Sally Hansen vs. OPI Quick Fast Dry Nail Color Pens vs. Nic's Sticks Review

Well, for those who may be wondering which of the new "stick" nail polishes is the best, never fear. I have tried both Sally Hansen Color Quick Fast Dry Nail Color Pens and Nicole by OPI Nic's Sticks and am here to tell you the results of my comparison.

I will say that both are more convenient for a klutz like me to use than bottled polish but both are more expensive to use since they contain much less polish than traditional nail polish bottles.

These stick nail polishes look like Sharpie pens. You remove the top and push the top down a few times until you see color on the little brush. Then just polish away, pumping the top as needed to keep the polish flowing. They're great for on the go and for those whose hands are less than steady but they have their drawbacks as well.

Let's look at both and see which is the best buy.

Cost

Sally Hansen Color Quick Fast Dry Nail Color Pens cost about $8.00 each while Nicole by OPI Nic's Sticks cost about $7.00. Prices do vary and you can always find these on sale, particularly the Sally Hansen variety. I'm calling this one...

The Winner: A tie

Ingredients

Sally Hansen Color Quick Fast Dry Nail Color Pens have no DBP, Toluene, or added formaldehyde. The polish contains panthenol and anti-oxidant Vitamins A, C & E to condition nails, plus a UV protector. The polishes are dermatologist and salon tested. Impressive.

Nicole by OPI Nic's Sticks also boast no DBP, Toluene, and formaldehyde. They do no animal testing. Sally Hansen doesn't make a claim one way or the other about animal testing although several of their products do claim they are against animal testing. I have to say that I was impressed with the added vitamins and UV protector on Sally's polish.

The Winner: Sally Hansen Color Quick Fast Dry Nail Color Pens

Application

Both work exactly the same. I found that the brush on Nic's Sticks fanned out a bit more than Sally's brand and caused a little overlapping onto my skin if I wasn't very careful. Both need a few coats to look finished and both dry fairly fast. I found Nic's Sticks streaked a bit more than Sally Hansen's but just a tad more. Really, these are so close as far as ease of application that I will have to call this one ...

The Winner: A tie

Shades

Here is where Nic's Sticks really shows up Sally Hansen's Color Pens. Nic's Sticks come in an astounding 25 shades with cute names like "Are We There Yet?" and "Call My Cell". Those don't give you a clue about the shade but still, fun anyway. Sally Hansen's Color Sticks only come in eight shades from Clear Opal to Black. No funny names with these polishes but at least you know what colors you're getting without peering through the package at the tips of the pens.

The Winner: Nicole by OPI Nic's Sticks

Wear

I am going to infuriate OPI loyalists but I found that Sally Hansen Color Quick Fast Dry Nail Color Pens dried faster and lasted longer on my nails than Nicole by OPI Nic's Sticks. I applied three coats of each and I was able to get almost a week out of Sally's with minimal touch ups. With Nic's, I got only about four days before my nails were a chipped mess. Both, in my experience, wear for shorter periods of time than their counterpart polishes in the traditional bottles and both formulas are thinner than bottled nail polish.

I was really surprised to see that OPI's brand actually didn't hold up as well as Sally Hansen's since OPI is a cult favorite and I love the bottled polishes. A top coat helps both to last longer but I have to be honest and say...

The Winner: Sally Hansen Color Quick Fast Dry Nail Color Pens

So who wins the battle of the new age nail sticks?

It depends on what's more important to you. If you like a large variety of shades like funky greens, blues, oranges, and whites, Nicole by OPI Nic's Sticks wins fingertips down. The length of wear isn't so dramatically short that you're getting a bad deal if you invest in a few of these pens.

If you are looking for a formula with vitamins and protection with classic shades like Hot Pick and Red as well as a couple of funky colors like Blue and Black, Sally Hansen Color Quick Fast Dry Nail Color Pens last a bit longer on the nails and streak less.

Both are less than perfect yet more convenient than bottled polishes, especially on the go. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend either brand for ease of use and quick touch ups.

Therefore, the winner here is actually BOTH products, in their own ways!

Choose Sally Hansen Color Quick Fast Dry Nail Color Pens for slightly longer wear, nail protection, and less streaks - but don't expect to find more than a few shades on the shelves.

Choose Nicole by OPI Nic's Sticks for variety of shades and average wear time. Just don't expect your mani or pedi to last as long as with traditional OPI polishes.

Both are pricier than the bottles because they have much less polish in them and both run out pretty quickly. Choose these for travel, touch ups, on the go polishing, and FUN! But don't abandon your traditional bottled polishes for streak free, longwearing color!

Have you tried one or both of these products? Do you have a favorite? Let me know! I'd be interested in your experiences.

Thanks for reading!
Patty