It only took one little comment for this adventure to begin.
What do you think about the matte look?
~Kristin
This lovely comment came from Kristin at BonBon Rose. As soon as she wrote it, my wheels started turning. I quickly remembered that a friend of mine had given me some beautiful Knock Out matte nail polish in light pink (Calamine, is the official title) for my birthday. “It’s all the rage,” she informed me.
Well, I decided to test out this awesome new polish at the the semi-request of the lovely Kristin.
Now it should be noted that I am T O T A L L Y I N C A P A B L E of painting my own nails. The photo below might scare you or cause you to burst into an uncontrollable fit of laughter. Luckily, there is a nail salon on every block in Manhattan. So, when my bank account permits it, I can pamper myself and get a manicure. However, my bank account usually doesn’t permit such splurges… therefore 87% to 91% of the time… my nails look like this:
Good Lord, that is one terrible manicure I just gave myself!
Anyway, back to the polish.
Pros
- The color is quite lovely and neutral.
- The nail polish is very smooth and easy to apply.
- It is very easy to tell when the polish is dry as it goes from shiny to not shiny (not shiny means it is dry).
- It makes me feel extremely fashion forward and fabulous.
Cons
- The whole time I was painting my nails I kept thinking “Oooh this color would be so much prettier if it was shiny!”
- The look is very reminiscent of 6th grade when I used to paint my nails with White-Out.
- The lack of shine makes my hands look kind of like dead people hands. But I mean that in the nicest way possible.
- I currently have a severe and overwhelming urge to paint my nails with a shiny top coat.
THE VERDICT
I think I am shiny polish girl. However, I do encourage all of you to try matte nail polish. You might just find it to be your newest Fall staple.
Well, I am gonna go put a shiny top coat on my “gorgeous” self-done manicure now. Have an amazing night!
Stumble It!
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Ahh I can’t jump aboard the matte polish trend. I like shiny! It catches my eyes like a bird looking at something metallic
…btw, I don’t know how many times after first seeing that picture of Chanel Iman (on the right hand side of your blog) I’ve tried to duplicate her topnot and just failed miserably. Such an easy hairstyle is so difficult to do!
Teeny suggestion…what if you put a clear polish right over that beautiful pale pink color? Would it turn shiny? I kind of love that color…it’s so reminding me of the new Jade {Rose?} line by Chanel….you are SO RIGHT NOW! Also, the excess nail polish will most definitely come off in the shower, under hot water, peel it off your skin and it will be perfection…!
hahaha you truly crack me up! good read.
p.s. I doubt I’ll ever be using Matte. I’m DEFINITELY with yah on the whole shiny look. And I adore french tips. I like to keep my fingernails classy, clean & well-groomed.
i like it, despite the lack of luster :]
I prefer nails on girls to be shiny. Sorry this didn’t work out. It was worth a try.
Hmm i agree !
i do like my things to be nice and glossy !
especially my nails !
it was worth a try though …
on the up side the color’s very pretty
a coat of clear varnish should do the job
Thanks for your comment !
Eva xx
ah! i havent tried the matte look yet, im waiting for the right shade. i just love a good shiny nail – especially with seche vite’s top coat. love it.
in related news… please go this NYC event! im so sad i dont live in NYC cause i would be there in a second!
http://www.alllacqueredup.com/2009/10/attention-nyc-fanatics-its-nails-night.html
i totally agree. shiny polish is just more glamourous! i think maybe i’ll try out one matte nail polish color. any recommendations?
So nice post as usual !
Hi! You know, as soon as I saw the color matte I loved it. It is the first time that I see this kind of polish. I like it much better that shiny because it is different and more subtle.
I don´t usually paint my nails but if I do, I use transparent polish to avoid… you know.
Anyway, I think you did good. It´s just the edges.
xoxo
B* a la Moda
I think I may be a shiny nail polish girl, too! By the way, your manicure isn’t all that bad… a little bit of practise makes perfect, I think!
I like my nails shiny too. I keep the matte thing for my face, and even then, I always seem to find a way to add some glitter to it- some girls just have glitter in their veins:)
The color, however, I totally agree, is really quiet pretty. Maybe the shine factor could be captured with a top coat of clear polish??
Clare, you kill me. Dead people’s hands…bwahahahahahaha, that is priceless.
I think I’m a shiny girl too…it kinda reminds of chalk and when I would “paint” my nails with it when I was little…
When I’m back in NYC – you and I are meeting up. I’m not fabulous at it but I will try and give you a home mani
haha! the misadventures of painting your own nails…
I am not into the matte look- I like shiny polish!!
I rather love the matte look!
xoxox,
CC
Haha you’re so cute. I totally feel ya on the self-manicure approach. I’m right-handed so usually I’m able to do an ok job on my left hand, but when the time comes to paint my right hand..hoo boy. Not pretty lol.
I have a feeling I wouldn’t totally dig the matte style either but it’s worth a try. If I don’t like it I can always go back to my shiny black nails
Ha ha, that is how my nails look after I give myself a manicure too, oh no! I love the matte look, it is perfect for work or for any occasion for that matter.
Thanks for your nice comment on my fear post Clare, glad I hit on some of the major issues and I enjoyed reading your comment. XO!
jajajaja
I am so like you, I can do it, I can’t!
Or I pay to paint my nails or I rather be ‘au natural’
However, I really admire who tries!
It is hard work and money well paid…
OMG! I luv this nail polish it’s solely MATTEFABULOUS on YOU!
p.s. Your joke YOU left on my blog was solely HILARIOUS, matter of fact I choked on a dried cranberry while LAUGHING!!!!:)))
That pink is a lovely color! Thanks for the review since I have yet to try the matte polish, though I think I’m a shiny girl myself.
xo, Becs
I use OPI’s Lincoln in the Park after Dark matte polish and heart it. However, it does chip easily seeing as how you have no protectant coat but it is so easy to apply and quick drying. But of course i always prefer matte over shiny!
How did I miss this???