KTOP: Matte French Tips

When I was younger, my mom took me to my first manicure pedicure session. It was instant love on my part. I loved being able to choose any color, the pampering, and the sleek feel of the polish once dry. Every time after that, I would sit and watch the manicurist in detail. Gaining confidence that I could apply the same techniques to my self. More and more it became another artistic outlet for self expression. Which is partly why I took up nail art as a hobby, when I was first introduced to Korean and Japanese pop culture.

This afternoon I decided to play around with french tip matte nails, in a deep shade of eggplant. I used Lincoln Park After Dark by O.P.I. It didn't turn out exactly as planned. I haven't used matte finishes enough to really get a good feel for it, though I really like the ORLY top coat. And in the end I added a silver band, as I felt that the overall appearance looked too messy. I used Sally Hansen Diamond Strength Hardener as a base, and Sally Hansen Diamond Flash for the top coat (for the silver band and tips only). The finished look is nearly black, and while it's a change, I will probably redo the nails sometime this week. I always leave the skin around my nails slightly messy as it normally comes off overnight, and no one really sees my nails. It's a different matter if it's for an event.

Overall, I value the practice. Because even if I'm not particularly fond of the end look, I enjoy creating designs.

Here's a look at the process and my results.