Before I tried OPI Nail Lacquer, the only other nail polish I'd really used was Cover Girl. I had tried many other brands, but kept going back to Cover Girl as it seemed to last the longest on my nails and was very inexpensive.

I admit that it wasn't until after I read so many rave reviews about OPI Nail Lacquer here at Epinions that I finally tried it. I first heard about OPI and their products years ago as my Aunt owned her own Beauty Salon and used and sold OPI products. What kept me from trying them were both the cost and the fact that you can't just run out to the store and buy them.

Where to buy, cost, etc.

OPI Nail Lacquer, as well as the other OPI products (which include matching lipsticks and lip pencils) can be purchased at many Beauty Salons. JCPenney's Department Stores carry them in their Beauty Salon, as well. To find a place near you, visit OPI's web site at:
http://www.opi.com/

A full sized bottle of OPI Nail Lacquer will cost you $6.00. The full sized bottles hold .5 oz and come in a glass bottle with a black top. I know that .5 oz doesn't sound like much, but it is as much, if not more than other brands give you.

Lots of colors to choose from!

OPI offers an amazing variety of shades to choose from. They have creams, frosts, bright colors as well as very neutral shades.

One thing that I enjoy about OPI Nail Lacquer would have to be the names of the various shades. With names like Route Beer Float, SoHo Nice To Meet You, Orange You From New York?, Italian Love Affair, Cupp-a-Cawfee, Your Villa Or Mine?, Naples Syrup, Just Beachy, Maliblue and Seagullible - you've just got to love 'em! I mean how fun and creative are those for names?!

Every season, it seems, OPI comes out with a new collection of Nail Lacquer. Their newest being the Beach Party 2001. Many shades are only available for a limited time, so if you happen to find one you love, you might be wise to ask if they're going to discontinue it and or stock up.

I've tried just a handful of the many shades available, they are:

I'm Not Really A Waitress - this is their most popular shade and it's not hard to see why. It's a gorgeous red frost. I tend to wear this in the winter.

Venus di Violet - a pearly, very pale violet frost. I love this shade! It's perfect for Spring and Summer.

Italian Love Affair - a pearly, pale pink. While I like this shade, it is not one of my favorites. But I do wear it from time to time. For some reason this shade tends to chip and peel much quicker than the other shades I own.

Madison Mauvenue - Another shade I just love! It's a deep rosy mauve shade, and a cream at that. I love to wear this one on my toe nails during the Spring and Summer.

Wear time

One thing I have noticed is that the nail lacquers that are pearly tend to last a shorter period of time on my nails than the frosts and creams do. Why I can't say, but it happens.

The frosts and creams will easily last as many as 2 weeks on my hands and 3 weeks on my toes. The one bottle I have that is only a pearly shade (Italian Love Affair) will last a week or less on my hands and two weeks on my toes.

Overall, even for the pearly shade, that's not bad wear time for a nail polish. Many other brands I've tried, such as Maybelline Express Finish which lasted just 24 hours.

Drying Time

I have found that OPI Nail Lacquer dries very quickly. Then again, I always use their RapiDry Top Coat, which I know helps a lot. My nails are always dry within 10 minutes or so.

To Apply - For Best Results

For the very best results, OPI recommends that you first apply a base coat, then one to two coats of the nail lacquer, then a top coat. While it may seem as if they're just trying to get you to spend more money on their products, I really have to agree with their recommendation.

For myself, I have yet to try a base coat made by OPI. Currently I'm using one by Sally Hansen and I'm very happy with it. I then apply just one coat of the desired nail lacquer, wait one minute and then I apply one coat of OPI RapiDry Top Coat. I love this top coat! Should you care to read my review on the RapiDry Top Coat it can be found here:
http://busymom2one.epinions.com/content_21454687876/tk_~CB003.1.68

Overall

OPI Nail Lacquer is by far the best nail polish I've ever used. The quality cannot be beat. I know you may be saying, "Quality? It's just a nail polish!" I know, I know. But have you ever purchased the cheapest paint available and used it only to see that it was awful? That it didn't cover well and didn't last on the walls for anything? If only you'd spent the extra cash to purchase the more expensive paint, it would have gone on well, covered well and lasted for years. That is how it is with OPI Nail Lacquer. It is the top notch quality. It coats very well, is very easy to use and lasts and lasts.

Haven't tried it yet? What are you waiting for?!



Recommended: Yes