An essential wardrobe item is the little black dress. This is true for every black nail polish that you have in your at-home manicure kit. Black nail polish instantly transforms the fingertips. This dark, rich color makes nails appear elegant, bold, and sophisticated. You can match black nail polish with any outfit, even everyday clothes.
Although all black nail varnish may seem the same, there are many formulas. How does a black nail polish shine? You must find it easy to apply.
For this purpose, we compared the most popular black nail polishes to find out which products are worthy of praise. To help us better understand this subject, we also reached out to industry professionals. We considered nail health and longevity when choosing each polish. OPI Nail Lacquer Black OnyxDue to its high ranking, glossy finish, and crack-proof formula we voted this black polish the best.
If you’re ready to take your manicure or pedicure to the next level, keep reading for the best black nail polishes of 2022.
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Our Loves To achieve a shiny, rich look, apply two coats of this polish
What We Don’t Love:If you have small nail beds, the applicator may get on your skin.
There’s a reason this nail polish has over 7,500 five-star reviews on Amazon: It’s as classic as it gets, touting a jet-black hue that doesn’t turn violet or navy in bright light. It takes only 2 coats to create a beautiful finish due to the rich, dark color and excellent formula.
It has a slightly thick formulation that almost feels gel-like. The sturdy polish sticks to nails and rarely chips – especially when used for pedicures. This polish can also be sealed with clear topcoat to get maximum performance. Two drops of OPI DripDry lacquer Drying DropsSo they don’t smudge.
While there’s so much to love about this lacquer, the one thing we would change is the included brush because it’s a bit thick, and makes for a messy application if you have small nail beds.
Size: 0.5 fl oz. | Finish: Glossy | Certificates: 3-free
Prices at publication $11
Our Loves This polish costs $6 and has a creamy texture.
What We Don’t Love:It can be easy to get too many coats.
Nail artists of celebrity status Elle GersteinThe best drugstore choice for creating the perfect dark manicure. “I like it because it’s solid and ultra-glossy,”She says InStyle. “You can even get away with doing just one coat.” If you’re still not convinced, Gerstein Blake Lively got a black manicureThis polish can be used for the premier It’s a simple gesture of goodwillIt was stunning. This is the perfect tool for professional nail artists as well as Le Chat Nails instructors. Syreeta AaronThe polish is described by her as “the perfect creamy, classic black.”
Its main attraction is its gorgeous opaque color. This polish is highly pigmented and vibrant, which makes it a good base for glitter and nail art. Feel free to use one to two coats, because trust us, you won’t need any more. It’s more likely that it will chip if you apply more coats. So, stick to one swipe.
Size: 0.5 fl oz. | Finish: Creme | Certificates: Cruelty-free
Prices at publication $10
Our Loves This polish is vegan-friendly, cruelty-free, and doesn’t contain artificial fragrances.
What We Don’t Love:For a shiny finish, it takes 3 coats
Mischo’s luxury polish collection is worth every dollar. Mischo is a Black beauty brand that creates nail polishes without toxic chemicals. Your nails are protected from harmful chemicals. Our favorite polish from the line is Run the World — a pitch-black hue that has a bright, glossy finish. We love that it’s ultra buildable, so you can add as many layers as desired without worrying about it getting goopy.
To achieve best results, we recommend applying a base coat to your nails. Then, you will apply Run the World three times (this will give nails a shiny look) followed by one coat of topcoat. The mani can last for seven days, without chipping.
Size: 0.37 fl oz. | Finish: Glossy | Certificates: 10-free, Vegan-friendly, Cruelty-free, Gluten free
At the time of publication, price: $20
Our Loves This polish is suitable for creating a gel manicure at home without any UV light.
What We Don’t Love:The formula may become thick or goopy.
PSA: Gel-finish manicures can be performed at home, without needing to visit a salon. You may also use your own UV light. Deborah Lippman Gel Lab Pro Nail Color in Fade to Black stays shiny and chip-free for days just like gel – sans nail damage. It contains primrose, biotin, and green tea extract for strong nails. It’s even made with silk fibers for an extra smooth finish. We also mentioned that this lacquer can be removed with any regular nail polish remover. This is in contrast to using acetone-soaked cotton balls on your nails.
Deborah Lippmann’s line is named after one the most prominent celebrity manicurists in Hollywood. This line is known for its durable formulas and skin-friendly ingredients. We chose this black gel nail varnish because it is so inky. You can expect nothing but the best with Fade to Black — vibrant color, a safe formula, and a full coverage finish are guaranteed.
Size: 0.5 fl oz. | Finish: Glossy | Certificates: 7-free, Vegan, Cruelty-free
At the time of publication, price: $17 (originally $20)
Our Loves You don’t need a base or a top coat for this polish to last.
What We Don’t Love: It’s only marketed towards men, even though anyone can wear black nail polish.
Do you get tired of your old manicures? It’s time to try matte polish. Our favorite matte nail lacquer comes from Chanel, which means yes, it’s expensive, and yes, it’s worth it. Boy de Chanel Nail Colour, #404 Black, looks sophisticated. The built-in brush application ensures flawless results.
To maintain the strong matte look of this polish, you shouldn’t apply any top coat. It’s also recommended to apply this polish directly onto the nail (no base coat needed). Use it for eye-catching matte nail art.
Size: 0.4 fl oz. | Finish: Matte | Certificates: Toluene-free
Prices at publication $30
Our Loves Even though this polish is glittery, it’s still easy to take off.
What We Don’t Love:As glitter can feel rough, clear top coats should be used.
Go glittery with a black mani. Because of the black color and fine silver glitter, Smith & Cult nail polish looks amazing on nails. A precision brush can make your manicure even more neat and professional.
Before applying the shimmery polish, apply a base coat on your nails. Then, use Dirty Baby to coat your nails one-to two more times. Finally, seal the polish with a topcoat. For a flawless finish, you will need to seal it with a top coat. It is easy to remove the Smith & Cult colour with any kind of remover. And, you also won’t find random flecks of glitter on your face, sheets, or clothes after the fact, which is a major bonus.
Size: 0.5 fl oz. | Finish: Glittery | Certificates: 8-free
At the time of publication, price: $18
Our Loves The polish resists chipping.
What We Don’t Love: This is a two-step gel system, which means you’ll need to get the Sally Hansen top coat to use with this polish.
Sally Hansen Miracle gel is a cult product due to its high-glossy and superpigmented finish. It is comparable to salon manicures. Their take on the blackest black, Blacky O is extra dark, meaning you’ll only need one coat to get a rich, inky shade. What we love about this product is that the formula is chip-resistant, so you won’t have to deal with a grungy, chipped black polish look.
You can also get gel results from your home using this inexpensive product without using UV light. Additionally, the polish comes off with regular nail polish remover, so you don’t have to go to the salon to get it off – or worse – rip it off yourself (which we’re all guilty of). Be sure to get the proper size. Top coat by Sally HansenTo get best results, seal the color.
Size: 0.5 fl oz. | Finish: Glossy | Certificates: Formaldehyde-free, Camphor-free, DBP-free, Toluene-free
Prices at publication $11
Our Loves The brush is super thin for this polish.
What We Don’t Love:You can quickly dry the formula.
Every season offers new ideas and different colors for creative nail designs. While some nail art trends revolve around bright, neon hues or chrome accents (read: fall 2022 trends), there’s nothing more classic than a bold black design.
That’s where FingerPaint striping polish comes in handy. Ch-Art Coal’s jet black color comes with an easy to use skinny brush. The options are endless: a French manicure that is moody, a French manicure with checkerboards, or even a French manicure in black. design, or even vampy floral nail art — the sky’s the limit and the possibilities are endless with this lacquer.
Size: 0.25 fl oz. | Finish: Glossy | Certificates: Toluene-free
Prices at publication $4
Our Loves It is simple to use the angled toothbrush with either hand, including non-dominant.
What We Don’t Love:Stranginess can be caused by applying too quickly
Let’s face the facts, you want your manicure lasts and doesn’t dry too quickly. Here’s where Essie Expressie comes in. It’s designed to dry completely in just one minute (which is essentially like magic, if you ask us). Your black manicure won’t smudge, even if you put on jeans immediately.
We aren’t the only ones who love it. Gerstein praises the Essie pick as well, calling it “amazing.” “a highly pigmented, one-coat needed, extremely quick-drying polish.” Aside from its dark black hue and smudge-resistant capabilities, the formula itself is worthy of praise since it’s made without toluene, formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin, or animal-derived ingredients.
Size: 0.33 fl oz. | Finish: Creme | Certificates: 8-free, Vegan, Toluene-free
Prices at publication $10
Our Loves You can keep your nails looking great for up to 14 days with this dip powder.
What We Don’t Love: You’ll need the SNS base and top coat to complete an at-home manicure.
For those looking for a longer-lasting manicure, dip manicures can be a good option. This home-based solution can be used to save both time and money. This vibrant black powder will give you the same professional results since it’s the same exact formula found at salons. Not to mention, the dip powder is a healthier alternative to gel polishes, and you don’t need to use a UV light. You can keep the color on your nails for as long as 14 days.
Get the mani you dream of by applying for the mani-of-dreams SNS Gelous BaseMake sure to clean your nails. Dip each nail into Silent Summer Night Dip. Final step: Clean up any excess powder. By repeating the steps 1 to 2, you can make 2 layers. You can apply the colors layers to as many times as you need. SNS Sealer Dry as the top coat, and you’re good to go.
Size: 0.5 fl oz. | Finish: Creamy| Certificates: Hypo-allergenic, Cruelty-free, Vegan
Prices at publication $13
Remember These Things
Format
There are many styles and types of lacquer available, such as regular, gel and dip powder. Personal preference is everything, however gel and dip polishes last longer. If you prefer dip, try Summer Night SNS Silent Dipping PowderHowever, gel can be used if you prefer it. Sally Hansen Miracle cream in Blacky O. As for a classic nail polish, you can’t go wrong with our best overall winner OPI Nail Lacquer Black Onyx.
Ingredients
These nail polishes can be made from a LotsYou can find many different things. You can find many ingredients in nail polishes. You don’t have to read through lengthy ingredient lists to find nail polishes that contain no harmful ingredients. Mischo Beauty at Run the World.
All your Questions answered
Do black nail varnishes stain nails?
It’s uncommon for black nail polish to stain nails. While brands might have different colors and formulas, nail polish should still be cleaned with polish remover. To remove black nail polish, you can soak a cottonball in the remover. Place it on top of the nail. It can be secured with a bit of tin foil and left on for up 10 minutes. Once the timer has expired, remove the foil and wrap the cottonball in foil. Make sure to wash your hands. Get rid of any leftovers.
What’s the best way to remove black nail polish?
Want a top-secret tip that’ll make removing black nail polish 100 times easier? Aaron notes that it’s important to make sure you use a base coat before applying black nail polish so that the removal process is more seamless. Her recommendation is to use “circular motions around your cuticles then pulling the cotton ball down – never go upwards into the cuticle because this can create a mess with darker polishes in general.”
What can I do to remove nail varnish from black clothing?
If you’ve ever had the misfortune of getting nail polish on clothing, you know what a pain it is to get out. You can take the nail polish off of fabric with a few simple steps. First, if the polish is still wet, try lifting it with a paper town or cloth (read: don’t blot). You can cut the polish with a dull knife if it has dried. You can use a stain remover to spot treat polish that has been there for some time before you wash it.
You want to prolong the life of your manicure and pedicure.
“In order to make a manicure look great, you have to do some prep beforehand,” Gerstein says. “Begin by scrubbing your nails with an antibacterial soap (think of it like washing your face). Let the nails dry and then use rubbing alcohol (75% and up) to cleanse the nail. This will act like an astringent and bring your nail to the proper pH level while eliminating any dust and debris from your nail.”
Once nails are prepped, it’s time to paint. “First, paint a base coat (think of this like the primer to your foundation),” Gerstein explains. Once the nail is dry, take off any polish. Then, it’s time for the colored polish. “Flatten the brush and start painting the first line close to the cuticle — wiggle it so it’s closer to the cuticle and then paint a stripe straight up,”She said. “Do the same with a stripe on the left and right sides, and across the free edge of your nails. Make sure the edges are covered.”Finish the coat by adding another coat or using a clear nail polish topcoat to prevent it from chipping.
The InStyle Guide: Should You Be Faithful?
Lauren Harano, a contributor author InStyle since August 2022 covering all things beauty — from the best lip glosses to hair care essentials. She has published her work in both digital and printed publications like Cosmopolitan, Seventeen and POPSUGAR as well as Esquire. The best nail varnishes for black nails that are long-lasting and chip-free were searched by Lauren. Each nail polish on this list was backed up by either great customer reviews, trusted expert recommendations, or Lauren’s own personal knowledge of black nail polishes.