The Best Matte Topcoat and New Ways to Wear It

There’s nothing like the look of a freshly painted, shiny manicure. It always makes you feel a little fancier, and lets the world know you have your shit together. But sometimes you want something a little different, something a little less…polished. Enter the matte mani. Matte nails are unexpected, a little edgy, yet still chic enough to wear to work. Plus, a matte topcoat basically doubles your nail polish collection, as the muted finish gives your nails a totally different look.

I've been playing with Sally Hansen's new Miracle Gel Matte Top Coat, which technically doesn't launch until January, but comes out on presale on Amazon today. It’s the same formula as the brand's classic (shiny) gel topcoat, so it keeps my mani chip-free for more than a week (huge accomplishment for a nail biter) and dries so much faster than other formulas I've tried. It gives nails a vaguely frosted look—super appropriate for the winter season. I love it over a gunmetal gray metallic, which goes from festive to futuristic as soon as I layer on the matte topcoat.

But the polish's transformative powers are next level when paired with nail art. An inverted French manicure, diagonal stripes, or classic French tips suddenly feel new again with the matte effect. I'm no nail art expert (despite hours scrolling on Pinterest), so I had one of my favorite nail artists, MadelinePoole, Sally Hansen Global Color Ambassador, share a super-achievable tutorial. Below, she breaks it all down…

Step 1: Start by painting two coats of your base shade. Poole used Sally Hansen Miracle Gel in Jealous Boyfriend, as she likes to use a dark shade to make the matte effect pop.