Putting on nail polish is one of the easiest ways to give yourself a little jolt of joy, but no finish can cast a captivating spell quite like cat-eye polish, which is literally and figuratively magnetic. This scintillating look has been trending long enough to be considered a new classic—and for good reason: There’s almost no limit to how you can wear these dazzling colors. “The color appears to change, making it both bold and adaptable,” Jacqueline Pham, a New York City-based nail artist, says of the look that resembles the mischievous glimmer in a cat’s eye.
It’s also ideal for minimalists who crave a bit of sparkle but can’t tolerate chunky glitter. “It’s almost like jewelry for the nails,” says 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 explains. 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, while positioning toward 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 9D 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 Devil’s Ivy (a soft blue-green with a hint of a silver stripe). DND, Mooncat, and most brands that sell magnetic polish also offer the necessary magnets for sale. Or you can go the express route: 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 this effect, like a sparkling French manicure or a holographic look with 3D embellishments. Sataya 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
Denim dot cat-eye nails
