Matte top is another interesting and simple option to make your nail design original. It gives it a velvety feel not only in appearance, but also to the touch. I have already written about a matte topcoat for regular varnish with design examples, and how you can make a varnish coating matte without using a topcoat. Here I will tell you about the matte top for gel polish, how to apply it, show several of my design examples with a matte finish and a review of my tops.
What is a matte top coat for gel polish?
Some manufacturers produce a not-quite-finish coating with a matte effect. Very often, this kind of product is decorative in nature, that is, it just gives the nail some roughness and dullness.
Peculiarities:
- At the same time, they absolutely do not perform the function of the final stage and top coating. After all, the main task of the top is to extend the life of the manicure, make it less susceptible to chipping, as well as various types of damage.
- That is why many top coats began to be made of rubber, so that they could mask imperfections that formed after applying poorly pigmented varnishes, additionally level the nail plate, and also make the coating flexible and prevent chipping. It is precisely these tasks that a matte top coat very often fails to cope with, because it was originally developed as a decorative coating.
- Accordingly, under the matte top coat of some manufacturers it is necessary to apply a glossy topcoat. This is most often indicated on the bottle with a peculiar marking “decorative coating”. That is, this is not the final stage, and not the finishing top, but just a way to give the nail a certain look. Many craftsmen have discovered that some bottles do not say matte top at all, but velor or corduroy.
Velor top
What is the difference between a matte top and corduroy, velor, satin?
What is the difference between a regular matte topcoat and this kind of coating? It's a matter of appearance and structure of the coating. Corduroy and velor tops are heterogeneous in structure, but have some roughness and high porosity.
Peculiarities:
- Accordingly, such coatings get very dirty, especially if they are applied to pastel, light gel polishes. Therefore, you should not be negative or wary, you just need to warn your clients that to improve their appearance they will have to wash their hands with soap and rub them with a brush or the hard side of a sponge.
- It is the ability to get very dirty that is inherent in velor and corduroy tops with high porosity. It is thanks to the large, large particles and pores that such a topcoat becomes dirty quite quickly, which is not the case with a glossy topcoat.
- Many people are dissatisfied with the matte effect when purchasing tops from some companies. Yes, indeed, some manufacturers produce matte or satin tops. Now many manufacturers have begun to sign not a matte top, but a satin one. What does this mean? This means that you will not get a completely opaque effect, a rough surface, but will get a slightly mattifying effect.
- That is, when light hits such a coating, a weak glare will be observed. That is, you will not get a strong matte effect. This is precisely the feature that characterizes liquid matte topcoats, which are applied in a very thin layer.
- You shouldn't expect a super-matte effect from them. But they have proven themselves excellent as a topcoat under foil, or some shiny varnishes, when it is necessary to achieve a slight matte finish and reduce the transparency of the top coat. Typically, such tops are often used when creating opal nails, when there is no need to achieve a rough finish without glare, but it is enough to lightly matte the design.
- Therefore, if you want to achieve a truly matte effect with some roughness or a velvet finish, you need to purchase the appropriate products.
Satin top
French
The powder texture is applied only to the tips of the nails, painted with a French line. This allows you to further strengthen the nails in this area. When using colored or shiny sand, the design becomes even more original.
Design options for a French jacket - a selection of ideas
Velvet sand for nails does not require special skills in mastering the technology and provides a wide field for experimentation both for masters and when performed at home. At the start, purchase a translucent material to strengthen your skills in working with texture.
Why does the matte top coat chip, rub, or get dirty?
Quite often, many craftsmen note that after a short period of wear, the matte top chips off or wears off at the ends. This is because it is intended to be a decorative coating and is not a finish. That is, before applying such coatings to the nail, they must be covered with a regular glossy topcoat, preferably with stickiness.
Reasons for chipping:
- This will extend the life of the decorative coating. But some manufacturers still create a matte topcoat as a topcoat, and insist that it is not necessary to cover the nail with a glossy topcoat before application.
- In this case, you need to look at the durability of the gel polish itself. Very often this applies to pastel colors, which are applied in a thick layer. They may not dry completely in the lamp.
- That is, in this way, the upper part dries out, and the one that is located at the very bottom continues to be in a liquid or creamy state. At the same time, a rather weak, non-plastic matte product promotes chipping not only of the coating itself, but also of the entire gel polish, to the base or even together with it.
- If you notice that the matte top is chipping a few days after application, try applying a regular glossy topcoat to the nail before applying this decorative product, which has worked well and wears well without chipping or damage. Most likely, this will improve the durability of the entire decorative coating.
Matte manicure
Finish with or without tack. What is the difference
“Sticky” - the dispersion layer consists of material components that were not included in the polymer and did not evaporate in the lamp, but remained on its surface.
Tops for gel polish with a sticky layer
Classic gel polish finishes - soak off top coat, finish gel. In conventional topcoats, the dispersion is not sticky, but rather slippery, it has no functional load and must be removed.
Do not wipe off the sticky layer as soon as you remove your hand from the lamp - let the top cool a little. Otherwise, you can leave unsightly marks from the napkin on the hot surface.
The dispersion should be washed off carefully, without smearing it on the skin around it. For each nail, use a clean, lint-free tissue or the unused side of it.
After moistening it in liquid to remove the sticky layer or in alcohol, apply the napkin to the surface of the nail for a couple of seconds and remove it towards you. Due to such careful removal of the dispersion, the risk of allergies is reduced.
In specialized finishes, for example, tops for sliders, the dispersion can be very sticky - it helps to fix the decor and is preserved by covering it with another layer of a regular finish on top.
Gel polish tops without sticky layer
Widely used family of finishing coatings. No wipe top coat, no cleanse top coat, non-cleansing gel top, finish gel without sticky layer, top without l/s - all these are variants of the names of the material, all components of which are part of the final polymer, without the formation of a dispersion layer on the surface.
The no-tack finish has a brighter shine and is quicker to apply as there is no time required to remove the dispersion. Previously, such materials were considered fragile, but thanks to the development of technology, this problem has gone away. The main thing is not to overdry them much longer than the time recommended on the bottle, since with every minute in the lamp they become more compacted and stretched. You can safely choose them as the main fixative and enjoy the acceleration. Also, rubs are rubbed into such tops, broths and voluminous decor are secured with them.
Why is matte top shiny?
Sometimes after applying a matte top, there is a slight glare. Young masters, when shining light on their nails, may notice a slight shine under the matte top. This often happens with those decorative coatings that are applied in a very thin layer, through which the shine of the flower bed or final glossy coating shines through.
Causes:
- Accordingly, to prevent this from happening, it is best to purchase matte tops with a viscous consistency. Rubber ones are best. They are applied in a very thick layer, so no glare shines through them.
- The ideal option would be to purchase a matte top with a rubberized effect or velor. However, you will not be able to purchase such a product on Aliexpress. Even well-known manufacturers of varnishes in the mid-price segment cannot boast of ideal matte topcoats.
- Only a few of them have a beautiful matte effect. As noted above, they have a drawback - when applied to a light gel polish, they get very dirty. Accordingly, you will have to wash your nails with a brush from time to time. Such treatment of nails very often leads to the fact that the top coat wears off quite quickly, and some damage may be observed on the surface.
- If you purchase a matte top in a store located in your city, consult with a consultant and ask: this matte top is applied to a glossy finish, or can serve as an independent finish. Because in some cases the matte top is not a finish, and when applied directly to the flower bed it chips off very quickly.
Matte manicure
Full Coverage
Can be performed on one nail or on all fingers. Allows you to strengthen the nail plates, which is important for square shapes with increased load on the corners. Sand is poured onto regular varnish, gel polish or gel paint after coating with topcoat. The transparent material takes on the same shade as the colored background underneath. Please note that the bright colors of a manicure with a velvety surface do fade over time. By the end of the first week, the color may lose a little brightness, but the coating will remain durable.
Matte top on Aliexpress
Matte tops on Aliexpress have become very popular; they are actually bought a lot. It’s worth noting right away that you won’t find corduroy or velor tops on Aliexpress. Mostly they sell coatings with a satin effect or with a slight matte finish. That is, there is no need to achieve rough, rubbery or rubbery nails using this top. However, there are also brands that give a good matte effect. At the same time, their price is quite low.
A catalog of matte tops from Aliexpress can be found here.
List of matte tops on Aliexpress:
- Azur. This matte top is one of the most popular and is sold in small 8 ml bottles. Gives a lasting matte effect, does not rub off, even after two weeks of wear. However, many buyers note that it gets dirty and dirt may appear on the surface. This is especially true if the manicure is light in color.
Azur - Sioux. The matte top has proven itself well; in the jar it is completely transparent and has a fairly decent viscosity. That is, it is thick, but not rubbery. You won't get a rubber surface. With this top you can achieve a satin effect, which muffles the glare and makes your nails slightly matte. Ideal for making lace, as well as for applying over foil or glitter to reduce the shine and sparkle of the decor.
Sioux - Fairyglo. The top has established itself as a product in the cheap segment, its price is quite low. It is worth noting that you should not expect supernatural, good matting from it. Many people note that this top coats bald spots; sometimes for a long-lasting coating it is necessary to apply it in two layers. Some note that if applied in a thick layer, it may not dry completely in the lamp. In this case, certain areas on the nails are erased. This topcoat must be used very carefully, applied in thin layers and preferably in two layers. The effect is average, between matte and satin. You can't call it velor.
Fairglo - Rosalind. This is also a cheap price segment and has average quality. It is worth noting that you will not get rubberized surfaces, you will have a light satin effect. That is, the top may have a slight glare if you point your nails into the lamp. The manufacturer indicates that this is a finishing coating and not a decorative agent.
Rosalind
Velvet sand painting
The technique allows you to combine several decoration options in one composition. Painting is done with gel paint, top coat or gel polish. The technology is as follows:
- After applying the main color of the gel polish, seal it with a top coat.
- Remove the dispersion layer.
- Using gel paint, gel polish of the selected shade, or just a transparent top coat, we draw monograms using a thin brush.
- Sprinkle the drawing with velvet sand.
- Dry it in the lamp for double the time.
- Brush off any remaining sprinkles with a brush.
The monograms of the painting must contain a sufficient amount of liquid and be “fat” in order to “take” the sprinkles. Otherwise, the drawing will have bald spots and will be uneven.
Matte nails: photo
Matte nails have become popular quite a long time ago, and their popularity has not disappeared to this day. Recently, designs using foil and cobwebs have become quite popular. This design looks very beautiful on a matte top, when there are no extraneous reflections.
Also, very often a matte top is applied to cat eye gel polish, which is especially popular in autumn and winter. Matteness emphasizes the iridescence of magnetic particles, which are very often not visible under a glossy topcoat, due to the fact that it gives a strong glare.
Manicure Matte manicure
Velor effect
Matte geometry
Satin nude Matte geometry
Matte nails
Don't skimp on purchasing a matte top coat. Buy quality products that will ensure the durability and wear of your manicure.
Sweater design
The trendy design of the autumn-winter season would not be so impressive without its voluminous velor texture. It can also be done with acrylic powder or flock. The design is applied with paint or gel polish onto the top without a dispersion layer, sprinkled with powder material, and then dried in a lamp. With sprinkles, the design becomes durable and expressive. You can choose different braid patterns for sweater designs. Read more about knitted design technology.
