For a step on from the chrome manicures that have been dominating nail trends for most of the 2020s, cat-eye nails are where it’s at. The light-reflecting design has been steadily building a following over the past few years, thanks to its statement and distinctive multi-dimensional shimmer which gives the illusion of a velvet nail.
“I keep repeating myself here, but cat-eye nails are so so popular at the moment and will definitely be here to stay for the foreseeable,” confirms top celebrity manicurist, Michelle Humphrey, who first drew our attention to the trend in 2024, and counts Dua Lipa and Sabrina Carpenter among her clients. For some, it’s already become a cool-girl staple in their mani rotation, others are only just discovering the trend, which shows no sign of slowing down.
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What are cat-eye nails?
Inspired by the way light travels through cat-eye gemstones, as well as the distinctive slit in a cats eye, “cat-eye nails are a unique type of nail design,” says Michelle. “Initially inspired by the shimmering narrow line on the nail, which looks a bit like a cat eye, it often looks multi dimensional, almost as if it moves around on the nail,” she adds.
As for how they work, while cat-eye nails may look velvety, technically speaking, they’re a magnetic manicure. “The look mimics the glowing slit of a cat’s eye, thanks to a special gel polish infused with magnetic particles,” says The Gel Bottle founder Daisy Kalnina. “When you hover a magnet over the uncured polish, it pulls those particles into a shimmering, light-catching pattern that shifts as you move your hands,” she adds.
But as always, the personalisation doesn’t need to stop there. “I feel like the possibilities are endless with cat eye manicures,” says Michelle, who likes layering up the effect, or sketching design over the top, like a French tip or pattern, to keep things even more interesting.
Why are cat-eye nails trending?
One reason could be the boom in mysticism as self-care. After all, what could be better than a manicure that captures the softly shimmering effect of a cat’s eye gemstone, with its protective, grounding energy? Said to amplify good luck and intuition, you could see it as your fingertips manifesting a future filled with positive vibes.
Or maybe they’re going strong because celebrities and influencers (including Hailey Bieber and Dua Lipa) have given the trend their seal of approval.
How to do cat-eye nails?
This is a difficult manicure to do at home, but in the salon you can ask your nail tech for a magnetic gel polish and choose your desired shade. From there, they can customise the effect using a magnetic tool.
