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The best gel nail polishes for long-lasting colour

No nail tech needed!

By Briar Clark

BEAUTYcrew Beauty Editor / March 01 2021

Addicted to gel manis but don’t always have time to see your nail technician? Why not try nailing (pun intended) the look for yourself from the comfort of your own home?

With UV gel nail dryers now available at places like Amazon, there’s no better time to snuggle in at home and perfect your nail polishing skills. And while we’re not expecting to recreate runway-worthy nail moments, having the option to do our tips ourselves is always a nice load off the ol’ wallet from our bi-weekly trips into the salon.

So, for the nail obsessed among us who are ready to take the whole damn routine into their own hands, here are the best gel nail polishes for the job.

Best Gel Nail Polishes Australia

OPI GelColor

As the OG’s of nail colour, OPI have an impressively extensive range of gel polishes to choose from. The thin formula goes on smooth for a streak-free finish and vivid colour pay-off. Look forward to an endless stream of compliments after applying this strong and shiny offering to nails.

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Essie Nail Polish Gel Couture

Arguably the kings of creating a covetable pinky-nude, Essie have taken everything you love about their range of nail varnish and amped up the stay-factor. Longwearing, strong tips in current, trend-setting shades are on the menu.

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CND Shellac

Promising chip-free colour that lasts up to two weeks, this low-fuss classic comes in a range of shiny, metallic and shimmer finishes that is so large it would take us all afternoon to sort through the brand’s colourful offerings. Regardless of what shade you settle on, the streak-free finish will give you that opaque, lacquered finish you’re after.

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Red Carpet Manicure Gel Polish

Want the kind of high shine shimmer that looks like you should be fighting off paparazzo on the red carpet? Aptly named, the Red Carpet gel polish range uses LED to cure their high performance formula.

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Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Nail Polish

If you’re looking for a nail pick that won’t compromise nail health, Sally Hansen is our go-to. The budget-friendly pick doesn’t even require a UV lamp, simply air-dry as per usual and you’re on your way. Plus, the fact that it can easily be removed with nail polish remover is an awesome bonus.

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Want to know what your ideal mani looks like? Here's how to choose your perfect nail shape.

Main image credit: @haileybieber

Briar Clark

Briar Clark got her start in the media industry in 2017, as an intern for Marie Claire and InStyle. Since then, her keen interest in fashion and beauty has landed her gigs as a Digital Content Producer and Beauty Editor with titles like Girlfriend, Refinery29, BEAUTYcrew and beautyheaven. She loves the way seemingly innocuous topics like skin care and style have the ability to put a smile on people’s faces or make them think about themselves a little differently. A big believer in self love and experimentation, Briar has made a point of becoming the Australian beauty industry’s unofficial guinea pig for unusual treatments and daring hair trends. When she’s not testing out the latest beauty launches, Briar is big on broadening her horizons, mostly in the form of food but she’s also partial to travelling to new destinations both near and far (and of course, allocating an extra bag to bring their best beauty offerings home with her).