Cat eye nails is a new nail trend that started to take over Instagram manicure photos a few months ago.
If you have not yet heard about it and you are looking for fresh manicure ideas, it’s high time to get acquainted with it.
What are cat eye nails?
Cat eye nails is a manicure involving a diagonal line drawn through the middle of the nails. Just like in the case of cat eyes, the line varies – it can be straight, or wonky, and thin or thick.
On numerous photos, you can see a metallic stripe providing a luminous design. Nevertheless, you can also make cat eye nails manicure with any two nail polishes of any shades.
How to make cat eye nails?
Just like traditional cat eyes, cat eye manicure is more difficult to recreate than it seems, but it is possible if you follow instructions carefully.
Let’s go through a 6-step-guide on how to make cat eye nails.
Step 1: Prepare supplies
First of all, you need proper equipment. To make the perfect cat nail manicure you will need:
- gel base coat,
- nail polish in the shade of your choice, like semilac gel polish,
- handheld magnet.
Cat eye manicures have become so popular that they are already special kits prepared with everything you need in one package.
Step 2: Prepare your nails
Just like in the case of any other manicure, the basics are as crucial as the products you use to finish it perfectly.
Consequently, to get a long-lasting and beautiful manicure, first you need to take care of your nails. You need to do all necessary cleanup such as:
- trimming,
- cuticle cutting,
- filing.
As for cat eye nails, you have a wide pool of options. You can keep your nails short and straight, but you can also go for long pointed tips to get the ultimate feline effect.
The shape and length of your nails should go with your style and preferences. No matter which option you choose, once your nails are sleek and clean, the manicure will look neat.
Step 3: Apply your base coat
If you wish to guarantee that your cat eye manicure is lasting, you should apply a high-quality base coat and allow it to completely dry. You can find the best base coat in drugstores next to the nail polishes, like semilac gel polish.
Step 4: Put on first coat
Once your nails are properly polished and with a base coat applied, you can put on the first coat. Nevertheless, make sure to cap the free edge to get a full-color look.
Step 5: Get your magnet
Right after you put on the nail polish of your choice, you need to hover the magnet over your nail as close to the surface as possible, but without touching it. Then, hold it steady for 5 to 10 seconds.
It is worth mentioning that if you move the magnet when it is above your nail, the polish may look spotty. If you do it accidentally, you can fix it by applying a thin nail polish layer over it. It will erase the effect caused by the magnet and allow you to start from scratch.
Once you are done, it is advisable to repeat steps 4 and 5 to end up with 2 layers of coat.
Step 6: Apply a top coat
Last but not least, applying a top coat will solidify the cat eye manicure.
Summing up, cat eye nails are a fabulous manicure idea that is getting more and more popular. All you need to do to make it, are high-quality coats, your favorite shade of nail polish and a little magnet. Once you follow the above simple 6-step guide, you can end up with exciting, beautiful and lasting cat eye nails.
