Whether you keep them short, have gel extensions, shellac, wraps or paint them yourself, nail trends have never been hotter and one of the main ones at the moment is for matte nails. At first, we weren’t sure about how nails looked with a complete lack of shine, but they’ve grown on us now, so we thought we’d show you some of our favourites, along with some tips for keeping your fingers in tip-top shape.
Matte Contrast French Tips
Matte nails look especially effective when they’re contrasted against something shiny, which is why these French manicure-inspired nails look so fab. Treating your nails with Decleor Ongles Nail Strengthening Serum before painting is a great way to ensure that they don’t end up dry and brittle, as is so often the case when using dark colours or several layers of paint.
Ombre
Ombre is not only on-trend for hair, it looks great on nails too. Using a darker colour close to the cuticles and a lighter colour at the tips will make nails look longer. You’ll need to make sure that your cuticles are neat and tidy for this look to work well, so treating them with Decleor Rose D’Orient Soothing Oil Serum will soften the skin, allowing you to trim them effectively.
Statement Nail
Another way to make your mani really pop is to have one statement nail amongst the matte ones. We love this grey and silver combination but it would work with so many different colour combinations and can be co-ordinated with your outfits.
Bowie-inspired
Since the passing of the late, great Mr. Bowie, tributes to him have been popping up just about everywhere and these nails are no exception. We adore the brightly coloured matte nails which remind us of Ziggy Stardust, but with a massively modern twist. Keep the skin on your hands hydrated and healthy with a good dollop of Dermalogica Multivitamin Hand and Nail Treatment a couple of times a day.
Embellished
A full hand of embellished nails can look a little overwhelming, which is why an understated matte manicure looks fabulous with just one or two embellished nails. Jewels, studs, lace-effect overlays and geometric patterns are all great ways to take your nails from plain to POW, and we love this Gaga-esque design. Hands are often susceptible to signs of age, with dark spots and hyperpigmentation giving away your age well before your face; keep the age spots at bay with Dermalogica C-12 Pure Bright Serum.
Last updated on 25/06/2016.