I know the matte look has come and gone, but for someone who changes polish as much as I do, I enjoy a change in textures and looks. This one looks deceptively simple, but it was just perfect for an early summer day. It has a very retro feel to it, which was especially appealing to me for some reason. It seems like something Dita Von Teese would wear in a burlesque show. Of course I could just add a matte topcoat onto a red polish, but what’s the fun in that?
This actually has almost a waxy look to it rather than a straight matte. It reminds me of those little Bonbel cheeses- the tiny round ones that are wrapped in red wax. It’s not really a shiny enough to be a satin finish and not flat enough to be a matte.
This red was made up with Fyrinnae Professional Color pigment in “Bite Me” and some good ol’ Wet and Wild clear polish. I’d recommend applying this over nails that are already painted with a base of red, since it took 4 good coats to get opaque. I did try it out and it spreads nicely over a red base and should only need 1 coat or so. It dries to a very smooth finish with no little lumps.
In case you’re wondering, the background is of my sassy apron, complete with cherries. I’m a lousy cook but a cherry apron has to make everything taste a little better. (Or at least I’m hoping!)
I decided to do a very simple French over it for a little interest and because I can hardly stand to leave a nail one single color and rhinestone-less, as you probably all already know. I like the contrast between the glossy black tip and the matte red. Easy and fun!
A bit of advice for painting French tips on your own nails: move your nail, not the brush! I find it much easier to get an even line this way. I’ve tried French tip guides but have had no luck with them- they either stick to the polish, polish gets under it, or I apply them crooked. Practice a little and you can freehand them with ease.
NeverTooMuchGlitter Nail Wonderland 