For more detailed information on choosing, read our rating of the best bases for gel polish.

What is needed for a complete manicure?

Preparation for application:

• Tools for removing cuticles and trimming manicure (necessarily well sharpened);
• Gel polish remover. Removers for regular varnish are not suitable, since they often do not contain acetone, which is necessary for removing persistent gel polishes;
• Degreaser;
• Set of nail files;
• Lint-free wipes.

Direct manicure:

Base - applied in 1-2 layers depending on thickness. Drying lamp. Read more about your choice in the article about the best lamps for drying gel polish from Aliexpress. Top coat - available with or without a sticky layer. It is better to take the second option, since it does not need to be processed additionally.

Ask your question

The best gel polishes in the mid-price category: budget up to 500 rubles.

The gel polishes presented in this section are characterized by great durability - up to 3 weeks. The manicure is preserved in its original form. You get the feeling that you have just left a beauty salon. Nail technicians use the gel polishes presented below in their work, but they are even more popular among those who like to do their own manicure.

Due to their high quality and affordability, these gel polishes make it possible to create a unique design. The palette is represented by a variety of colors and shades, varying densities, degrees of brightness and effects. The price per bottle is less than 500 rubles.

The best premium nail polishes

It is worth making a choice in favor of gel polishes from the premium segment, if only because, along with excellent consumer characteristics, these products contain only expensive and high-quality components. Which, of course, will play a role not only on external data, but also on the health of the nail plate. This coating not only decorates the nail, but also protects it from external aggressive influences.

Most gel polishes can be applied without interruption, which will only make your nails stronger and longer. Their formula provides a unique thin plastic coating, so manicure with them looks natural. They are highly durable and are not subject to cracks or abrasions. All of them can be easily removed without filing, so the nails remain intact. No wonder many of them are used to create star images.

5 Opi GelColor

In 5th place in the ranking is a product from one of the leaders in the nail industry, the American brand Opi.
This brand offers a wide range of shades with different finishes to suit the most demanding tastes, from deep matte to trendy shiny.

The elasticity of this coating is ensured by a special formula, thanks to which it has high durability up to 2-3 weeks without chips, cracks, abrasions and peeling.

This varnish contains no dangerous components and provides protection to your nails. At the same time, it contains amino acids and natural silk, which help strengthen the nail plate. Its consistency ensures even application, without bubbles, streaks or gaps; it is not a hybrid of gel and varnish, but 100% gel. A brush made of natural bristles also adds comfort in applying the coating, which helps to distribute the product more accurately.

This product is definitely worth paying attention to, because in addition to excellent quality characteristics, it has a stylish bottle with a large volume, as much as 15 ml, so the price is quite justified.

Pros:

• Coating durability up to 3 weeks.
• Beautiful colors, rich palette.
• Easy to apply.
• They do not slip during polymerization.
• Easy to remove.
• Does not contain harmful components.
• They don't damage your nails.

Minuses:

• Price.
• Drying only in a UV lamp.

4 Artistic Gel Color

In 4th place is a product created for world stars for shows, filming, and now available in everyday life.
Its unique formula allows the varnish to apply in an ultra-thin layer, drying in an LED lamp in just 30 seconds. It then turns into a durable yet glossy finish with a fantastic shine.

Its durability can reach 3 weeks, while it will not fade, it will not form chips, cracks or peeling.

To remove this gel polish, no filing is required; a special liquid is sufficient. This varnish prevents damage to nails, protects them from exposure to water and other adverse factors, and strengthens them.

Pros:

• It applies well, self-leveling on the plate.
• Excellent durability.
• Large palette of beautiful shades.
• Does not damage nails.
• Easy to remove.
• Large volume.

Minuses:

• High price.

3 EzFlow

In third place is one of the most popular brands in professional nail cosmetics, EzFlow from the USA.
These products will give you a high-quality, smooth, rich coating with an amazing glossy shine for a long time. As practice shows, you often have to renew EzFlow polish not because chips or cracks have formed, but simply because the nail has grown out.

Manicures with it look incredibly beautiful, as it forms a thin layer, and a large palette of shades makes it easy to choose the right color.

It belongs to soluble varnishes, therefore it does not require filing when removing, no harmful substances are used in its production, thus, due to its protective properties, gel polish allows you to strengthen the nail plate.

Pros:

• Durability of the coating is 2-3 weeks.
• Easy to remove.
• Does not damage the nail plate.
• It has no pungent odor or harmful substances in its composition.
• Rich palette of shades.
• Large bottle volume.
• A comfortable brush with a straight cut, not very elastic.

Minuses:

• Liquid consistency.

2 E.Mi gel polish

E.Mi gel polish takes second place in our rating.
The polish comes in a soft pink bottle with a white cap, which shows the shade and its number. The volume of the bottle is 9 ml. Also on sale you can find a smaller version of 6 ml and a larger version of 15 ml. The color collection includes pastel and rich bright shades. The coating can be either glossy or with a slight shimmer. A comfortable brush ensures good application of the varnish. It is flat, has an even cut and high-quality pile. The varnish itself has a medium-thick consistency and high density.

Buyers are satisfied with their choice and highly rate E.Mi gel polish. Of course, they are primarily attracted by the beautiful packaging design, but this is not the basis for good reviews. Girls like the variety of colors in the collection of varnishes, the nobility and relevance of the shades. The composition lays down evenly, spreads smoothly and leaves no streaks. Good pigmentation allows you to get bright colors from the first layer. In addition, the varnish is highly durable and can be worn on nails for up to four or even five weeks.

Pros:

• Richness of shades.
• Rich colors.
• Convenient brush.
• Smooth application.
• Persistence.

E.Mi gel polish

1 Shellac CND

In first place is the brand that was the first to master this technology in the nail industry, combining gel and polish in one bottle.
And since then, any coating is often called “shillak”. By purchasing this product for manicure, you get perfect application, bright shine, rich colors and all this is complemented by high durability.

Shellac gel polish is one of the most successful combinations of external characteristics and durability. At the same time, it is practically odorless, strengthens and protects nails, and its technology includes a 7 FREE formula; it does not contain dibutyl phthalate, toluene, formaldehyde and its resins, xylene and methyl ethyl ketone. This composition is considered hypoallergenic.

Using this product as a coating, you will not need to take a break from wearing it to restore your nails. To remove such varnish, you only need a special liquid.

The main difficulty that you may encounter is the number of counterfeits of this brand.

Pros:

• High durability without chipping.
• Brilliant smooth glossy finish, rich in color.
• Easily removed by soaking.
• Without smell.
• Easy to apply even for home use.
• Has a safe composition.

Minuses:

• Price.
• In terms of external parameters and durability, there are cheaper analogues.
• There are many fakes on the market.
• Compared to other brands, the shade palette is small.

Shellac CND gel polish

Solomeya

Inexpensive gel polishes are just gaining popularity, but are now often found on the shelves of online and offline stores. The main advantage is a convenient brush that paints well and evenly distributes gel polish.

The colors are pigmented, but there are several shades that are not the best - milky, for example, applies evenly in only 2-3 layers. The gel polish lasts for the prescribed 2-3 weeks.

Some review sites contain information that Solomeya can cause allergies, but the composition of the product is safe - all dangerous components have been replaced with friendly analogues. The smell is normal, moderately pronounced.

The palette is still small, but is constantly being replenished. At the moment there are a little more than 100 shades available.

• Cost - up to 500 rubles.
• The palette is small, so minus 1, another 0.5 is subtracted for the pigmentation of a number of shades and reviews of allergies.
• Total – 5 points for Solomeya gel polishes.

Shellac application technology

Many women are willing to pay for the services of salon specialists only because after the varnishing procedure, their hands remain well-groomed for at least 14 days. This saves a lot of time, especially since gel polish and manicure make your hands attractive.

When applied correctly, gel polish is firmly attached to the nails and does not peel off. But for this you need to comply with some conditions and procedures.

1. The nail is prepared for application of the base product. First, you need to very carefully treat your nails with an antiseptic, sand the nail plate, give it the desired shape, and remove overgrown cuticles. All this can be conveniently done using a manicure machine and a 180 grit abrasive file, a buff, an orange stick and nippers.
2. Then the nail plate is degreased, a dehydrator (bonder, drying agent) is used, and a primer is applied (for most expensive shellacs, a primer is not needed, since the base is enough). We recommend applying a primer even in this case: the adhesion of the substance to the nail will be noticeably better.
3. Apply the base. You can use the native base for a specific product, biogel or colorless gel polish. The base looks like a transparent, viscous resin: the product levels the plate and gives it the desired shape. The base is applied from the cuticle to the tip of the nail, not reaching the nail folds, and the end of the nail and the sides of the protruding tip are sealed. The base is dried in an ultraviolet lamp for up to a minute, an LED lamp, or a hybrid lamp for 10–30 seconds (calculations are given for a professional lamp with a power of more than 48 watts). Much depends on the power of the lamp! The lower the power, the longer it takes to dry your nails. It is the correct application of the base that allows you to avoid chipping and peeling of the material.
4. The gel color product is very carefully applied in two layers: each is dried in a UV lamp for up to 30 seconds. After drying one nail, paint the second and place the entire hand under the lamp. Then the first dried nail will dry out, and the second will set. It is necessary to retreat approximately 0.1 mm from the cuticle so as not to touch the skin. Please note that the duration of curing depends on the power of the lamp, so we recommend purchasing a lamp with a power of at least 36 W, and preferably a hybrid one: modern products contain a lot of dyes that dry much better under rays of different spectra.
5. The finishing (top) product is applied. Dries in a lamp for 60 seconds.
6. A special liquid removes the sticky layer, if necessary (there are tops that do not form a sticky layer when dried).
7. Use cuticle oil.
8. Hands are wiped with a napkin, then nourishing hand cream is applied.

Rating of popular brands

AuthorVoting

• 1 Klio Professional is a brand that appeared on the market in 2016, but has already managed to win the hearts of many industry fans. The brand offers many lines with a huge palette of colors. The products are designed in such a way that even a beginner will find it convenient to work with their consistency, and the reasonable price will allow you to buy everything you need without harming your budget.
• 2 TNL Professional is a huge Korean company that has been on the market for many years. Here you can find not only high-quality gel polishes, but also everything you need to create the perfect manicure at affordable prices. The best-selling brand in the CIS is popular among both amateurs and nail professionals.
• 3 Haruyama is an inexpensive Japanese brand with a wide range of colors and highly pigmented shades. Perfect for beginners who are just starting to get acquainted with the world of gel polishes. Despite the low cost, I am pleased with the high-quality composition without harmful components, which does not spoil the nail plate.
• 4 Vogue Nails - a young domestic brand in just 4 years has managed to become quite famous in the market thanks to its affordable price and high quality. The well-developed formula makes the gel polishes of this brand very easy to use, and the extensive color palette will allow every girl to choose what she needs.
• 5 Kodi Professional is a legendary brand that has been wildly popular among eminent professionals and ordinary users for many years. Due to the huge demand, their products are often counterfeited, so be sure to pay attention to this when purchasing.

Also trustworthy: Lianail, In'Garden, PNB, CND, Masura, Rio Profi, Beautix, Tartiso, Patrisa Nail, NeoNail, Grattol, Artex, Canni Colors, RUNAIL, Irisk Professional.

Why can't you save money on shellac?

All manufacturers are constantly striving to improve their products, but consumers are aware of only a few well-known and trusted brands whose products do not harm nails. Which gel polish is better? How to choose a truly safe product?

Gel polish contains:

• A film former that hardens under the influence of ultraviolet rays and forms a durable film on the surface of the nail. It is this substance that characterizes the quality of the product: ultimate flexibility, resistance to external influences and deformation.
• Photoinitiator. This substance is responsible for determining under which spectrum of rays the product will harden better - under the influence of ultraviolet radiation or LED. The rate of polymerization depends on the same substance.
• Methacrylates (esters of acrylic acid). Responsible for the consistency of the product.
• Special additives, fillers and types of pigments that give varnishes certain properties (viscosity, plasticity, color saturation). Silica prevents pigment settling, and bismuth chloroxide gives a pearlescent sheen.

Before applying the product, nails are treated with a bonder and primer for better adhesion (adhesion of the material to the nail). Primers contain methacrylic acid. Manufacturers offer acidic and acid-free primers - they also contain acid, but are more gentle. An acid primer is good for acrylic extensions, and an acid-free primer is recommended for use before painting nails with shellac.

It is strictly not recommended to purchase inexpensive primers! They often have too high a concentration of acid. Their constant use can lead to chemical burns to the surface of the nails.

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