Just when we thought cat eyes were only an eye makeup trend, the feline aesthetic sauntered into the manicure world. Now, we have another fad nicknamed ‘cat eye nails’.
Many nail art lovers are jumping on the trend. While it shares the same name as the eyeliner technique, cat eye nails take a different approach: they feature a shimmering narrow line that runs diagonally on the nails, just like actual cat eyes.
If this tickles your fancy, stay on this page as we share stunning cat-eye manicure ideas and a rundown on how to achieve them.
What are Cat Eye Nails?
Cat eye nails are a unique manicure design featuring a diagonal, narrow line with a glittery, metallic vibe suitable for all nail shapes, skin tones, and styles. This mani gets its name because it’s loosely inspired by the mesmerizing iris of felines. Michelle Nguyen, CEO of PLA Nails, says, “It might not be obvious at first glance, but cat eye nails resemble the reflective, kaleidoscopic look of a cat’s eye.”
The feline eye mani is similar to the velvet nail trend as they both feature a textured metallic finish. It offers endless opportunities for creativity. From sparkles to jelly topcoats and chrome finishes, you can never get bored wearing this trend. However, the look requires a particular nail polish, a thin nail brush, a magnetic tool, and creativity to unleash its art. But don’t be discouraged. It’s surprisingly easy to recreate. All you need is the right equipment and a pro nail tech, and you are good to go.
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How to Create Cat Eye Nails
Cat eye nails are usually painted in a similar color to the base, creating a reflective, mirror-like effect of looking into a cat’s eye. Here’s how to achieve it:
Gather Your Tools
You need a:
- Thin nail art brush or Magnetic (gel) polish
- Shiny top coat
Prep Your Nails
Clean your nails and apply a base coat to protect them and create a smooth surface for the polish. Allow the base to cure completely before proceeding.
Apply Magnetic Nail Polish
Once the base polish is dry, apply a coat of magnetic cat-eye nail polish to your nails, one at a time.
Create the Cat Eye Effect
After applying the magnetic polish to one nail, don’t let it dry. Instead, hold the magnet over the nail in a circular motion without touching it directly. The polish will shift and create a cat-eye effect due to the magnetic particles resulting from the magnet in the cap of the polish.
Repeat for Each Nail
Create the cat eye effect on each nail one at a time while the polish is still wet. This should take about 10 to 15 seconds.
Apply Top Coat and Cure
Apply a clear top coat to seal your cat eye nails and allow it to air-dry or cure under light if using a gel top coat. Sealing with a top coat helps protect your mani and ensures it lasts longer.
The Best Feline Eye Nails You Should Recreate
This manicure gives your fingers a multidimensional look as the colors move around on the nail. It’s iridescent and intriguing, as the nails seem to change every time you look at them, depending on the light in the room. Hence, it’s the perfect manicure for anyone who loves a dynamic look.
You can achieve the look by lightly stroking a thin nail art brush across the nail or using nail polish with magnetic particles to shape-shift it and give it that flicked illusion.
Besides the sparkles and dimensional lines, this nail aesthetic welcomes various color choices. So whether you want it in pink, black, white, blue, or any shimmering hue, your nail tech will create any of these cat eye nails without hesitation.
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