Cat-eye nails are emerging as one of the year’s biggest nail trends so far. Admittedly, they’ve been around for a while, so why are they blowing up on TikTok and Instagram now?
One reason could be the boom in mysticism as self-care. After all, what could be better than a mani that mimics the softly shimmering, 3D texture of a cat’s eye gemstone, with its protective, grounding energy? Said to amplify good luck and intuition, you could see it as your fingertips manifesting a future filled with positive vibes.
Or maybe they’re going strong because Hailey Bieber and Dua Lipa have given us a masterclass in how chic cat-eye nails can look. Either way, we’re adding this manicure to our spring mood board.
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What are cat-eye nails?
Cat-eye nails may look like a next-level velvet nail with their metallic finish but, technically speaking, they are actually a magnetic manicure.
A typical hallmark is a subtle, luminous line that runs diagonally across the nail. “The look mimics the glowing slit of a cat’s eye, thanks to a special gel polish infused with magnetic particles,” says The Gel Bottle founder Daisy Kalnina. “When you hover a magnet over the uncured polish, it pulls those particles into a shimmering, light-catching pattern that shifts as you move your hands,” she continues.
How to do cat-eye nails
Start by asking your nail tech for a magnetic gel polish and choose your desired shade. From there, they can customise the effect using a magnetic tool.
“The classic version has a sleek, light-reflecting line running straight down the centre of the nail, but there are so many ways to switch it up,” Daisy says. “You could go for a soft, diffused halo effect, a diagonal slant or even a cosmic swirl.”