OPI USA Nail Polish Brand: History, Quality & Why Salons Love It

History

OPI began its journey in 1981, when George W. Schaeffer acquired Odontorium Products Inc., a dental supply company in Los Angeles. Noticing nail technicians purchasing acrylics for nail enhancements, he pivoted the company toward professional nail products. In 1989, Suzi Weiss‑Fischmann, the “First Lady of Nails,” launched OPI’s flagship nail lacquer line, starting with 30 richly pigmented shades. 🎨 (Muxe, Byrdie, Wikipedia)

OPI grew rapidly, launching pop‑culture collections like Legally Blonde 2 and later licensing creative campaigns tied to films and major brands. In 2010, Coty acquired OPI, and in recent years Wella Company (majority owned by KKR) now houses the OPI brand. Suzi remains OPI’s Executive VP and Artistic Director. (Wikipedia)

Today, OPI has over 240 nail lacquer shades and innovative product lines like GelColor, Infinite Shine, and GELement at-home gel polish. (opi-us)

Products & Services

OPI delivers a vast professional-grade portfolio covering:

• Nail Lacquer: Traditional formulas in 240+ shades, quick-dry, streak‑free, vegan-friendly options. (opi-us)
• GelColor & Infinite Shine: Long‑wear options (up to 2–3 weeks) with UV/LED curing or glossy air‑dry systems. “GelColor” noted by People as among best gel polishes for wear and color range. (People.com)
• GELement™: A new at-home gel polish system for salon-quality results without UV curing.
• Nail Treatments: Nail Envy strengthener base coat enriched with biotin and vitamins—highly praised with 6,000+ five‑star Amazon reviews. Business Insider calls it a must-have at-home product. (opi-us, Business Insider)
• Tools & Accessories: Pro lamps, acrylic systems, chrome powders, tips, brushes, removers, and salon-grade supplies via OPI Professionals. (opi-us)

OPI also provides salon locator and showroom/test‑salon experiences for professionals. (opi-us)

Quality Standards

OPI sets salon industry benchmarks in:

1. Formula Innovation & Safety
   OPI phased out harmful ingredients like DBP, formaldehyde, and toluene by 2007. Polishes are vegan where applicable and designed for low‑odor, dependable performance. (Wikipedia, Amazon, Wikipedia)
2. Color Accuracy & Creativity
   Known for playful and emotional shade names—like “I’m Not Really a Waitress”—OPI’s naming studio travels internationally for inspiration. Allure inducted its most famous shades into its Hall of Fame. (Wikipedia)
3. Longevity & Wear
   GelColor systems consistently earn praise for chip resistance and long-lasting wear up to three weeks. Infinite Shine provides similar performance with fewer tools. People magazine named OPI GelColor a top performer in 2024. (People.com)
4. R&D & Professional Training
   OPI invests heavily in product development, pigments, and salon education through seminars, test salons, and stylist training programs.

Customer Reviews (Real Quotes)

Amazon (Nail Envy & GeLement product reviews)

• “Absolutely love the color! The manicure lasted over a week!”
• “Easy‑peasy application… smooth and dries fast. Value for money!”
• Critical voice: “Very thin, required 3 coats—too expensive for that.” (opi-us, Amazon)
• For GELement top coat:“Great nails done at home with minimal time and effort.” (Amazon)

Reddit / Salon Geek

Professional opinions are mixed:

• “OPI gel polish is just a pain—shrinkage if not cured well; tip wear quickly.”
• Another user says OPI GelColor is stable, buildable, with colors that hold well on hard nails. (Reddit, Salon Geek)

Vogue & Byrdie Praise

• Vogue lists OPI among top celebrity-manicurist‑approved brands for color variety and long-wear capability.
• Byrdie editors include OPI in their top brands “bought on repeat.” (Vogue, Byrdie)

Customer Reviews Recap

Platform	Sentiment	Representative Quotes
Amazon	Mostly Positive	“Lovely color… long-lasting.” & “Smooth, fast dry… great value.”
Reddit (Pro techs)	Mixed	“Shrinks easily… tip wear” & “Stable, buildable color on GelColor.”
Press (Vogue/Byrdie)	Very Positive	“Best color collections… long-wear”
People Magazine	Positive	“GelColor top pick for chip resistance and ease of removal.”

Reasons Why Salons Should Choose OPI

1. Industry Legacy & Professional Credibility
   OPI is widely recognized in salons globally since the 1990s—seen as a pro’s staple brand.
2. Comprehensive Product Range
   From basic lacquers and GelColor to treatments like Nail Envy and modern at‑home gel systems, OPI supports full-service salons and retail.
3. Trusted Formula & Safety Alignment
   OPI’s clean formulations and ingredient transparency appeal to salon clients concerned with health and nail integrity.
4. Training & Salon Support
   OPI hosts test salons, training modules, and salon finder tools to help professionals access their product ecosystem.
5. Shade Innovation & Naming Culture
   Creative naming and trend-spotting preserves consumer and media attention. Iconic shades become salon talk and client-requested classics.
6. Retail Revenue Potential
   Retail-friendly product lines like Nail Envy, GelColor home kits, and lacquer collections boost salon profit margins.

Summary

From humble beginnings as a dental supply company pivoting into nail polish in the 1980s, OPI (USA) has become a leader in professional-grade nail color. With more than 240 signature shades, global collections tied to cultural trends, and product innovations across polish, gel, and treatments like Nail Envy, OPI blends artistry with salon performance.

Customer feedback is generally positive—highlighting rich color, reliability, and polish longevity—even while professional techs note occasional formula quirks like curing shrinkage and tip wear. OPI consistently ranks among top-tier brands in beauty press and salon‑tech boards.

Salons opting for OPI benefit from a full-spectrum brand reputation, product support, retail opportunities, and color innovation that clients recognize and request. Whether for daily polish work or elevated gel services, OPI remains an enduring professional choice.