Brandwave

Essie vs Hanami:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Essie had more branded searches than Hanami among nail polish brands in New Zealand. Essie had about 1,680 branded searches, while Hanami had 70. Essie made up 16% of all nail polish brand searches we track, and Hanami accounted for 0.67%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about nail polish brands, Essie appeared in three of the four answers and Hanami in none.

Among nail polish brands in New Zealand in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Essie, about 24 searches for every 1 for Hanami

Essie 1.7K searchesHanami 70 searches

Who does AI mention more?

Essie, mentioned in 3 of 4 answers, Hanami in 0

Essie in 3 of 4Hanami in 0 of 4

Who does AI recommend more?

Essie, the only one of the two named

Essie first in 3Hanami never named

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Top nail polish brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and one Google AI Overview, Essie was mentioned in three out of four: in all three ChatGPT answers, but not in the Google AI Overview. Hanami did not appear in any of the four answers.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. OPI1st
  2. Sally Hansen2nd
  3. Essie3rd
  4. Essence4th
  5. Gelish–
  6. Kester Black–
  7. Hanami–
  8. NSI–

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • OPI4 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
  • Sally Hansen4 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
  • Essie3 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
  • Essence2 of 4Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
  • Gelish0 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
  • Kester Black0 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
  • Hanami0 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
  • NSI0 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers

See every answer about nail polish brands

4 answers
  • Asked ChatGPT

    “Which nail polish brand should I buy in New Zealand?”

    1. 1OPI
    2. 2Sally Hansen
    3. 3Essie
    4. 4Essence
  • Asked ChatGPT

    “What are the best nail polish brands in New Zealand?”

    1. 1OPI
    2. 2Essie
    3. 3Sally Hansen
  • Asked ChatGPT

    “What's the best nail polish brand in New Zealand for everyday wear?”

    1. 1Essie
    2. 2Sally Hansen
    3. 3OPI
  • Searched Google, AI Overview

    “best nail polish nz”

    1. 1OPI
    2. 2Sally Hansen
    3. 3Essence
  • Searched Google, AI Overview

    “gel nail polish nz”

    Google showed no AI Overview for this search.

Not named in any answer:

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in New Zealand on October 21, 2026.

Is Essie or Hanami more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Essie and Hanami by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all eight nail polish brands we track, month by month, from searches in New Zealand.

Essie and Hanami among nail polish brands in New Zealand, by month

Share of searches by month for Essie, Hanami. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthGelishOPIEssieEssenceSally HansenKester BlackHanamiNSI
Oct 202545.2%22.2%12.8%9.8%3.9%4.9%1.1%0.1%
Nov 202542.6%21.6%14.9%8.9%4.2%6.6%1.2%0.09%
Dec 202546.8%20.3%12.7%5.3%3.3%10.7%0.73%0.07%
Jan 202646.6%21%14%6.3%3.9%7.1%1%0.08%
Feb 202646.4%25.1%13.2%7.1%3.9%3.4%0.72%0.1%
Mar 202643.1%25.2%13.5%9%3.6%4.9%0.69%0.1%
Apr 202641.8%27.1%16.3%8.8%3.8%1.7%0.39%0.1%
May 202637.7%29.7%16.6%9.1%4.2%2%0.65%0.09%
Jun 202638.9%30%14.6%10.1%3.9%1.7%0.66%0.09%
Jul 202639%26.5%17.3%11.7%3.1%1.6%0.63%0.09%
Aug 202640.4%22.8%17.9%12.5%4%1.7%0.64%0.09%
Sep 202643%21%16%13%4.1%2.1%0.67%0.1%

How has the Essie and Hanami comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • Essie was ahead of Hanami in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Essie’s share of searches among nail polish brands in New Zealand moved from 12.8% to 16%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 1.3K to 1.7K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Hanami’s share of searches among nail polish brands in New Zealand moved from 1.1% to 0.67%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 110 to 70.

How did search popularity change for New Zealand nail polish brands in September 2026?

2 changes
  1. In September 2026, Essie lost share of searches among nail polish brands in New Zealand, from 17.9% to 16%.

  2. Estimated monthly branded searches for Hanami in New Zealand fell 36.4% over 12 measured months, from 110 to 70 in September 2026.

How are branded searches counted?

11 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Essie’s and Hanami’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.

Essie

8 branded search terms

  • essie
  • essie ballet slippers
  • essie bordeaux
  • essie gel couture
  • essie mademoiselle
  • essie nail gel
  • essie nail polish
  • essie nails

Hanami

3 branded search terms

  • hanami cosmetics
  • hanami makeup
  • hanami nail polish

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among nail polish brands

Creator with pink hair and a pink jacket

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