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Nails adorned with bright lacquer look attractive, but having less-than-impeccable polish can negatively impact your hands’ appearance. Chipped nail polish can be frustrating because nobody has time to paint their nails thrice a week. It requires time, effort, patience, and even more money spent purchasing new nail colors. No-chip nail polish can help prevent your hands from showing signs of manual labor or nail-biting, but the trick is to choose a product with the right consistency, color, and durability. To help you find your perfect match, we’ve compiled some of the highest-rated no chip nail polish in 2024.
Reviewing the Finest No Chip Nail Polish of 2024
Essie No Chip Nail Polish — Best Overall
The Essie No Chip Nail Polish is a clear topcoat designed for extending your manicure’s life. It has a durable formula infused with an acrylic resin that seals in nail polish color to protect against fading, chipping, or peeling.
The DBP, formaldehyde, and toluene-free formula make this no-chip top coat non-toxic and nail-friendly, while the rich consistency provides a glossy finish in a single coat. We recommend pairing this polish with the base coat and nail color of your choice to get a salon-like manicure. Due to its great value for money and high-quality formula, this product bags the first spot on our list.
Pros
- The rich formula for a smooth and glossy finish
- Vegan and cruelty-free formula
- Made with non-toxic materials
Cons
- Gets thick and stringy after a while
AIBRIT No Chip Nail Polish — Most Glossy
AIRBRIT No Chip Nail Polish is a set of 20 brightly colored gel polishes, including glitter and matte options. The collection also contains a base coat, glossy top coat, matte topcoat, and a strengthener coat for a complete at-home manicure experience.
Certified by SGS, these nail polishes are made with natural resins and color ingredients that are toxin-free and harmless. Their odorless formula is excellent for those who prefer fragrance-free makeup products and the shiny finish is sure to provide a salon-like effect in just a few simple steps.
Pros
- Highly pigmented nail colors with a shiny finish
- Non-toxic materials make it nail-friendly
- The durable formula lasts up to 21 days
Cons
- UV/LED lamp necessary to properly cure
Vishine Gel No Chip Nail Polish — Best Gel
The No Chip Gel Nail Polish Kit from Vishine is about to become your salon away from the salon. This kit comes packed with everything you need to paint nails worthy of a red-carpet entry. From gel nail polishes and a base coat to a 36W LED nail dryer lamp and a DIY manicure kit, it’s all here.
Best of all, the long-lasting formula makes the included nail polishes chip and peel-free for about two weeks. As far as ease of use goes, you can achieve a mirror-shine finish within 30 seconds with this pick.
Pros
- Complete manicure kit that offers salon-like results
- The nail dryer cures nails two times faster
- Made with non-toxic and odorless ingredients
Cons
- It may stay sticky for too long
OPI No Chip Nail Polish Prep Coat — Best Primer
OPI’s No Chip Nail Polish Prep Coat is easy to apply and dries quickly, leaving your nails primed for nail polish application. We recommend applying this prep coat on bare nails to prolong the nail color’s life.
This prep coat is a godsend for those who like keeping their nails prim and proper at all times. It is an alcohol-based gel that works by cutting down your nails’ natural oils, providing an oil-free surface for the nail color to adhere to. Customers particularly appreciate the long-lasting and smooth results this pick offers in just 30 seconds.
Pros
- Prepares nails for smooth lacquer application
- Quick-dry formula saves time
- Prevents base coat and nail color from clumping
Cons
- It may cause your nails to dry out
ITHKY Gel No Chip Nail Polish — Most Color Variety
For a variety of shades, consider giving the ITHKY Gel No Chip Nail Polish set a chance. This collection includes 27 items, including trendy nail color shades, a no-wipe base coat, and glossy and matte topcoats. The nail polish colors are highly pigmented to give your nails a touch of pizazz. If you cure them under an LED lamp, they’ll be ready in no time.
These nail polishes are made with skin-friendly and non-toxic natural resins, and their long-lasting formula ensures no quick chipping or color fading. You can enjoy vibrant nails in a variety of shades for about 20-30 days.
Pros
- Comes in a variety of vibrant colors
- Long-lasting formula with a glossy finish
- Eco-friendly and skin-safe materials
Cons
- Requires a UV/LED lamp for curing
Buying Guide: No Chip Nail Polish
Finding the right no chip nail polish can be tricky, given the number of options available in the market. But it is essential to get the right pick to completely step up your nail game. In this guide, you’ll find everything you need to know before choosing the finest no-chip polish for your nails.
What to Consider When Buying No Chip Nail Polish
Ingredients
Whether you paint your nails often or once in a blue moon, it is wise to get a polish with mild chemicals and harmless ingredients. Speaking of ingredients, we recommend looking for ones like keratin, biotin, and vitamin E. Such ingredients will keep your nail beds healthy, nourish them, and promote nail growth.
Effectiveness
Not all no-chip polishes are made the same. They have varying consistencies, durability, and effectiveness. Some products claim to be no-chip but don’t live up to their claims, so make sure you’re investing in a no-chip polish that is actually no chip and not a sham.
Cruelty-free or vegan
It’s easy to get your hands on good-quality vegan or cruelty-free nail polishes. Many brands practice strict no-animal-testing policies to create their products. If you follow a vegan lifestyle, you’ll want to pick a cruelty-free polish for your nails.
What Does 3-Free No Chip Nail Polish Mean?
In the 2000s, a new concept originated in the nail polish world when manufacturers started advocating a 3-free nail polish formula. According to this concept, three toxic chemicals were excluded from the nail polish formula:
- Formaldehyde – is officially classified as a human carcinogen.
- Toluene – highly genotoxic chemical, causing DNA damage and mutations.
- Dibutyl phthalate – reproductive and developmental toxicant.
After the success of this formula, the XX-free concept snowballed, giving rise to 5-free, 10-free, 13-free, and even 16-free formulas. Manufacturers continue to update their formulas as new toxic chemicals are identified. Now, you can find nail polish without parabens, acetone, TPHP, xylene, tosylamide, and more.
As a result of these upgrades, less toxic nail polishes are being made, positively impacting the environment.
How to Use a No Chip Nail Polish for a DIY Manicure
Using a no-chip polish for an at-home manicure session is easy with these steps:
Prep your nails
Prepare your nails by wiping off old polish and removing the nail cuticle. Also, buff and file the nails to your desired shape and length.
Dehydrate (optional)
This is an optional step as some people don’t want to dehydrate their nails using a PH bond. But if you choose to skip this step, it will impact the final results.
Apply base coat
Use a no-chip base coat to apply a thin layer on your nails and cure it under a UV or LED lamp.
Get painting
Choose your favorite no chip nail polish color and start painting your nails. Apply as many coats as you need and keep curing after every coat.
Seal it all
Seal everything up with a no-chip top coat and cure it under the UV lamp for a smooth and glossy finish.
Important Details to Know About No Chip Nail Polish
No shaking
Never shake the bottle. It will cause air bubbles to develop inside the bottle, making the polish prone to chipping.
Always prep the nails
Don’t overlook prepping your nails before applying the nail polish, as it improves results significantly. Always wait after applying a single, thin coat before applying another one to let it dry completely and get a smooth finish.
Protect your nails
Use gloves when doing tough chores that require your hands to prevent the nail polish from chipping. Also, applying the lacquer on shorter nails is a good way to avoid unwanted chipping.
