Updated on August 6th, 2024
Pssst…here’s a secret you should know: Cheap nail polish is the simplest way to update your wardrobe. And you know we love cheap and simple. But we all hate chips, and no one has time to redo her polish every single day. So there’s definitely a limit to how “cheap” we want our polish to be.
My favorite polish is Lakur by Londontown. The collection includes high-pigment colors and it stays put for days. But there’s downside. The stuff sets you back $16 a bottle. And when you can buy a decent polish for $5, that price point seems excessive for everyday wear.
For regular, everyday occasions, a budget drugstore polish does the job nicely. Here are five cheap polishes I use and love.
1. Opi
- SEALS IN THE COLOR to prevent…
- For a BEAUTFIUL SHINNING FINISH to…
- OPI Classic Nail Essentials
- Prevents staining of natural nails
- A super-rich, long lasting and chip…
- Pro-wide nail polish brush hugs…
- Salon-quality formula that delivers…
- 200+ trend-setting shades including…
- A vegan formula with no animal…
- A nail strengthener proven to…
- Formulated with Tri-Flex…
- Strengthens and protects against…
- Infused with vitamins A, E, C,…
- A clinically tested, vegan formula…
Before the advent of luxury nail polish, O.P.I. polish was the high-end brand. And at $10+ a bottle, it’s definitely pricey relative to other drugstore options. But that price tag is worth it. O.P.I. polish is reliable and comes in a great range of colors and formulas. Choose from Infinite Shine, Longwear, Classic, Gel, or Vegan. There is always an option to suit the mood you’re in or the mood you want to be in.
Shop O.P.I. at Target, Walmart, and Amazon.
2. Sally Hansen Insta-Dri
- Dries in 60 seconds. 1 Stroke. 1…
- Contoured brush for a perfect…
- 3-in-1 formula with built in base…
- #1 Quick-Dry Polish in the US*….
- This color covers in just 1 coat,…
- The perfectionist brush contours to…
- It combines beautiful, brilliant…
- Dry any nail color 30 seconds to…
- Exclusive acrylic polymer formula…
- Assorted 10 colors / Randomly…
- Image for reference only/ Actual…
- No selection from customer
- 10 Different nail polish will be…
Love having shiny, colorful nails but hate the wait time? Yeah, me too. It’s tough for me to sit still long enough for my nails to dry. I have that urge to multitask, and that backfires when I smear my polish.
That’s why I picked up a bottle of Sally Hansen Insta-Dri in a slate gray. It does dry faster than the norm, and I like it’s longevity. And the price tag, at $6 a bottle, is pretty nice too.
Find Insta-Dri at Target, Walmart, or Amazon.
3. Essie
- Glossy Shine Nail Polish: essies…
- Even, Professional Application: Our…
- The Perfect Manicure: Apply 1 coat…
- Iconic and Trendsetting Colors:…
- America’s Nail Expert: essie is a…
- Clear Nail Polish Top Coat: This…
- Easy to Apply in 2 Steps: Step 1-…
- Looks Like Gel, Removes Like…
- Precise, Even Application: Features…
- America’s Nail Salon Expert: essie…
- Glossy Shine Nail Polish: This nail…
- Even, Professional Application: Our…
- The Perfect Manicure: Apply 1 coat…
- Iconic and Trendsetting Colors:…
- America’s Nail Salon Expert: essie…
essie polish is another brand I’d put in the premium drugstore category. You can get it almost anywhere, though the price seems steep compared to Wet ‘n Wild and other ultra-budget options. But I’d venture to say you’ll spend less on essie polish overall than you would on a $2 polish, because it’ll last longer than one day. The colors are fabulous and it lays down a high-quality, shiny finish.
4. Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Polish
- GET YOUR PERFECT AT HOME SALON…
- SAY GOODBYE TO CHIPPING: Formulated…
- A LOOK THAT LASTS: Up to 8 Days of…
- EASY ON, EASY OFF: An easy 2-step…
- GEL LIKE POLISH IN THE US: 80 plus…
- Achieve the best salon look from…
- #1 no UV/LED light system
- Up to 8 days of color and shine
- A gorgeous manicure that lasts…
- Formulated to be the ultimate…
- Happy Birthday, Miracle Gel! Our #1…
- Join Sally Hansen in a celebration…
- From bright pinks to a classic…
If you love bold color on your fingertips, give Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Polish a look. The palette of options includes the usual mauves and peaches, along with some spring favorites that’ll add pop to any outfit.
This is not a gel polish that requires any special equipment, either. Put it on with the brush that’s in the bottle and swipe it off with polish remover when it’s time to make a change. For more staying power, also use Miracle Gel Color Grip Primer.
5. Revlon ColorStay Gel Envy
- Salon quality, gel-like brilliant…
- Designed to work with Revlon…
- Formulated with DiamondFlex…
- Wide angle brush creates smooth,…
- Wear on top of our 46 vibrant…
- Salon-quality, gel-like shine
- Five-free formulated for long…
- Wide angle brush wraps nail and…
- Available in a variety of gorgeous…
- Pair with Revlon Color Stay Gel…
- Outrageous shine and rich, long…
- Delivers high impact, salon-quality…
- Formulated with shea butter and…
- Wide angle brush creates smooth,…
- Pair with our Revlon Gel Envy…
My hobby of choice is horse riding, which is really challenging on nail polish. Revlon’s ColorStay Longwear polish is the most durable polish I own. I can pick hooves, pull off bell boots, get my finger stuck tightening a girth, and still my polish stays. And if all of that sounds like another language, let’s just say I’ve tested this polish and it passed.
You can find Revlon ColorStay polish at most Walmarts and Amazon.
For nails, I love Sinful Colors. In my opinion it is comparable to OPI and at a much better price. Beautiful colors and longwearing.
You have an article of “Best mail polish UNDER $5” but yet 2 of the 5 are OVER that price. $8 is NOT a cheap nail polish!
Hi prettynails– prices may have changed since the time the article was written (October 2011). We’ll be sure to keep an update of this story in mind during our editorial roundtables!