This polish shimmers and shifts under the light just like when you brush your hand over plush fabric. The effect is mesmerizing, it adds the illusion of depth, and no one can get enough of it! Velvet nails look like magic on your fingertips.
It’s all thanks to magnetic gel AKA cat eye polish. Applied straight from the bottle, it’s just a standard soft glitter. But this is a formula that lets you sculpt light itself. All you need is a magnet to create infinite designs.
It’s hard to believe that in 2016 “velvet nails” meant fuzzy flocking powder while magnetic polish was barely on the radar. Fast forward to today and now there are dozens of luxurious cat eye shades and endless velvet nails ideas. Let’s explore!
French Tips Like Brushed Velvet
Normally, you need two colors of polish to do French tips. But that requirement is gone when you have magnetic polish and a magnet. Simply holding the tool near the nail moves the glittery particles to shape the smile line. It’s as if you ran your fingers over actual velvet fabric.
Lavis Cat Eyes CE7 - 10 - Gel Polish 0.5 oz - VILLIAIN ERA Collection
Short Velvet Nails
Your nails can look like crystal balls. Cat eye polish creates the illusion of added depth, in turn making short nails hypnotically attractive. Enhance the effect with builder gel or extra coats of a glossy finish.
Pro tip: when working with magnetic polish, take the time to thoroughly mix the pigment before applying it and while using it. The glittery particles are heavy and will settle to the bottom of the bottle otherwise. You’ll get the most even shimmer if you keep the cat eye polish stirred. The good news is that high-quality LDS and Lavis gels aren’t prone to bubbling and will self-level.
Lavis Cat Eyes CE12 - 03 - Gel Polish 0.5 oz - Artic Jewel Collection
Long Velvet Nails
Does it matter what shape your velvet nails are? Absolutely not – choose whatever suits your vision.
The one thing to remember is that most cat eye polish colors are at least somewhat translucent. That’s why many artists use a pigmented shade underneath (over the base coat). However, a clear base is perfect if you want glass nails.
Pearls and Velvet
Once you’ve selected a suitable shade, how will you dress up your velvet nails? Cat eye polish upgrades any look instantly and it’s beautifully compatible with metallic accents and pearls. You can use these highlights to accentuate the magnetic design like the artist has done here. The golden swirls follow the curve of the shimmer or outline the concentrated aura in the center.
Dreamy Velvet Nails
Everyone should have the chance to see the Milky Way. There’s something magical about standing under countless stars on a dark night away from city lights.
Bring faraway galaxies a little closer with a velvet nail design like this. Use a magnet to concentrate the shimmer as if it were twilight on the horizon or colorful nebulae light years away. Then add a few stars with polish or stickers.
Prepare yourself for strangers to pause and ask where you did your nails. Perhaps you can tell them it was someplace out of this world!
Lavis Cat Eyes CE4 - 02 - Gel Polish 0.5 oz - Fairy Tale
Satin Nails
Yes, we were talking about velvet nail ideas. But what happens when you use a matte top coat over cat eye polish? It sure looks like satin! The non-shiny finish still reveals the original magnetic design, but it’s soft and nebulous.
Although we couldn’t find an example just now, we’ve also seen half-satin, half-glossy velvet nails. It makes for a stunning design that requires a second look!
Not to worry, a matte top coat is just as durable and protective as a glossy one. And the end result is a manicure that looks like a conversation piece.
Lavis Chrome Matte Top - 0.5 oz (New)
Gold Lined Velvet Tips
Make any nude nails manicure more sophisticated and opulent by limning the cat eye tips with gold. Can you guess how the artist kept the cat eye polish contained to just the ends?
Pro tip: when working with magnetic polish, paint one finger at a time and cure it before moving to the next. The top coat will help maintain the design, but be prepared for the glitter to settle a bit more in the first few hours and days after the manicure is complete.
Starry Night Nails
Here’s what happens when a nail artist loves velvet nails and gets inspired by Impressionist paintings like “Starry Night”.
When you want an extra shiny brushed velvet effect, add another layer of cat eye polish, and concentrate the glitter with the magnet. Remember, one end of the magnet that attracts and the other repels, opening up lots of possibilities for velvet nail patterns.
Lavis Cat Eyes CE13 - Set 12 Colors - Gel Polish 0.5 oz - Luminous Sky Collection
3D Chrome Cat Eye Nails
There’s so much to see here! The artist has layered cat eye polish with chrome and textured it with emboss gel or hard gel. These are not soft and elegant velvet nails. Instead, these are the spectacular fingertips of a powerful being! It serves as an example of how versatile cat eye polish can be.
Aurora Chrome Powder
Bridgerton Nails
Not long ago, Bridgerton nails were trending on social media. Fans of the coquette style gushed over Regency era embellishments like lacy floral patterns, pearls, and gilded accents. Now, velvet nails breathe new life into this romantic fashion of yesteryear. The shimmery look is the ideal backdrop, like favorite antique furniture and decorations for your fingertips.
Conclusion
Velvet nails have a way of drawing people in with their elegant shimmer and magical depth. Photos don’t do justice to how cat eye polish shifts in the light with every movement. Just watching velvet nails in motion is enough to inspire all sorts of ideas!
Moreover, there are endless ways to customize a velvet nails manicure to suit any personality, season, or occasion. Dress it up or down, it doesn’t matter because it always looks good.
Browse the dozens of gorgeous magnetic shades in our store and enjoy hot deals on essential nail supplies and free shipping!
