This ain’t the french manicure your grandma had, let me tell you that much. This post also has nothing to do with Matt Damon nails (maybe one day, if you’re good). Often people forget that color isn’t the only way to create amazing nail art. Recently, with the introduction of matte color, matte top coats, caviar and velvet manicures, and chunky-as-balls glitter, texture has become the new thing to experiment with. For this tutorial, you will need one color (I went with black, like my soul), a mattifying top coat, and nail guide stickers/scotch tape/a steady-ass hand.

First, paint on your base coat followed by your colored polish. The day I learn to paint inside the lines is the day I start watching “Two and a Half Men” and refusing avocados.

Paint on a coat of Seche Vite so everything will dry more quickly (or wait forever while ever-so-carefully twiddling your thumbs). Then, place your stickers/tape over the tips of each nail and press down to remove any bubbles or gaps.

Next, paint the exposed nail with your mattifying top coat. I used Essie’s “Matte About You.” I highly recommend this product as a staple in anyone’s polish collection as it can turn any regular polish into a velvety, matte one.

This picture looks out of focus, but I think it’s just the matteness of the polish. The eyes deceive, folks. Finally, after letting the matte coat dry for about 2-3 minutes, take off your stickers/tape and behold the beauty of your flawless, easy, semi-goth french manicure.

The coolest thing about this tutorial is that when you wash your hands, the matte part becomes wet and DISAPPEARS and you’re left with normal, shiny black nails until your hands dry again. The first time I got my hands wet after doing these nails I was all, “WHAT IS THIS WITCHCRAFT?!” Give it a shot, readers. You won’t be disappointed.

Comment here with ideas, critiques, and suggestions on how to execute “Good Will Hunting” nails (one nail has math problems on it, another an apple…).

Written by Taylor Blakin
Follow this nail expert and avocado-enthusiast on Blogspot and Tumblr!