Best Drugstore Nail Polish Brands for an Easy At-Home Manicure

We love getting a manicure in the salon. The quality and experience (not to mention the hand massage) definitely beats us trying to stay in the lines painting at our kitchen table. However, sometimes you need a quick, cheap manicure and you’re the best person for the job. You’ll need some pro-level tools to get the best mani possible. We’ve rounded up our favorite drugstore nail polish brands to have on hand for an emergency at-home manicure.

Best drugstore nail polish brands for at-home manicures

1 / 5

Essie

Essie is well-beloved and stocked in just about all the drugstores for a reason. Everyone from celebrity nail artists to first-time DIYers turn to Essie to create a solid manicure. The brand offers hundreds of shades and continues to launch new ones, so you’ll never get bored. You can find a handful of finishes in most drugstores, including Gel Couture ($12), Expressie ($10), Art Studio Special Effects ($13) and your standard Essie polishes ($10).

Best-selling shades: Ballet Slippers, Bikini so Teeny, Forever Yummy, Mademoiselle

2 / 5

OPI

OPI lines the shelves of many of our favorite nail salons as well as your local drugstores—we love a nail polish that can do both. They offer a handful of polish options like RapiDry ($10), Infinite Shine ($12), Nature Strong ($13) and their general Nail Lacquer ($12), but they generally restrict their gel sales to salons. OPI boasts some of the most iconic nail shades and they keep giving the people what they want and coming out with more.

Best-selling shades: Funny Bunny, Bubble Bath, Put it in Neutral, Big Apple Red

3 / 5

Sally Hansen

Launched back in 1946 by the trailblazing Sally Hansen herself, this brand has been around for many nail trends and still sits on top as one of the best polishes around. The first creation, Hard as Nails ($4) nail strengthener is still popular alongside the many polish varieties including Miracle Gel ($13), Insta-Dri ($8), Color Therapy ($10), Extreme Wear ($4) and Good.Kind.Pure ($10). The brand has plenty of hues to choose from and we’re sure Sally would be proud the polish can still be found at most drugstores.

Best-selling shades: Expresso, Triple Thread, Daycream, Rose Bold

4 / 5

Ella+mila

This nail polish brand from the 21st century focuses on offering eco-friendly high-end products. One of their biggest claims to fame is that their polishes are free of many of the common chemical culprits found in nail products, which makes it a top choice for moms to share with their daughters without worry. The polish shades are fun and you can feel good about using them. You can often find their nail polishes ($7-$13) in a variety of finishes like jelly, glitter and matte.

Best-selling shades: Berry Much in Love, Pour the Bubbly, Honeymoon Bliss, La Vie en Rose

5 / 5

Olive & June

The newest brand of the bunch, Olive & June was founded in 2013, but it has been a trailblazer ever since. They offer both nail polishes and press-on nails ($10), which have recently become available in drugstores, making their success even more widespread. The polishes often have cute names that make you want to grab 10, and once you try one you’ll be hooked on the smooth, streak-free finish.

Best-selling shades: Larchmont, Fig Ranch, Stinson Sunset, Point Dume