Our OPI range spans hundreds of shades across four main lines, and they don’t all work the same way. Which bottle you need depends on three things.
How long should your color last, will a gel lamp be involved, and who is doing the painting? Here’s how the four lines compare, based on OPI’s own product information.
The four lines at a glance
At a glance
Nail Lacquer
OPI’s classic polish
- Sets
- Air-dries
- Wear
- Up to 7 days with base and top coat
- Removal
- Nail polish remover
Nature Strong
Vegan lacquer, 65% or more natural-origin formula
- Sets
- Air-dries
- Wear
- Up to 7 days
- Removal
- Nail polish remover
GelColor
Salon gel polish
- Sets
- Cures in 30 seconds per coat
- Wear
- 3 weeks
- Removal
- Soak-off
GELevate 4-in-1 Builder
Salon builder gel
- Sets
- Full cure in 60 seconds
- Wear
- 2+ weeks
- Removal
- Soak-off
Wear times are per OPI. Lamp lines cure under the OPI Star Light lamp.
Nail Lacquer: the classic
If you paint your own nails at home, Nail Lacquer is the easy choice. It needs no lamp, comes off with regular polish remover, and it’s our largest OPI range. OPI’s formula for the longest wear is three steps:
- One coat of Natural Nail Base Coat
- Two thin coats of color
- One coat of OPI Top Coat
OPI’s up-to-7-day wear figure is for this full three-step system.
Nature Strong: lacquer with a natural-origin formula
Nature Strong works like a regular lacquer: no lamp, and it comes off with polish remover. The difference is the formula.
OPI describes it as vegan, with a 65% or more natural-origin formula derived from plants. A base coat is optional, and the line has its own Base Coat and Top Coat.
GelColor: salon gel, longer wear
GelColor is a gel polish made for the salon. Each coat cures under OPI’s Star Light lamp in 30 seconds.
OPI rates it for three weeks of wear. It soaks off rather than coming off with regular remover, and a nail professional applies it.
Good to know: many favorite shades come in both formats, so you can keep the same color either way. Big Apple Red, Bubble Bath, and Lincoln Park After Dark are three examples in our range.
GELevate 4-in-1 Builder: structure and length
GELevate is a builder gel rather than a color polish. OPI describes the 4-in-1 Builder as one gel that adheres, fills, overlays, and builds.
It bonds GELevate Soft Gel tips, fills extensions and overlays, and builds short to medium length. It fully cures in 60 seconds under the Star Light lamp, and like GelColor, it’s a salon product.
So which one is right for you?
Pick in a glance
Painting at home and changing color often
Nail Lacqueror Nature Strong for a plant-derived formula
Want color that lasts for weeks
GelColorapplied by a nail professional
Want structure or added length
GELevateapplied by a nail professional
Find your shade in store
Our OPI range is sold in store, and you can preview shades on our Nails page. Stop by a Glowoori store near you to see every shade in person before you pick.
