Winter may be an excuse to stop shaving your legs… but it’s no reason not to keep up with the rest of your beauty routine—and that includes an impeccable manicure. During winter break, you may have had the time to try out elaborate nail art looks, but with the semester starting up again, those hours-long nail painting sessions unfortunately need to be cut short. There is still a way to make your manicure stand out from the crowd, though! Pair those gorgeous winter colors with a luxe matte finish, and you’ll have a chic and eye-catching look. We obviously turned to Pinterest for inspiration—check out our favorites below (we threw in a couple of nail art looks for those of you who are still on break)!
Velvety matte
Some people stay away from matte because the color seems too flat, but this Zoya Matte Velvet Lacquer strikes the perfect balance between a subtle shimmer and matte finish.
Try: Zoya Matte Velvet Lacquer in Posh, $9, zoya.com
Matte with accent nail
Not only will this accent nail catch your eye, but the stunning contrast between matte and shiny makes for the perfect juxtaposition.
Try: Essie’s Luxeffects Glitter Top Coat in Stroke of Brilliance, $8.50, ulta.com
Matte & glossy
Do you have tape? That’s all you need for this fun DIY matte and glossy finish manicure. After letting your matte color dry, lay a piece of tape down to protect the area you want to keep matte. Paint the exposed nail with a glossy top coat, peel the tape away, and of course, this works vice versa!
Try: Sally Hansen Big Matte Top Coat, $5.99, ulta.com or Big Shiny Top Coat, $5.99, ulta.com
Matte with negative space
Don’t put that tape away just yet! Negative space was seen all over the Spring runways, and you bet that they look amazing with matte nails too. Clean up and cut out negative space just as easily with nail polish remover and a cheap craft store brush.Â
Try: Michaels Soft Grip Short Shader Brush, $2.99, michaels.com
Matte with glitter gradient
A bit of sparkle never hurt anyone, so grab a sponge to add a dash of glitter to any matte manicure! Pick glitter that compliments your nail color, such as pink toned glitter for purple polish.Â
Try: Orly Fowl Play, $8.50, orlybeauty.com
Matte neutrals
Chances are you have tons of neutral nail polish lying around unused. Investing in a matte top coat can suddenly bring those colors back to life—an oldie but a goodie, as they say.
Try:Â JINsoon Matte Maker, $18, violetgrey.com
Matte textures
This matte sparkle formula is what we’ll be wearing on our next night out! Bonus? Textured nail polish does not chip as easily as opaque finishes. Win.
Try: Zoya PixieDust in Dahlia, $10, zoya.com
Luxe Matte
Pick your most decadent, luxurious-colored nail color and finish it with a matte top coat. These super pigmented colors can look tacky with a glossy finish, but a matte finish creates gorgeous subtle glamour.
Try: OPI Matte Top Coat, $9.50, ulta.com
Matte metallic tattoos
Flash tattoos or metallic temporary tattoos blew up in 2014. While we’re not sure if the trend will continue into 2015, don’t throw away your leftover tattoos just yet. They’re actually the perfect (and super easy) nail art we’ve all been looking for! Apply to dry, painted nails with a damp cloth (same process as if you were applying to your skin), and set with a matte top coat.Â
Try: Topshop Metallic Band Temporary Tattoo Pack, $9, us.topshop.com
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Which matte mani are you most excited to try?