25 Colorful Matte Nail Ideas To Elevate Any Manicure

Bright blue monochromatic matte french with shiny tips — @paintboxnails / Instagram

Want to elevate the appearance of any manicure? Just make it matte. Whether you're working with a classic pink-and-white French or bright and bold nail art, there's something about a matte finish that gives every look an air of sophistication. And though matte polish has traditionally been reserved for more minimalistic looks, it's recently found its way into countless other manicure trends and proven itself to be one of the nail art world's most versatile chameleons.

Whether you're looking to dress up your nails with matte 3D accents, experiment with bold mattified shades in endless designs, or level up your pastel mani with a more mature matte finish, these colorful matte nail ideas are worth stealing for yourself.

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3D Pastel Art

Blue floral matte nails — @phoebesummernails / Instagram

Matte-on-matte 3D nail art is understated and chic, as evidenced by these darling and dainty pastel daisies.

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Monochromatic Matte Art

Blue squiggle matte nails — @imarninails / Instagram

Stick some line art in a tonal range of a single shade—like this blue-on-blue example—on top of a natural nail for simple design that stands out.

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Lime 3D Matte Accents

lime green matte nails — @digitzbydev / Instagram

Play around with textures by topping a shiny mani with some mattified 3D accents in the same shade. It's subtle, but eye-catching, especially in this pastel lime polish.

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Sunshine Squiggles

Yellow squiggle matte nails — @imarninails / Instagram

A neutral, skin-matching matte makes the perfect canvas for some bright squiggle art. Switch up the colors or stay monochromatic with your accent.

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Lemon Matte Half-Moons

Matte yellow halfmoon stiletto nails — @bhambnails / Instagram

Half-moon manis and modern French tips are better together—but best in matte. The neon polish and overstated tips feel fresh, and the shiny natural nail creates a cool contrast between the bright art.

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Matte And Glossy French

Matte french tips — @paintboxnails / Instagram

Combining matte and glossy polishes allows you to play with contrasting textures while sticking with a single shade—like in this monochromatic French mani.

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Neon Matte

There's something unexpected about seeing these sorts of neon shades in mattified form, which is what makes this manicure so hard to look away from. When it comes to eye-catching mattes, the brighter the better.

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Rainbow Mattes

rainbow matte nails — @bhambnails / Instagram

Rainbow shades can be just as vibrant on a set of matte tips as they are with their usual shiny finish. Mix and match different graphic prints for a look that feels nothing short of celebratory.

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Tonal Tips

Shades of mauve matte nails — @aliciatnails / Instagram

Color blocked, tonal tips offer a graphic twist on your usual "Skittle" nails. Combine complimentary shades—like these autumnal reds, oranges, and purples—for something that feels cohesive but not quite monochromatic.

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Matte And Metallic

Blue and silver matte nails — @aliciatnails / Instagram

If you want to try matte nails without sacrificing on shine, try pairing a bold shade with a shimmery or metallic polish. This diagonal art offers just a peak of silver behind a streak of cobalt blue and hint of natural nail.

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Matte Over Easy

Egg matte nails — @imarninails / Instagram

This tiny egg art uses matte polish to make its 3D details look hyper-realistic, and the green accent nails add a little extra pop to the overall look.

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Negative-Space Hearts

Pink heart matte nails — @imarninails / Instagram

Overtly romantic nail art often feels like it should be reserved for Valentine's Day, but these modern matte hearts are appropriate year-round.

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Pastel Matte Skittle Nails

pastel skittle matte nails — @imarninails / Instagram

Skittle nails—which feature different colored polish on every finger—will allow you to play with matte polish in every shade of the rainbow in a single manicure. These pastels feel perfect for the spring and summer months, but could be swapped for jewel tones for cozy season.

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Geometric Pastels

Graphic pastel matte nails — @imarninails / Instagram

Another way to play with pastel matte shades? By using them to create geometric art on top of natural nails.

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Matte Lavender

lilac matte nails — @bhambnails / Instagram

Lavender polish has a relaxing air about it, and it's currently in style in all its different forms. This square-shaped, flat-finish look is just one way to experiment.

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Colorblocked Strips

Colorblocked matte stripes — @aliciatnails / Instagram

Mix your mattes with a bold striped design. To DIY this (fairly easy) art, simply apply your base coat and the desired number of coats of your lighter shade to the entire nail and let it dry completely. Then, place a piece of tape down the middle of the nail so that half of it is covered (be sure it's straight, as this will be your line of demarcation between the colors) and paint as many coats as you want of the darker shade on the exposed nail. Let it dry, peel off the tape, and finish off with your mattifying top coat.

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Sparkly Floral French

Pastel glitter matte floral French — @anteujwary / Instagram

It may seem counterintuitive to top a sparkly polish with a matte finish, but the results make it worth trying. The glitter gives off a grown-up-feeling twinkle, which looks especially radiant next to a bright blue polish and some artful floral details.

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Sea Glass Nails

These "sea glass" nails feature a gorgeous gradient of pastel blue with a finish that somehow—magically—feels translucent.

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Negative-Space Neons

Neon squiggle matte nails — @antejuwary / Instagram

These clear tips serve as the perfect background for the electric pink-and-yellow squiggle art set on top of it. The shocking colors and matte, 3D texture makes this mani mimic the appearance of an IRL neon sign.

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Studded Mattes

Studded matte nails — @trillanails / Instagram

Add some edge to your pastel mattes by decorating them with silver studs. For an even more statement-making take, try extending your tips as long as you (and your texting fingers) can handle it.

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Glossy And Graphic Accents

Red and orange matte nails — @brownluxenails / Instagram

This graphic matte mani takes the traditional concept of an accent nail and flips it on its head. The designed black, orange, and red nails serve as the core, and the solid glossy red swiped on two fingers is there to compliment it—yet another example of how combining the two finishes allows you to experiment with texture.

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Pumpkin Spice Mattes

pumpkin spice matte nails — @paintboxnails / Instagram

This warm-toned matte and metallic combo combines autumnal shades in a way that feels appropriate all year round.

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Multicolored Matte Squiggles

Blue and orange matte nails — @anteaujwary / Instagram

There's a lot going on in this mind-bending mani—squiggly art, multiple color combos, a single French tip—but its matte finish makes it feel elevated instead of overwhelming.

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