Sally Hansen Launches ManiMatch Virtual Nail Polish Try-On App
Select your most flattering nail shade with Sally Hansen’s new ManiMatch app. Photo: (Arthur Belebeau)
It’s such a bummer when you buy nail polish that looks so beautiful in the bottle and then trying it on at home only to hate the way the color looks on your skin tone. Instead of wasting money, Sally Hansen wants to remove the guesswork with their new free ManiMatch app, launching Friday, September 18 (available for iPhones now and Androids this fall). As the top selling nail color and nail care brand in the US, Sally Hansen knows a thing or two about creating gorgeous shades. Now you can try on over 200 of them, find the most flattering polish, and buy it with one click.
I know what you’re thinking: It will look totally fake like those awful nail and makeup testing apps with a flat presentation. Not so! Kristen D'Arcy, vice president of global digital for Coty admits previous nail polish apps were impersonal, inaccurate, and difficult to use — that’s why they put so much hard work into this app. “Allowing women to discover colors they had not considered previously and try on the shades in real time when they’re considering purchase will definitely revolutionize the shopping experience,” she says.
Sally Hansen’s new app scans your hand to find your perfect nail polish.Â
When you open the app, you’ll see the outline of a hand. Adjust your own hand so it fits in the outline. (Don’t worry if you currently have polish on — it will still work!) Your camera will now scan your hand and detect your fingernail position. “There is little variation in color between the hand and fingernails, which means the cutting-edge tracking technology had to be carefully refined to accurately identify and locate the features on the hand,” says D’Arcy.Â
Yahoo Beauty tests the new Sally Hansen ManiMatch app.Â
The app will next detect your skin tone and a bunch of recommended color options will popular at the bottom of the screen. Try them on! It perfectly and simulates the color, texture, and shine to make it look like a real polish.“We created bespoke skin tone analysis algorithms specifically for the ManiMatch application —something that has never been done before for nails,” says D’Arcy. The app identifies several skin tones based on pigmentation, and shares flattering shades based on the expertise of Sally Hansen’s own experts. “We tapped into their knowledge of matching nail color shades to skin tones and then programmed that skill into the algorithms, so ManiMatch users are able to benefit from the deep level of expertise at our brand,” she says.
Sally Hansen’s new manicure app lets you virtually try on over 200 shades.Â
One such expert is Madeline Poole, Sally Hansen’s global color ambassador. She shared some tips for selecting flattering nail shades based on your skin tone. “For someone with red, warm undertones (light/ medium skin) try a shade with a cooler tone,” she says. “When choosing a shade of red, pick one that has a bit of blue in it, like Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure in Red My Lips. If you have deeper, more olive undertones (olive/dark skin), choose a shade that contains a warmer tone. Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure in Kook A Mango is a great coral that that contrasts very nicely with olive and dark skin types.”
With Sally Hansen’s new app you’re one click away from your most flattering manicure.Â
Try a bunch of shades till you find what you’re looking for. Consider this your virtual nail dressing room. You can also click on “Shades” to try on some new options from over 200 possible shades. Is your tan fading fast? No problem. Try the app again tomorrow — you may get different results! Click “Products” to pick out the polish you want and click “Buy Now” to make your purchase. Click “Snap & Share” to save a photo of your virtual manicure or post on social media. Use #manimodel #contest to enter Sally Hansen’s mani model contest.
Now try the app out for yourself — it’s free! Or, if you’re in New York City this weekend, Sally Hansen is hosting a pop-up shop at 120 Wooster Street (3pm to 7pm on Friday, 11am to 7pm on Saturday and Sunday). If you test out the app and post about the event on Twitter or Facebook you’ll win complimentary polish samples and manicures at the event.
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