The world of beauty brings with it a number of inalienable truths: shiny hair is a good thing; a shiny forehead, less so.
As for nails, glossy is also a given for healthy, well-tended talons. But this season the shine has come off lacquered polish as more and more manicure enthusiasts are opting for a matte finish. But while they may lack lustre, matte nails are far from dull.
“We’re loving matte nails at the salon at the moment,” says Tina Michael, founder of cult east London parlour Shoreditch Nails. “It’s the perfect way to transform a mani in a subtle way”.
Among the most popular styles being requested include multi-coloured pastel matte nails and negative space nail art, which technicians achieve with a matte topcoat from either its vegan LA-export polish of choice, NCLA, or CND shellac gel for a longer-lasting result. “Matte nails are perfect for a minimalist style, or people looking to introduce new nail techniques but don’t want to go the whole hog with crazy nail art,” Michael explains.
For an even more low-key style, let Stella McCartney’s autumn/winter 18 catwalk show serve as your inspiration.
Backstage, manicure maestro Marian Newman created a fresh, healthy and barely-there matte look using non-toxic polish brand Kure Bazaar. First, she applied its sheer Rose Milk pink shade, followed by the Clean matte base coat layered on top in reverse.
To try the look at home, Margaret Dabbs’ Matte Base Coat (£14, margaretdabbs.co.uk) features a natural, healthy pink flush and comes with the added benefit of containing strengthening vitamin E and leaving nails softly scented with roses, while top coats from the likes of Nailberry (£17, nailberry.co.uk) and RGB Cosmetics (£15, net-a-porter.com) will mattify any polish instantly while remaining free from any harmful chemicals.
The velvet formula of Dolce & Gabanna’s matte top coat (£21, harrods.com) also promises to prolong the lifespan of your colour, making it less prone to chips, while Chanel has gone one step farther by introducing two of its most popular shades – a deep burgundy and classic red – in a velvet finish (£22, chanel.com) as part of its new Le Mat de Chanel winter collection which has already sold out. Nailed it.
