It's official. The new trend this season in nail polish isn't a signature color from Chanel, but rather a finish: matte. For those not familiar with this term, matte is a non-shine finish quite unlike the glossy finish that the standard polish will give you.
Matte tends to look a little more edgy, but in a playful 'oops-I-forgot-the-gloss' way. A popular nail color seen recently on celebrities is black matte. There are currently three big contenders for the title of matte polish queen: KO, OPI and Essie.
KO
KO (Short for Knock Out) exclusively produces matte polishes. Created by makeup artist, Mike Potter, the polish comes in eight colors ranging from a classic red to a mint green to black. The line also includes a clear "flatte" topcoat which seals the polish while retaining the matte texture.
KO is relatively easy to use, though it is a very thick formula. It takes some time to get the right amount of polish on the brush, but it spreads well once on the nail. KO recommends two coats of the stuff, which seems accurate. They claim that this is a "long-lasting" polish that buffs into a satiny finish after a few days. I found that it started to chip after two days, but it did smooth out nicely. KO is available online at www.koknockout.com or at Henri Bendel.
OPI
OPI recently released a set of six matte versions of popular pre-existing colors. Interestingly, OPI claims that their matte polish does not wear as long as the regular polish does, and boy are they right! The polish started chipping within hours, and by day three it needed to be removed. The nice thing about the polish was the color quality: the dark purple "Lincoln Park After Dark" looked great in matte. OPI is available at salons around the country. See www.opi.com for stores.
Essie
Essie hasn't ventured into the matte colors just yet, but they have produced a matte topcoat that turns any regular nail color into a matte version, called Matte About You. This method takes a lot longer than the other brands which boast quick-dry formulas and no topcoat. You have to polish nails with two coats of normal polish, wait for them to dry, and finish with a coat of the matte topcoat. The result is longer lasting than the others, however the finish is smoother and not quite as authentically "matte". Essie is available at salons around the country. See www.essie.com for stores.
These polishes range in price from $8.50- $19 per bottle. Choose the right colors for you and you'll have an easy Fall beauty trend (literally) at your fingertips! After you've played with the basic colors, take a tip from essie and try a new spin on the French manicure by painting a matte nail with a glossy tip!
Curious about other nail trends? Read about Calgel Nails.
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