If you thought that matte nails had seen their finest hour, think again. The nail pros of Instagram have decided otherwise. This season saw the launch of the Essie Cashmere Matte Collection. It comes in super-soft shades of pink and greige that look undeniably chic, wrapped around a giant mug of coffee or grabbing on to a chunky sweater.

For polish traditionalists, the chilly months mean that nail salons are now awash with a gorgeous array of moody charcoals, midnight navies and wintry wines. With one slick of a clever, mattifying top coat, these velvet shades suddenly gain a contemporary, cool girl edge. Thanks to the never ending advances in the world of manicure technology, you can transform your favourite polish in to a matte lacquer in seconds. Immediate nail art. It’s that easy.
Click through the gallery to see five of the best top coats that will give you a beautiful matte nails with a velvet finish, in one swipe.