how to clean matte nails
The trend of having matte nail polish was all the rage in the world of beauty a year ago, and for good reason.
As we get closer to the holiday season, I have a sneaking suspicion that matte nail polish may make a comeback as a hip and trendy replacement for conventional top coats.
But how can you ensure that your matte manicure continues to look modern?
In this post, we will provide a step-by-step guidance on how to clean matte nail polish so that your nails will be able to survive the stress of the Christmas season.
What are matte nails?
First things first: before we go into how to clean matte nails, let’s make sure we understand what matte nails are.
New and revolutionary, matte nail polish is a type of nail lacquer that dries without leaving a shine on the nail. The vast majority of nail polishes currently available on the market have a glossy, pearlescent appearance, whereas matte nail polishes dry out to a very smooth and even surface after application.
The color palette for this cutting-edge finish is quite vast, but the darker options are often the ones that end up selling the best.
Traditionally, women have dominated the nail beauty market; however, guys are increasingly getting into it for the purpose of making an edgy and trendy fashion statement, and we couldn’t be happier about it!
So, in order to keep your matte nails looking as gorgeous as they possibly can, what do you do?
How to Clean Matte Nails?
Regular cleaning is the most effective approach for preserving your matte nail finish and preserving the appearance of your nails as though you had just finished a manicure on them.
Allow me to walk you through the six simple steps that you will need to do in order to complete this task successfully:
1. Pre-soak Your Matte Nails in a Water-based Solution
First, you should give your matte-finished nails a little soak in some warm, soapy water for a few minutes before you start washing them properly.
By doing so, you will be able to help soften the dirt, debris, and oils that naturally accumulate on the surface of the nail and under the free edge of the nail.
Think about adding some kosher salt or baking soda to the mixture of soap and water. Baking soda can help remove stains and bacteria, while sea salt helps strengthen brittle nails and help remove dead skin. Both of these ingredients can be found in most grocery stores.
If you have sensitive skin, you should steer clear of using baking soda in excess because it has the potential to be abrasive. I recommend either applying a very small amount at the very end of your soak or eliminating this addition entirely!
2. Wash Your Hands with Soap and Water
After soaking your fingernails for a few minutes, give them a gentle wash to remove any soap, salt, dead skin, or baking soda that may be left behind.
Because a harsh solution can strip the skin of its natural oils and moisture, I would recommend using a gentle soap instead. Your nail polish will chip, your nails will become brittle, and your skin will become flaky and cracked if your nails and skin are dry.
After cleaning, thoroughly pat the nails dry.
3. Scrub Away The Grime
Apply a pea-sized amount of antibacterial soap to your nails with a soft brush purchased from a beauty supply store or a toothbrush with soft bristle bristles. Scrub your nails in a circular motion while being careful but persistent.
Be sure to clean not only the surface of your nail but also the cuticles and the area just under the edge of your nail.
This will be helpful in the removal of dirt, debris, and grease from any nooks that are difficult to access. The accumulation of dirt and debris can thwart healthy growth, and it can also shorten the life of your manicure.
Scrubbing your nails on a daily basis with antibacterial soap is something that comes highly recommended. Including this step as part of your regular routine is an easy thing to do, but it will reap so many benefits for you!
If your matte nail paint is a gel-based product, you will need to use a different method to get the sticky residue off of your gel polish when you are at home.
4. Rinse your Matte Nails With Water
It is imperative that you perform a thorough rinsing of your hands, fingers, and nails after you have soaked, washed, and scrubbed them. This will remove any dead skin, filth, oil, or soap that is still present.
The health of your manicure, as well as your own, could be negatively impacted by any leftover material.
Hand hygiene must be practiced correctly at all times in order to protect one’s own health as well as the health of others. We expose our hands to bacteria on a regular basis, which can lead to a variety of ailments.
Regular hand cleaning is one of the best things you can do to preserve the beauty of your fingernails and overall health.
5. Thoroughly Dry Your Nails
This stage is incredibly crucial in comparison to the others!
If you do this the right way, it will have the most beneficial effect on the appearance and health of your nails.
When hands and fingernails are wet, they are more likely to sustain damage. When the nail becomes wet, it swells, which causes it to become weaker, and it also makes it more pliable. Because of the significant disruption to the nail’s structural integrity, it will become more susceptible to damage.
Before you use your hands, it is absolutely necessary to ensure that your fingernails and the skin around them are fully dry.
Make use of a fresh towel, and pat the area dry after using it. It is best to avoid using a towel that has already been used because doing so can facilitate the spread of bacteria from one person to the next.
If you have access to a hairdryer, using it rather than another method is the superior and more expedient choice. Because it can cause burns to the skin, you shouldn’t use the nail drier on a high heat setting or directly on the surface of your nail.
6. Use a Moisturizer (Cuticle Oil)
It’s possible that after you soak, wash, scrub, and dry your hands, you’ll find that your nails have a dry, brittle feeling. This is because dehydration causes brittleness. The use of a moisturizer of sufficient grade is an excellent method for overcoming this issue.
There is a dizzying array of nail moisturizers on the market today, each of which varies in terms of both its quality and its formulation. Because everyone’s skin reacts differently to various chemicals, the treatment that is most effective for you is the one that you should use.
Olive oil is a good alternative to cuticle oil, cream, or ointment that you may make at home if you don’t have access to the other products. Cuticle oil is the most helpful of the three.
Apply a generous amount of olive oil to the surface of the nail as well as the cuticles after warming a small amount of olive oil in the microwave (make sure to let it cool before applying it!).
You might also try dipping your fingertips in the olive oil and letting them soak for a few minutes. To get the finest results from this bath, I suggest doing it for a full twenty minutes.
You can get on with your day after wiping away the extra oil with a cotton ball.
What To Avoid?
Because of the frequency with which they are exposed to hostile surroundings, your nail polish may eventually become damaged as a result. Although there are many difficulties that cannot be avoided, the following are a few things that should be avoided in order to maintain your nails looking clean and well cared for:
1. Dish Soap
The use of dishwater that contains soap is the culprit that is most frequently disregarded as the cause of polish deterioration. The answer is straightforward: put on some rubber gloves to shield your nails and hands from the soapy water in the dishwater.
2. Using your Nails Too Often
I well understand the exasperation that comes from being unable to open a jar, can, or package.
If you attempt to do this with your nails, though, you will almost certainly result in damage and breakage. Use a tool that you already have rather than your fingernails as a means of assistance.
3. Harsh Temperatures
When you are subjected to frigid temperatures, your skin and nails suffer, which causes dryness and brittleness in the nails.
Protecting your hands and nails from the elements, especially during the colder months of the year, is an absolute must!
Not only does donning warm gloves make you appear adorable and festive, but it also helps your nails stay in excellent condition.
Wrapping Up
Today, we went deep into the topic of how to clean matte nails and provided a method that is easy to follow.
Nail polish with a matte finish is a fashion-forward beauty trend that can help you look more put-together. Matte nail polish can accomplish anything, from a polished appearance to an edgy accent, and everything in between.
On the other hand, if you don’t take the time to properly manage them, they can quickly degenerate into a gloomy and unsightly mess!
Maintaining a clean matte finish on your nails can save you the trouble of having to redo your manicure on a regular basis.
FAQs
Can I use regular nail polish remover to clean matte nails?
It is not advisable to use conventional nail paint remover on matte nails in order to clean them. This is due to the fact that traditional nail polish remover may contain acetone, which has the potential to erase the matte finish off the nails. Acetone is a powerful solvent that works well at removing nail polish, but it is also harsh and can cause damage to the nails if it is used too frequently. Acetone has the potential to remove the matte finish from matte nails, leaving the nails looking lifeless and dreary as a result.
How often should I clean my matte nails?
Even while it is extremely important to keep one’s nails clean and healthy, it is not required to clean matte nails as regularly as one would traditionally clean shiny nails. In comparison to glossy nail finishes, matte nail finishes are typically more long-lasting and resistant to chipping and peeling. As a result, matte nail finishes do not need to be cleaned as frequently as glossy nail finishes. In most cases, cleaning matte nails once every two to three weeks or as needed when removing nail paint is all that is required to achieve satisfactory results. It’s possible that you’ll need to clean your matte nails more regularly if you apply nail polish on a regular basis.
Can I use a nail brush to clean my matte nails?
When it comes to cleaning matte nails, the use of a nail brush is not recommended. This is due to the fact that a nail brush can sometimes be overly rough, which can cause the matte finish of the nails to become damaged. It is the purpose of the bristles of a nail brush to remove dirt and debris from the surface of the nails; nevertheless, the bristles of a nail brush can also be abrasive and scrape the surface of the nails. This can cause the nails to appear broken and harsh, and it also has the potential to cause the matte finish to flake or peel off.
When cleaning and buffing the nails softly, it is better not to use a nail brush but rather a gentle cloth or cotton balls rather than a nail brush. The matte finish on the nails is less likely to be damaged by these materials because of their softer nature.
Can You Clean Matte Nails With Alcohol?
It is true that you can use alcohol to clear matte nail polish, but you must exercise extreme caution. Because alcohol can dry out the cuticles and nails, it is advisable to use it sparingly and only when it is absolutely necessary.
To clean matte nails with alcohol, wipe the nails gently with a dry, soft cloth or cotton swab. You can also use rubbing alcohol. You could also try diluting the alcohol with water and applying it to your nails in a circular motion to softly clean them. Be very careful not to scrub too vigorously, since doing so may cause the matte finish to become scratched or worn away.
After washing your nails and cuticles with alcohol, it is a good idea to apply some moisturizer to both areas in order to help prevent your nails and cuticles from getting dry and brittle. You can achieve this result with the assistance of cuticle oil or a hydrating nail cream.
Final Thoughts
When compared to standard glossy nails, matte nails demand more care when it comes to cleaning. On the other hand, if you keep your nails clean and healthy by following the procedures mentioned in this article, you won’t have any trouble doing so. It is important to remember to gather the essential supplies, remove the nail paint gently, clean and buff the nails, and then apply a matte topcoat to protect the matte look. If you follow these instructions, you will be able to enjoy beautiful, clean matte nails throughout the entire year.