Cat eye manicures are the newest nail trend. And they probably look different than what you're expecting. And magnetic polish is making a comeback with cat eye nails. Seen on Instagram feeds and YouTube tutorials, the look is achieved with special cat eye polish and a small handheld magnet.
Cat eye nails are popular because they are beautiful and versatile. The shimmering effect creates a visually striking manicure that will draw attention to your hands. You can experiment with the size of the line and use different colors, finding a manicure to suit your preference and nail shape.
You can also mix and match the effect with other nail designs, like a space design, or rainbows, or even add rhinestones or gold flakes. The versatility of this nail art lets you get creative which is another reason for its popularity.
Therefore, today this article is written to explore what is cat eye polish and how to use cat eye polishes to make beautiful nail art designs.
An Introduction to Cat Eye Polish
Manicure styles have evolved from solid colors at the beginning to palette colors to floral and diamond-encrusted prints and now cat eyes, all the while catering to the needs of women. Cat eye manicures are a very popular style and many women choose to have cat eye manicures in nail parlors. Cat-eye nails are created by cat eye polish and… you guessed right – a magnet.
The cat eye polish contains iron powder fragments that are attracted to magnets. The iron particles are quite dense, so they usually sink to the base layer of the polish as it's applied. When you place the magnet over the nail, the iron particles rise toward the surface and stay there due to the thickness of the polish as it dries. Therefore, the particles can be seen through the nail polish, which creates the mesmerizing cat eye effect.
The look involves a diagonal line drawn directly through the middle of your nail, and much like actual cat eyes, the lines vary. Some are straight, some are wonky, some are thick, and some are thin. Most of the versions we've seen use a metallic stripe to create a luminous design, but you can create this look with any two nail shades.
The key to making a nail look like a cat's eye is to use a small magnet to move the metallic pigment on the nail bed in the direction you want. It is depending on how you point the magnet, the shape of the metal polisher changes.
While a cat eye has long been a staple in makeup, it's now made the move over to your manicure. Though it doesn't include the same flick as you might think. The new trend more closely resembles the cat eye gemstone.
How to Creat Cat Eye Nails?
Creating this look is as easy as getting some cat eye polish and making a design you like. Magnetic polish can be purchased as a regular polish or a gel polish (requires UV light) and usually comes with a magnetic tool. After applying the cat eye polish, create your favorite design by moving the magnetic tool over the nail without touching it and directing the polish to where you want it.
Here is a step-by-step instruction:
Prep your nail as usual. Of course, your nail base is just as important as the products you use to get the perfect finish. Do any necessary cleaning, such as trimming and cuticle cutting, to obtain smooth, tangible nails. Depending on your style, you can keep them short and straight, or you can create long, pointed tips for the ultimate feline effect.
Apply a thin layer of gel base coat. This can be any brand gel base coat. Cure for 30 seconds under 36-watt LED Lamp or 1 minute under a 36-watt UV Lamp.
Shake your cat eye gel polish thoroughly. Apply 1 thin layer of the cat eye polish. Cure for 30 seconds under 36-watt LED Lamp or 1 minute under a 36-watt UV Lamp
Apply the second coat of your gel polish. Don't cure yet! Hover the magnetic stick for about 10-15 seconds to get the cat eye effect, then immediately cure it.
Apply a thin layer of the top coat and cure for about 1 minute under an LED lamp. We took a long time to cure because we used the no cleanser Top Coat. However, if you use a normal gel top coat, just cure as usual and remove the sticky layer.
CHROME POWDER: If you want to finish with a Chrome finish, after step 5, just rub the chrome pigment powder with a sponge applicator all over your nail bed until the desired look is achieved. Dust off excess powder around the nail. Apply 1 layer of a top coat and cure for 60 seconds with No-Cleanse Top Coat.
Tips for Successful Nails
First, apply the cat eye polish to all of your nails and let them dry.
Working one nail at a time, apply a second coat of polish and immediately hold the magnet over your nail for about 10–15 seconds. This is the trickiest part — you want to hold the magnet close to your nail without actually touching it — I had a few smudges the first time I tried this.
You will notice a really cool wavy, textured effect which you need to let completely dry and then finish with a top coat for a glossy look and to protect the pattern.
How to Remove Cat Eye Polish?
A common misconception is that wearing cat eye gel polish will damage your natural nails. Actually, it's incorrectly removing cat eye polish that does this. Picking or peeling your gel nail polish can damage your natural nail bed underneath and cause your nails to feel thinner or more bendy and prone to breakage.
Here are a few methods on how to correctly and safely remove your cat eye polish.
Step One
Buff your nails to remove the shine of the top coat. This must be done firmly as the surface must be opened up to allow you to penetrate your gel polish with remover.
Step Two
Once the top layer is thoroughly buffed, there are several options to remove your cat eye polish. You can soak a cotton pad, cotton ball, or Lint Free Wipe with Mylee Gel Remover, or 100% Pure Acetone and place it over the gel color. You can then secure this with clips or a piece of foil wrapped around the fingertip. Leave this on for 10 to 15 minutes to soak.
Step Three
Another option is to apply the Magic cat eye Gel Remover. Simply paint on a thick coat once your top layer is buffed and it on for 5-6 minutes. It should start to bubble and lift.
Step Four
Use a Wooden Cuticle Pusher Stick or the Mylee Gel Scraper to gently push away the gel polish from your nail bed.
Step Five
Wash your hands immediately after use. Once your cat eye polish is removed, via any method, make sure to rehydrate your nails using some cuticle oil and hand cream!
Some Creative Designs with Cat Eye Polishes
The Speck Effect
This nail art with cat eye polishes takes cat eye inspo a step further with gorgeous reflective flecks that add more dimension and shimmer. Black and blue are also highly adaptable, so feel free to put them on or off (or both).
Purple and Polished
The high gloss of this topcoat may catch your eye first, but the longer you look at it, the more fascinating this purple combination becomes. If you're not sure about this deep purple hue, don't worry, there are plenty of purple cat eye polishes to choose from.
Gold and Taupe
Gold and taupe may not be the first color combination that comes to mind for nail art, but you can't deny how beautiful this final product is with cat eye polishes. It tends to complement those with skin that has warm or neutral undertones.
Moody
Part cat-eye polish, part gemstone. Black, gold, and purple blend perfectly to create an optical illusion IRL. And while the cat eye polish may be unconventional, the oval nail shape makes it classic.
Shimmery Rainbow
Cat eye polishes traditionally play with jewel tones but this mani embraces all the colors of the rainbow. It's also got a glamorous multidimensional shimmer. Needless to say, we can't get enough.
Brown Cat Eye Nails
Brown is a great color because it is versatile, and there is a shade to suit every complexion and preference. Depending on your choice, you can pick dark, moody hues or soft, light browns. This is also an ideal option for a more subtle take on the cat eye nail trend.
Cat Eye Design with Matte Nails
Matte nails have a smooth, flat finish and are a great choice if you want a texturally interesting manicure. The matte polish looks gorgeous paired with the cat eye nail trend, creating a contrast. Limit the colors of your designs to not detract from the matte lacquer.
Cat Eye Nails with Cat Art Tips
Show the world your witty side by combining cat eye nails with cat art. The trend features a thin line of shimmering polish down the middle of the nail, and you can focus the nail art at the tips. Choose a nail shape that will complement the design, like a square tip.
Cat Eye Nails with Rhinestones
You need a special polish with iron powder fragments to achieve the brilliant shimmer for the cat eye nail trend, but you can add to this sparkle by gluing rhinestones to the nail. You can experiment with the size and placement of the gems for a unique finish.
Mint and Nude Cat Eye Nails
There are few color combinations as beautiful and wearable as mint and nude. These hues look great together and will complement all nail shapes. You can also wear the cat eye nail trend with these colors and experiment with the placement and angles, creating a unique finish on each fingernail.
Conclusion
Cat eye polish is the easiest to nail and has a worthy effect on Instagram. It is made of magnetic nail polish and a magnet rod. Just like opal, cat eye nails grab and reflect the light of every opportunity. If you're already obsessed with crystals, it looks like you'll love this look. Different colors of cat eye polish and cat eye nails with different colors of glowing particles will have different textures.
The cat eye nail trend has been enjoying its moment in the spotlight; for a good reason, it is one of the most stylish and fun ways to add a little sparkle to your manicure. The technique is achieved using an iron fragment powder polish to give your nails a brilliant shimmer. Then, using a small magnet, you can manipulate the polish and make it move in the direction you want.
The goal is to create a thin line in the middle of the nail, which resembles a cat's eye, hence the name. The cat's eye stone is also symbolic, representing wealth and good fortune. There are many ways to try out the trend, including experimenting with the size and shape of the line and various color combinations.
You can find a lot of gorgeous designs with cat eye polish on the internet. You can see a lot of women coming to the local nail salon and choosing this fascinating nail art. You can also Google any of the top local nail salons near you and you'll see them all offer cat eye nail art styles. Involving a range of different nail colors, it exploded on Instagram and Pin Trest. How can you resist this beautiful nail art trend?