Cat eye polish does things regular polish could never dream of. Move the magnet and the glitter shifts like silk catching the light. The effect can look multidimensional, velvety, or electric. The best cat eye nail art pushes it further with chrome, layering effects, or adding embellishments that make the design pop even more. There’s no wrong way to wear it, just endless ways to make it your own. If you love manicures that turn heads, you’re in the right place.
Galaxy of Cat Eye Nail Art
Galaxy nails are one of the standout ways to show off cat eye polish. Its glittery light-and-dark nature is perfect for re-creating starry night skies. The swirling colors here look like a nebula where stars are being born. Then, the painted stars on top accentuate the celestial vibes.
We carry magnetic gel polish because it’s ideal for shimmery, multicolor designs. But even then, it takes some planning and patience to make everything turn out exactly right. Keep reading to discover pro tips for flawless cat eye nail art.
Lavis Cat Eyes CE8 - Set 12 - Gel Polish 0.5 oz - Lavis Hidden Treasures Collection
Cat Eye and Chrome
Metallics are trending for both maximalist and minimalist nail designs. Chrome powder is very versatile as it can provide a mirror finish or a gentle touch of iridescence. It’s a wonderful companion to cat eye polish. Check out the delightful shine on these chrome and cat eye nails. Can you figure out how they were made?
Chrome Nail Powder
Cat Eye Nails to Celebrate
It looks like fireworks on every fingertip! This would be an excellent New Year’s manicure.
Notice how the nails are dark underneath? They were painted with black polish first to make the cat eye color extra vibrant. The base shade is a key step to consider when planning out magnetic nail art.
Spooky Nails
Do you ever try to figure out how someone did an intricate nail design? We’ve seen fun nail art using magnets and paperclips to shape the glitter, but this is a leap beyond something simple like that. Here’s a hint: some of the parts were added after the cat eye polish was cured. The black base and monochrome design simplified shaping the edges and details.
Cat Eye Polish Makes Everything Magical
Here’s another example where the artist painted flowers on top of a cat eye base. The shimmery background was created to look like velvet nails with glitter evenly distributed across the surface. The effect creates an illusion of depth that makes this manicure feel like a fairy garden.
Ombre Cat Eye Nails
It gets tricky doing ombre nails with magnetic polish because each succeeding layer might alter how the prior layer looks. The good news is that cat eye gels are easier to blend because they don’t dry on their own.
Moreover, silhouettes look lovely on a glittery cat eye base. In this case, the artist used outlines of real sea creatures as if they were swimming in the ocean.
Lavis Cat Eyes CE13 - Luminous Sky Collection
With The Right Magnet Anything Is Possible
When you shop for magnetic polish, it’s crucial to have the right magnet to do cat eye nail art. Fridge magnets won’t get the job done, but strong neodymium ones will. We have professional magnets in our store to create all sorts of mesmerizing cat eye patterns. What’s more, you can customize them further by attaching shaped paperclips to make hearts, pawprints, and kitty faces.
Magnet
Cat Eye Tips Like Jade
Cat eye polish is perfect for imitating gemstones like jade, opal, and labradorite. It’s shimmery and plays so nicely with chrome powder, metallics, and pearls. Can you picture all the elegant manicures you could create with it?
Layered Monochrome
Here are contrasting bands of cat eye shimmer layered like plaid. This Japanese artist has done similar designs with assorted colors with equally stunning precision.
Lavis Rainbow Cat Eye Gel II - Universal Cat Eye Collection
Matte and Textured Cat Eye Nail Art
A matte top coat blurs the burst of color and softens the shimmer for an intriguing effect. Even though all the nails have the same diagonal slash design, the manicure is exciting because of all the different textures.
LDS Pearl CE - 14 - Pearl Veil Cat Eye Collection
LDS Pearl CE - 06 - Pearl Veil Cat Eye Collection
Tips for Flawless Cat Eye Nails
If you look at comments under enough cat eye nail art posts, you’ll see that some are disgruntled with their own experience using magnetic polish. They might complain that the images are Photoshopped, for example. What’s true is that magnetic nail art requires preparation and patience. Here are pro tips for flawless cat eye nails.
- The base color underneath the cat eye polish is crucial. It can enhance or diminish the effect. When in doubt, test your idea on a swatch before trying it on your nails.
- Cat eye polish is glitter polish, so it’s essential to stir, stir, stir! Don’t let the particles settle to the bottom of the bottle. Mix the polish before and during the manicure.
- Apply a thick layer of cat eye polish. It goes against the grain, we know, but there needs to be enough liquid for the shiny particles to shift around. You’ll get a feel for it with practice.
- Next, use a strong magnet and remember one end attracts and the other repels. Hold it close to the nail without touching the polish and don’t lift it to check your work or you’ll move the glitter. Chances are you’ll need to leave it in place longer than you thought. Again, this is something that comes with practice. Get comfortable and keep everything steady for at least 30 seconds in the beginning until you get a feel for it.
- Do one finger at a time and cure it in the lamp. When you do the next finger, keep it separate from the first so that the magnet doesn’t tempt the shimmery particles to shift.
- Apply the top coat. A gel finish should lock in the design, although the polish may settle over the next few days and the pattern might not look as crisp by then. If you’re using magnetic polish that air dries, use a quick-dry top coat and be prepared to reinforce your design with the magnet. That’s because the top coat will re-liquefy the polish underneath.
We hope that these tips help you make the coolest cat eye nail art ever!
Conclusion
If you love shiny, shimmery nails, you’re going to have a blast with cat eye nail art! Shop our store for stunning shades of magnetic polish, magnets, and the tools you need for mesmerizing manicures!
