Even though glossy finishes will always have a place in our hearts, a spike in cool, understated matte designs has completely converted us. Between the weirdly satisfying feeling of having a crisp, smooth base and the fact that mattes can be accented with the most subtle of designs, we’re not sure what took us so long to give this trend a whirl. And to prove it to you, we combed through Instagram to find the most inspo-worthy matte nail designs to experiment with this season. Take them to your manicurist or enlist the help of your favorite polish and try them out yourself.
Click through for our 25 favorite looks, including a tonal manicure and a chrome-and-matte combo.
Half Cow
It's no secret that cow-print manicures are on the up and up (Kendall Jenner says so, too). If you're not ready to fully rock the barnyard-chic nail look, consider this negative space option that leaves only covers half the nail.
Mint Green Tips
If you want to hop on the matte nail trend without covering your nails entirely in polish, check out this mint negative space option. To create the look, use striping tape to section off your nails and confine the polish from the tape to the tip. Once dry, remove the tape and finish with matte topcoat.
Matte Blue and Metallic Gold
We're all about mixing finishes. Fortunately for us, this matte blue and metallic gold combo is a cinch to recreate. Start by painting on a matte blue base, then use a detailing brush to swipe a gold arc across the bottom of each nail to create the cuticle half-moon accent.