There are hundreds upon hundreds of nail trends out there in the nail art universe. Among them, matte nail polish is a prominent one. What matte polish does is it creates an effect that gives off a look of sophistication, which can then be uniquely styled in different ways by pairing with shiny tips or other designs.
If you’re wanting to try this look, you don’t have to go out and buy a whole set of nail polishes and overcrowd the polish collection you already have. Instead, you can make DIY matte nail polish out of the ones you already have.
Below, we’ll give you the details you need to know on how to make nail polish matte at home. So, if you’re interested, read on, beautiful!
Method 1: Steam
It’s quite possible that the easiest method for making nail polish matte is by using steam.
For this option, start by painting your nails as you would normally. Then, you’ll want to pour some water in a small pan. Once the steam begins to come off of the water, hover your hands over the steam for 3 to 5 seconds. While you’re holding your hands above the heat, make sure to twist and turn your hands so that all parts of your nails get exposed to the steam – this will ensure an even matte finish.
Using this method, you’ll be able to achieve a matte look without affecting the color or coverage of your nail.
Method 2: Powder
As an alternative for sticking your hand into steam, making nail polish matte can be done by mixing it with some kind of powder – luckily, they are ones you’ll find in most household pantries. The powders listed below can all be used to convert regular nail polish into its matte version:
- Cornstarch
- Baking Powder
- Fine Flour
Once you have your chosen powder, all you have to do is pour a few drops of the polish you’d like to make matte onto a clean dish. Then, simply mix small amounts of the powder into the polish using a toothpick. Depending on the amount of nail polish you use, the amount of powder needed to make it matte will vary. It will thicken as you mix and keep in mind, it won’t look matte while wet, but it will upon drying.
Method 3: Matte Topcoat
The final method you can use to achieve a matte look is to simply use a matte polish for your topcoat. When it comes to prolonging manicures, topcoats are always encouraged, so this method is a win-win. Keep in mind that some topcoats might lighten or change the color of the polish you’ve applied to your nail. A good way to tell if this might happen is if the polish in the bottle looks cloudy or milky – so avoid those.
Last Minute Tips
Converting polishes into their matte versions can be a fun process for beautiful nail art. However, it’s good to keep in mind that certain polishes work better for matte effects than others. The best ones are polishes that are solid in color. Ones that are glittery or pearlescent might not look great when mixed with powder.
The same way that you would with a regular manicure, you can make your matte polish last longer by properly preparing your nails before applying polish. You want to use two coats of the color you choose, finishing the look with a quality topcoat, and taking care of your nails post-polish.
Once you begin to notice chipping, you can try out the next color you had your eye on or if you’d prefer to go au natural and give your nails a break for a while, follow these steps to whiten your nails from any discoloration!