One Swipe Through These Cat Eye Nails, and You’ll Book Your Next Mani Appointment

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Scroll through nail inspo on social media lately, and you’ve likely stopped mid-scroll for a manicure that seems to shimmer and shift with a mind of its own, right?

That metallic streak of light gliding across the nail like it’s alive? That’s the cat eye manicure, and it’s having a full-blown moment.

Cat eye gel nails get their name (and their signature effect) from a special polish formulated with metallic particles suspended in the gel.

These Brown Fall Nails Are the Chicest Way to Welcome Sweater Weather — Courtesy: @bornprettyofficial

Before the polish cures under a UV or LED lamp, a technician (or you, at home) hovers a magnet above the wet polish.

The magnet pulls those metallic particles upward and into alignment, creating a luminous, light-catching line that curves and shifts depending on the angle you view it from; much like the slit of a cat’s eye, or the chatoyance you’d see in a tiger’s eye gemstone.

What makes cat eye nails so addictive is the customization.

Move the magnet closer to the cuticle, and you get a soft, sunburst-like glow.

One Swipe Through These Cat Eye Nails, and You’ll Book Your Next Manicure — Courtesy: @curvenailstudio

Angle it diagonally, and you get a sleek diagonal streak reminiscent of a French tip gone futuristic.

Layer two magnetic shades, and you get a color-shifting effect that looks entirely different depending on where you’re standing.

Cat eye manicure photographs beautifully but somehow looks even better in person, which is exactly why it’s been popping up everywhere from red carpet nail credits to your group chat.

How to Get the Cat Eye Manicure

What You’ll Need

The most important step is that once you apply the magnetic gel polish in an even coat, don’t cure yet.

Instead, while the polish is still wet, hold the magnet about a millimeter above the nail (without touching it) for 8–10 seconds to draw the metallic particles into your desired pattern.

The trickiest part is holding the magnet steady without letting it touch the wet polish, which can smudge the effect.

A little practice on your non-dominant hand goes a long way.

40+ Cat Eye Nail Designs You Should Try

Once you’ve got the technique down, the design possibilities are where things get really fun.

Below, scroll through the looks currently dominating our For You pages, from minimalist single-streak accents to full glam sets with crystal accents, for your next nail appointment inspiration (or your next at-home project).