Is OPI Nail Envy Nail Hardener worth it?

Mostly yes. 1 of the 2 gurus who reviewed it give it their stamp of approval, for a Guru Score of 75%.

What is OPI Nail Envy Nail Hardener's Guru Score?

OPI Nail Envy Nail Hardener holds a Guru Score of 75%. That is our read on how warmly the experts talk about it, based on the verdicts of 2 expert reviewers we have collected.

OPI

OPI Nail Envy Nail Hardener.

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Nails

About this product

A nail strengthening base coat designed to harden nails, reduce breakage, and extend the wear of nail polish.

Full ingredients

Ethyl Acetate, Butyl Acetate, Nitrocellulose, Propyl Acetate, Tosylamide/Formaldehyde Resin, Isopropyl Alcohol, Triphenyl Phosphate, Trimethyl Pentanyl Diisobutyrate, N-Butyl Alcohol, Formaldehyde, Stearalkonium Bentonite, Camphor, Diacetone Alcohol, Ethyl Tosylamide, Benzophenone-1, Citric Acid, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Dimethicone, Calcium Pantothenate, Ci 60725 (Violet 2), Ci 77891 (Titanum Dioxide)

Guru Score

75%

Yay

Early verdict · Few reviews so far

What the gurus are saying

This nail hardener noticeably strengthens nails and lets people grow them longer without the edges becoming thin or snaggy, though one reviewer found the results unclear when layered under polish. Dr Dray, who has tested it repeatedly, reports it cuts down breakage, keeps polish on for a week or more, and genuinely changes what nail length feels tolerable. One important note: some people find these hardeners dry nails out or trigger allergic reactions, so patch testing first makes sense if you have sensitive nails.

Synthesized from 2 expert reviews · most recent take December 2025

What they liked

Strengthens nails and reduces breakage
Makes nail polish last longer as a base coat
Dries quickly

What they flagged

Strong smell, needs ventilation
Expensive

Type

NailsLiquid

Formula notes

Fragrance-freeContains drying alcohol

Where to buy

Ulta → Amazon → Google → iHerb →

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What the gurus are saying.

Every take we've logged from this product's reviews across YouTube. Click any row to watch the moment they said it.

All takes Yay takes Nay takes Mixed takes Hide sponsored

Dimma Umeh

542k subs

✓Mixed

"I got OPI Nail Envy and I've been using it and I don't know because my nails are not really growing as long as they typically would be. I have a lot of like chipping and bending going on and honestly I don't know what the cause of this is. I [...] don't know if it's the way that my polish is reacting to OPI Nail Envy being underneath."

Dr Dray

2.69M subs

✓Yay

"The OPI Nail Envy Nail Hardener nail strengthener works really well as a base coat."

All 13 takes from Dr Dray

SKINCARE FOR DRY CUTICLES & SHOPPING *Vlog*

"I use that OPI Nail Envy as the base coat and that stuff makes my nails so hard. I [...] don't have brittle nails, [...] but my nails when I grow them out the edges get real snaggy and they kind of curve a little bit. [...] Whenever I do the Nail Envy it does allow my nails to grow out a little better and I'm able to tolerate having them longer."

Skincare I Want To See In 2025 | Vlog

"The OPI Nail Envy Nail Hardener nail strengthener works really well as a base coat."

AMAZON PRIME DAY 2023 | Skincare & Beauty DEALS @DrDrayzday

"This is the OPI Nail Envy. I've had this bottle now for over a year. Anytime I paint my nails, [...] I love using this [...] because it's a nail strengthener. It really does keep the nails, and I find that it cuts down on nail breakage when I do a manicure. [...] But it also is a really really good base coat. The nail polish does not chip. The last manicure that I did was a few weeks ago and it's amazing, like the longevity of the nail polish using that is just wonderful."

No More Vanicream Z-Bar | Skincare Vlog

"This is what I have been using for months and months. This works. It is a nail hardener. You have to be careful because a lot of people are allergic to the ingredients in these nail hardeners and it's going to end up causing more problems for you in the long run. Some people find that they make their nails more dry and brittle, but for me this works like magic for my nails. It keeps them from snagging on things and it allows me to grow my nails out long, and the polish stays on."

SKINCARE IN NEW YORK @DrDrayzday

"I swear by OPI's Nail Envy as the base coat because I've had this on for going on a week now and [...] it really helps the nail polish stay on a long time and it is a nail strengthener so it makes your nails like really hard so I use that let it dry then put the nail polish over."

Using My Red Light Mask Again | Skincare Vlog

"I've taken to painting my nails with the OPI Nail Envy clear nail polish, this stuff is so good at at least temporarily while you have it on, reducing nail breakage. I'm always able to grow my nails out when I wear this; it just keeps them from getting kind of frayed on the ends."

SHOPPING FOR SKINCARE & GETTING ANNOYED BY RUDENESS

"I went ahead and trimmed my nails last weekend I was telling you about how the OPI Nail Envy whenever I paint my nails and I use that and it makes it so that I can grow my nails out really long but eventually I get sick of them and I don't know I can't handle them anymore and I have to cut my nails."

Get Ready With Me For A Fun Night Out | Skincare Vlog

"I painted my nails with the OPI Nail Envy and it's the only thing that helps keep my nails from breaking. Like when they're growing out I can actually grow my nails out when I wear it."

Skincare & Kaboom Bookstore | Vlog

"Now that's a nail hardener that really works well. Like I'm able to grow my nails out to this length when I use that and it looks like I got, you know, they look really good when I use that consistently. But that turns into this thing where once a week I have to take it off because the nails start to grow out. I have to use nail polish remover, put it back on again, which it's fine, but like I said, I'm lazy. I don't want to dedicate my time to that all the time."

SPEND THE DAY RELAXING WITH ME | Self care day

"I can tolerate growing them a little bit longer if I have been using that OPI Nail Envy. That stuff works really well."

Summer Ready Skincare Vlog

"All I use on my nails is OPI Nail Envy. I file them, [...] then paint on the OPI Nail Envy, and that stuff works really well to keep the edges from getting snaggy. Once a week I take it off and put a new coat on, and that's been working out really well for me. It's been my little routine."

Vlog: NAIL CARE FAVORITES 💅 PAINTING MY TOENAILS 👣 COSTCO TRIP🛍 @DrDrayzday

"I love this OPI Nail Envy product. This is great for keeping the polish lasting longer, it's a base coat and nail strengthener. If you're allergic to formaldehyde resins however, you would definitely want to avoid this. [...] Nail Envy is expensive but it's definitely worth it in my experience as a base coat. [...] It dries pretty quickly too, it just helps the polish stay on a lot longer, but it smells really strong so definitely do this in a well ventilated area."

October 2021 MONTHLY FAVORITES | SKIN CARE, HAIR, BOOKS, MOVIES | Dr Dray

"While they don't actually make your nails truly stronger or correct brittle nails permanently, they're just a temporary band-aid on brittle nails. The reason I really like this is that it helps the nail polish go on better and lasts longer. The duration of polish wear is much longer using this, and I will definitely be purchasing this myself when I run out of this."