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I’m a nail artist's worst nightmare: I take forever to pick out my polish color, and after I do, I agonize over my nail art. As a self-proclaimed minimalist, I still want a bit of sparkle on my nails, but I’m averse to chunky glitter. I want something that will shine without being too loud. Enter: cat-eye nails.
Nail enthusiasts know that the cat-eye effect is the magic touch that takes any manicure from ordinary to otherworldly. “It creates a sense of mystery and versatility, as the color appears to change, making it both bold and adaptable,” says Jacqueline Pham, a New York City-based nail artist, of the look that resembles the mischievous glimmer in a cat’s eye.
“It’s almost like jewelry for the nails,” adds Sataya Stone, nail artist and founder of Art Nail NYC. “It taps into the desire for luxurious and expressive manicures.”
Cat-eye nails first took off in South Korea. Steph Stone, a Los Angeles-based manicurist, remembers seeing the finish on the Instagram accounts of South Korean nail salons in 2022. The photos inspired her to order magnetic polish from Ice Gel, a K-Beauty nail polish brand.
To create this look at home, you’ll need a polish infused with magnetic particles, as well as a magnet, says Pham. “After applying the polish, hold the magnet close to the nail to move the particles and form a reflective pattern,” she adds. The positioning of the magnet is what makes a cat-eye manicure look, well, like a cat’s eye: Holding the magnet at the center of the nail drags the particles into a straight line; holding it at the tip or side of the nail creates more of a velvet effect (which is equally beautiful). The nail polish brand Mooncat has a great video that demonstrates the difference.
We love the DND 5D Cat Eye gel polishes, which come in a handful of pretty jewel tones, including amethyst, emerald, and topaz. Mooncat offers a variety of magnetic polishes, too, including Allure editor favorites such as Fields of Lavender (a plum shade with glittering hints of red) and Quicksand’s Embrace (a sandy pink with a subtle silvery purple holographic stripe). DND, Mooncat, and most brands that sell magnetic polish also have the necessary magnets for sale. Or you can go the express route: For a quick and easy option, try press-ons painted with the design. We love the sparkling sets from Static Nails and Chillhouse.
You can create just about any nail design with the effect, like a sparkling French manicure or a holographic look with 3D embellishments. Stone says clients of the salon often ask for “cat-eye accents in minimalist designs or layered under fine-line detailing.”
Scroll ahead for cat-eye nail art ideas to keep on hand as inspo for your next appointment.
Cat-Eye Nail Inspiration
Pearly cat-eye nails
Courtesy of Jacqueline PhamDusted rose cat-eye nails
Courtesy of @ploydidthatAmber cat-eye nails
Courtesy of @_citrePurple cat-eye nails
Courtesy of @heygreatnailsPink cat-eye nails
Courtesy of @graciela.nailsBrown sugar cat-eye nails
Courtesy of @ghoulish.nailsCat-eye French nails
Courtesy of @graciela.nails
