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Byrdie / Amelia Manley
Those of us who have gotten professional manicures are very familiar with the following situation: You walk through the door of your nail salon, are told to pick a color, and then face that daunting wall of lacquers. There can only be one, yet it can feel near impossible to select a winner from so many shades. We’re not ashamed to admit that on some occasions, we’ve spent more than five minutes hemming and hawing before choosing a hue. If you do your own manicures, choosing the right shade is also important—and you want to make sure you go with a salon-quality brand, like OPI, for long lasting coverage, and a glossy, pro finish.
Byrdie Researched & Approved
Though it was hard to name just one shade as the best of them all, OPI Nail Lacquer in Bubble Bath earned that distinction because of its ultimate wearability. For something with a darker hue, consider OPI Nail Lacquer in Lincoln Park After Dark, a classic dark purple that's perfect for the fall and winter seasons.
Sometimes, it can be helpful to narrow things down by picking a brand first, then going from there. A classic salon fave is OPI, a brand that’s been on the beauty scene since 1981. In addition to being recognized for its broad range of shades that include more unexpected colors, OPI is beloved for its many cheeky and punny polish names. We’ve combed through OPI’s huge assortment of nail polishes and picked our favorites. These shades offer good coverage, suit a range of skin tones, and satisfy all your moods, whether you want a bold statement color or something more subtle. We’ve also tapped two experts, who weighed in by sharing their top shades and go-to nail tips for how to wear these top-rated OPI polish favorites.
Best Overall
OPI Nail Lacquer in Bubble Bath
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Opi
Can be worn anytime, anywhere
Works on a variety of skin tones
Can be streaky with one coat
This sheer light pink rules supreme for its versatility. Despite its fair hue, it’s flattering on all skin tones and is the perfect choice for work, weddings, and every occasion in between. Celebrity nail artist Trenna Seney refers to it as “clean” and “sweet,” and we’d have to agree.
Price at time of publish: $11
Finish: Sheer | Size: .62 fl. Oz.
Best for Fall
OPI Nail Lacquer in Lincoln Park After Dark
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Amazon
Flatters all skin tones
Great alternative to black
Moody without being "goth"
Dark color can be hard to fully remove
One of the brand’s most iconic shades, this dark eggplant hue was named by both our experts (and ourselves) as a must. “It’s my edgy go-to,” says Galdina Jimenez, OPI Education Manager for North America. “It gives boss energy—it’s an eye-catching color,” adds Seney. If you usually reach for red or black during the falls, this dark purple is the perfect way to switch it up.
Price at time of publish: $11
Finish: Crème | Size: .62 fl. Oz.
Best for Nail Art
OPI Nail Lacquer in Bare My Soul
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Opi
A dressier alternative to a bare nail
Looks clean and professional
Chips are barely noticeable
May be too sheer for some
If you need “a little something” on your nails but don’t want to commit to a more vibrant manicure, check out the subtly mauve-nude Bare My Soul. “I love this shade as a base for negative space art, French manicures, and wearing alone,” says Jimenez.
Price at time of publish: $11
Finish: Sheer | Size: .62 fl. Oz.
Best Red
OPI Nail Lacquer, Red Nail Polish
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Amazon
Rich color
Flatters all skin tones
Fully opaque in two coats
Not an uncommon shade, can be found at a more economical price
Chips are visible
Ready to turn heads? Try Big Apple Red. “It’s bold, it screams confidence and is definitely a part of ‘the red nail theory,” says Seney, referring to the philosophy that men are attracted to partners wearing red nail polish. It’s not too warm or cool, so it flatters all skin tones.
Price at time of publish: $11
Finish: Crème | Size: .62 fl. Oz.
Best for Fair Skin Tones
OPI OPI Nail Lacquer in Baby, Take a Vow
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Opi
Makes nails look fresh and clean
Always appropriate
Easy "your nails but better" shade
Can be hard to even out with just one coat
This sweet shade is a milky baby pink that makes nails look healthy and classy, regardless of whether or not you choose to add on a French tip. Don’t be fooled: While you may think it’s the same as Bubble Bath, this shade is much sheerer and a little cooler in undertone…so you should just get both to be safe.
Price at time of publish: $11
Finish: Sheer | Size: .62 fl. Oz.
Best for Medium Skin Tones
Opi Nail Lacquer in Cajun Shrimp
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Opi
Really pops against all complexions, especially medium
Great summer color
Red tone keeps the shade sophisticated
Could be too flashy for some
When a lot of people hear the word coral, they get a little wary—the shade can have a reputation for being cheesy. But not Cajun Shrimp. “This bright red coral color is super eye-catching,” says Seney, who loves using it on medium-toned complexions.
Price at time of publish: $11
Finish: Crème | Size: .62 fl. Oz.
Best for Deep Skin Tones
OPI Nail Lacquer in Worth a Pretty Penne
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Opi
Looks pretty all year
Sparkles without being over the top
Excellent accent color for a nude manicure
Can be harder to find
This rose gold stunner offers a subtle and elegant sparkle that truly shines on deep complexions. Notes of copper and silver in this formula give it an almost foil-like finish. While we think this is a great choice all year, it’s an especially beautiful pick for the cooler months.
Price at time of publish: $11
Finish: Shimmer | Size: .62 fl. Oz.
Best for Short Nails
OPI Nail Lacquer in Samoan Sand
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Sally
Sublte
Elongates the finger
Chips aren't very noticeable
Yellow undertone doesn't flatter cool complexions
This popular neutral is a favorite of everyday nail polish aficionados and celebs alike. Seney recommends using this on short nails for a sweet and easy look.
Price at time of publish: $11
Finish: Crème | Size: .62 fl. Oz.
Best for Long Nails
OPI Nail Lacquer in Funny Bunny
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Opi
Subtle and elegant
Can be built to opaque with several layers
Looks good all year
Can be hard to create an even coat with one layer
Often sold out
This sheer, soft white is hard to find these days thanks to one Ms. Hailey Bieber, who popularized the shade when she wore it as the foundation of her Met Gala “glazed donut” manicure. It looks terribly chic on long nails.
Price at time of publish: $11
Finish: Sheer | Size: .62 fl. Oz.
Best for Summer
OPI Nail Lacquer in Let’s Be Friends
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Opi
Very flattering on most skins
Bright, not chalky
Applies evenly
Surface can stain easily
Can be hard to find
We love this shade for the summer because it makes skin look sunkissed, even if you’re incredibly fair. “It’s my favorite because of how it’s almost white, but not quite, because of its tint of pink,” says Jimenez.
Price at time of publish: $11
Finish: Crème | Size: .62 fl. Oz.
Best for Brides
OPI Nail Lacquer in Alpine Snow
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Opi
Brightest, starkest white on the market
Opaque in one coat
Great for pedicures too
Chips can be very noticeable
Seney often paints French tips on brides—”they like traditional, cute nails,” she says, and uses this “super white” to do so. While Funny Bunny is a soft white, this one is a vibrant paper white shade that is a much more sophisticated version of the Wite-Out you may have painted on your nails in the back of the classroom during algebra.
Price at time of publish: $11
Finish: Crème | Size: .62 fl. Oz.
Best for Work
OPI Nail Lacquer in Barefoot in Barcelona
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Opi
Professional but not boring
Timeless shade
Great coverage
Not super flattering on fair skin
If you want a professional manicure that isn’t too subdued, Seney suggests reaching for Barefoot in Barcelona. “It’s a safe color that matches any outfit,” she says. It’s a creamy neutral with rose and mauve tones to it—an almost clay color that feels very ‘90s. Those with very fair skin might want to go with a different neutral.
Price at time of publish: $11
Finish: Crème | Size: .62 fl. Oz.
Best "Wear With Anything" Shade
OPI Nail Lacquer in Less is Norse
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Opi
Unexpected shade
Flattering to a wide range of skin tones
Opaque in one coat
May not be appropriate in very conservative settings
While a cool slate blue may not be the nail color that comes to mind when you’re looking for something versatile, it should be. “This shade reminds me of your ‘favorite jeans’ that just go with everything,” says Jimenez. We can see this mani looking great both with your fall leather jacket and summer linen caftan.
Price at time of publish: $11
Finish: Crème | Size: .62 fl. Oz.
Best Shimmer
OPI Nail Lacquer in I’m Not Really a Waitress
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Opi
Unique take on red
Very festive
Flatters most complexions
Not for the faint of heart
We couldn’t leave this shade off our list of must-have lacquers from OPI—it’s been a fan favorite since it first launched in 1999. The raspberry red shade features a luminous shimmer that appears to make each fingernail glow from within.
Price at time of publish: $11
Finish: Shimmer | Size: .62 fl. Oz.
Final Verdict
Choosing our favorite formulas amongst OPI’s many options was a tough assignment, but the reigning champ was OPI Nail Lacquer in Bubble Bath thanks to its incomparable versatility. We also love OPI Nail Lacquer in Big Apple Red. Red nails are timeless, and the color payoff and vibrancy of this rich hue makes it the brand’s best in the category.
Meet the Expert
- Galdina Jimenez is an Oceanside, California-based nail artist.
- Trenna Seney is a celebrity nail artist based in Harlem, New York City.
What to Look For in OPI Nail Polish
Color
Perhaps the most important aspect of any nail polish selection is the shade. We’ve outlined a bunch of our top picks above, but we wholeheartedly recommend using those colors as a jumping-off point. OPI (as well as other nail brands) makes hundreds of hues, so when selecting your next mani color, don’t be afraid to go with your gut, or try something new—you never know when you’ll discover your next fave shade.
Ingredients
As beauty formulas have gotten cleaner over the years, so have nail polishes—but many lacquers continue to get a bad rap. This makes sense as polishes frequently contain chemicals that are recognized as carcinogens when tested on animals, though they’re used in smaller amounts. OPI is a three-free brand, which means its formulas do not contain three of the most hazardous ingredients commonly found in nail polish: Formaldehyde, toluene and dibutyl phthalate (DBP).
Finish
Almost as varied as your nail polish color options are your choices for finish. The finish that you’ll see most frequently is a cream or crème finish, which means that the polish is fully opaque and creamy without shimmer or glitter. Sheer is another common finish, which is just that—sheer, allowing the natural nail to peek through, even after multiple coats. While OPI Nail Lacquer in Funny Bunny is a sheer white that’s perfect for layering, OPI Nail Lacquer in Alpine Snow is an opaque cream that creates a pop of white in one stroke. Jelly polish is similar, but tends to be in a more vibrant shade with a wet finish, while crellies are hybrids between jellies and crèmes. Matte polishes create a flat finish.
Then, there’s the shimmer and glitter category: Shimmer, frost, and pearl are all pretty similar in that they give a slightly sparkly look to the nail—you may not be able to catch a glimpse of individual grains of glitter, but the polish will catch the light in a way that crème formulas cannot. : OPI Nail Lacquer in I’m Not Really a Waitress is a festive take on red with its subtle shimmer. Glitter formulas give off serious sparkle, but none are quite as fiery as holographic finishes—they provide a jaw-dropping, blinged-out look to the nail that makes them look like jewels.
Why Trust Byrdie
Byrdie contributor Emily Orofino has over a decade of experience in the beauty industry working across editorial, marketing, product development, and more. She is a nail polish aficionado and hasn’t had bare fingernails for nearly 15 years.
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