How to Make Your Nail Polish Matte

How to Make Your Nail Polish MatteAmong nail art trends, matte nail polish is one of the hottest. The effect creates a sleek and sophisticated look, and can be made even more unique when paired with shiny nail tips or other designs in a monochromatic style. If you are looking to try out this look, there’s no need to re-stock your collection of colors. Here are three tips on how to make your nail polish matte.

Steam

Possibly the easiest way to make your nail polish matte is with steam. Paint your nails as you normally would and then heat up a pan of water (no need for a large pan). Once you have some steam, place your hand over it for 3-5 seconds. Move your hand and fingers slowly as you hold it in the steam, to be sure it reaches all parts of the nails and creates an even matte finish. This should make your polish matte without effecting the coverage or color.

Powder

Another popular way to make your nail polish matte is by mixing it with a powder of some kind. This usually includes cornstarch, baking powder, or even fine flour. To do this, place a few drops of your polish in a clean dish, and then mix in tiny amounts of the powder into it with a toothpick.

The amount of powder you use will depend on the amount of nail polish, but you should only mix small amounts of powder at a time. The polish should remain spreadable, but may be thicker than usual. It may also not look matte when it is wet, but will be matte as it dries.

Matte Topcoat

A matte topcoat is a good idea if you are going for this effect anyway, since you always want to wear a topcoat to prolong your manicure. As with the powder method, some topcoats will change or lighten the color of your polish, so be sure to do your research if you want to avoid this effect. In most cases, a topcoat that looks milky or cloudy in the bottle will have an effect on the color of your polish, but some may only lighten it, while others may dramatically change its color.

Making nail polish matte can be fun and create a beautiful effect, but you should know there are better polishes than others for this. The best polishes to make matte are solid colors. Multi-hued, pearlescent, and glittery polishes may not look very good when mixed with powder, steam, or matte topcoat. If you would like to experiment with glitter over your matte polish, try dusting some loose glitter onto almost-dry nail polish.

As with all manicures, you can increase the longevity of your matte nail polish through proper nail preparation before the polish, using two coats of polish, topping with a high-quality topcoat, and caring for your nails after they’ve been painted. Of course, once your polish begins to chip and wear, you can have fun trying out another color.

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Author
Frank Trieu
Vice President of Business Development & Industry Relations

Frank Trieu is a cosmetology industry leader, and despite his accomplishments and accolades, he still prioritizes students on the Evergreen campus. Through building relationships within the community and local salons, retail stores, and spas, he helps facilitate job placements for aspiring beauty professionals using his expansive network.

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qwjd
qwjd
4 years ago

ok this info will help me a lot thanks

Adri
Adri
4 years ago

Thanks very helpful, although won’t the nail polish drip off with steam?

Marcedes
Marcedes
4 years ago
Reply to  Adri

I think you wait until they are completely dry first.. Then steam. Your fingers may catch the moisture (almost like condensation on the outside of a glass) but it shouldn’t affect the polish. Also remember, you’re only steaming for a few seconds. Good luck! 😊

isabella fahnert
isabella fahnert
3 years ago
Reply to  Adri

yes!!!

Human
Human
3 years ago

What power should I use? Do you mean flour or like baking soda?

Brittany
Brittany
3 years ago
Reply to  Human

Corn starch

Poop
Poop
3 years ago

A lot of helpful information

Isabella Fahnert
Isabella Fahnert
3 years ago

the steam for the matte nail polish does not work

Kaganails
Kaganails
3 years ago

Are these nail polish are safe for nails? Is there are any side effects?

Erin
Erin
3 years ago

does the powder change the color of the clear nail polish? like if the polish is clear and i mix in baking powder, does it turn white matte or clear matte?

Karen Goodwin
Karen Goodwin
3 years ago

Hey citizens, Karen here. Just checking if these methods are actually safe for your health and will they erode my nails. The last thing I need on this planet is for my nails to ruined by this ‘evergreenbeuty’ site. Make sure your all staying INSIDE during quarantine, so I can go to the supermarket and purchase the goods I need without interference. I highly recommend that whoever made this blog; show so some photographic evidence. Otherwise go get your nails done at the salon loves.

Regards

Karen Goodwin

Sheelly Melinco
Sheelly Melinco
3 years ago
Reply to  Karen Goodwin

Look honey, you need to calm down. Even your name says it all…

Chaewon
Chaewon
3 years ago
Reply to  Karen Goodwin

Karen, I assure you that you will be safe. Go find another manager to report to-

Travis Boothby
Travis Boothby
2 years ago
Reply to  Karen Goodwin

So we have to stay inside so you can go outside?!? Makes sense to me.

Naomi
Naomi
1 year ago
Reply to  Karen Goodwin

“This Evergreenbeauty site” is literally a college that teaches cosmetology(which is the study of hair, skincare, nails, and makeup), with some states *requiring* a DEGREE in cosmetology to work in specialized fields. If you’re so concerned about the level of training and knowledge required to graduate cosmetology school(and by extension, the advice given BY a cosmetology school), then I recommend checking out a textbook that students use to study. I bet you’d be surprised by how much MEDICAL knowledge is required to obtain a cosmetology license.

I’ll even help and provide a link to an article on the National Institute of Health’s National Library of Medicine that goes over just how much medical knowledge plays a role in cosmetology:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7723003/

The “last thing you need on this planet” might be messed up nails, but one of the first things you need is to educate yourself properly before assuming you know more, or that the source doesn’t know anything.

Also, the audacity to tell people to stay inside so that you can go places “without interference” is astounding, especially when you end your comment by telling people to go to the nail salon. I’m 29 years old, disabled since 23, living in a LTCF. I haven’t been allowed to leave my house for anything non-medical, even to go to the grocery store. Why? Because there’s still heavy restrictions on LTCFs that were lifted for everyone else months ago. Because people have put their wants above everyone else’s needs. Because of millions of people who have the same mentality of “everyone else needs to stay home so that I can go out to do what I want.” I literally haven’t hugged another person since March 2020. I haven’t kissed my fiance since March 2020.

But yes, the worst thing on this planet would be having messed up nails and “interference” while going grocery shopping(because you’re the only person who needs to do that, right?). Not the people that are STILL locked inside, completely isolated from their loved ones.

Be thankful you’re not in that situation. Because I can absolutely promise you that it’s not good for your mental or physical health.

I hope you’ve been able to stay safe and healthy in the year+ since your comment. And I hope you’re able to be safe and healthy in the future.

Have a good morning, afternoon, or evening. And I genuinely mean that.