Gelish's new top coat, Matte Top It Off, provides a new matte formula that seals and protects nails from chipping, and can also be used to create textured nail art. Here, MaeLing Parrish, Gelish's U.S. Dean of Education, uses the product to create a sleek matte French manicure.

1. Shape the natural nail, push back the cuticle and remove any non-living tissue from the nail plate. Using the Gelish 180-grit buffer, remove the shine from the nail plate. Remove the dust with Gelish Nail Surface Cleanse on a lint-free wipe. Apply a thing coat of Gelish pH Bond. 

Apply a very thing coat of Gelish Foundation Base Gel to the entire nail and cap the free edge. Cure for five seconds in the Gelish 18G LED light or for one minute with a UV lamp. Using a clean, dry gel brush, wipe the surface of the cured Foundation gel to remove excess tackiness.

Using the Gelish color of your choice (Gelish Black Shadow is shown here), wipe excess product off the brush. Cap the free edge first, then apply a thin coat of color onto the nail plate. Cure for 30 seconds with LED or for two minutes with a UV lamp.  

2. Apply a second thin coat of Gelish. Cure for 30 seconds with an LED or two minutes with a UV lamp. If desired, apply a third coat. Remove any product from the skin using the Gelish Eco Pusher. Cure for 30 seconds or two minutes.

3. Apply Gelish Top It Off Matte, making sure to cover the entire nail. Cure for 30 seconds with an LED or two minutes with a UV lamp. Remove the tacky surface using a lint-free wipe and Gelish Nail Surface Cleanse.

4. Using traditional Gelish Top It Off, create a French manicure design along the tip of the nail, capping the free edge first. Cure for 30 seconds with a LED light or two minutes with a UV lamp. Remove the tacky surface on the traditional Gelish Top It Off French manicure layer using a lint-free wipe and Gelish Nail Surface Cleanse.

5. Apply Gelish Nourish cuticle oil and massage into the nail plate.

6. Use a lint-free wipe and Gelish Cleanse to remove Nourish from the Gelish matte Top It Off. 

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