This week, I’m going to let you readers in on a little secret about nails. You don’t have to spend a lot of money or time in the salon to get the matte manicure you deserve. Go to any drug store/beauty supply store and pick up a bottle of Sally Hansen Big Matte Top Coat. Available for $6 at Target, this tiny bottle of cloudy liquid doesn’t look like it can work miracles, but when I painted the first coat across my nails, I got to watch them go from glossy to matte, as if I had captured the unicorn that is a DIY matte manicure. I started waving my hands around to show my roommate what I had done, before immediately smearing my nail polish onto the wall. (Note- while this product is amazing, nail polish is still a liquid that can get smeared. Love yourself. Let your nails dry. Also… Do your nails after you shower- Stay tuned for a longer Nail-Hacks article.)
I had requested a matte manicure on a whim when I was last in the salon. It was something I had aspired toward for a major part of my beauty journey. I thought, at first, it required that terrifying sander tool that I had seen some of the manicurist’s use. After realizing that the sandpaper wasn’t going anywhere near my nails, I could explore the world of nail texture. The matte aesthetic was calling to me, and this little bottle helped me realize that anything was possible- in terms of nails and in life. Yeah… I’m probably being far too over dramatic about this Top Coat, but I love it. Do yourself a favor, wearers of nail polish, and grab a bottle if you can.