Anyone who wants a classic, opaque black manicure or pedicure using standard nail lacquer application — no UV/LED lamp or soak-off removal required. Works equally for at-home use and professional salon services, and as a base for nail art since it provides solid, near-full opacity by the second coat.

Black is one of those shades where formula quality is obvious immediately — thin or streaky black lacquers need three or four coats to look solid, and cheap crème blacks often dry with visible brush strokes. Black Onyx is built to reach full, even opacity by the second coat, which matters most for a color with nowhere to hide inconsistent application.

Shake the bottle before use. Apply one coat of a nail base coat and let it dry. Apply two thin coats of Black Onyx, capping the free edge of the nail with each coat to help prevent chipping. Finish with a nail top coat, again sealing the free edge. Allow full drying time between coats and before contact; drying drops can be used to speed up the process. No UV or LED lamp is used or needed at any step.

What it does well: true opaque black in two coats, a wide brush that covers the nail bed efficiently, and a finish that reads glossy and salon-quality once topcoated.

What to plan around: like any lacquer, it needs the full three-step system — base coat, two coats of color, top coat — to get the smudge resistance and multi-day wear OPI advertises; skip the top coat and a solid black shade will show wear and dulling sooner than a gel would.