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Shaking up your wardrobe every few months and adding new pieces can cost you — but staying on top of nail trends is a super easy and more affordable (and adorable) way to keep in line with the times without breaking the bank. Over the past few months we’ve seen nail trends come, go, and stick around for awhile — goodies like contoured nails, jelly French manicures, and watercolor nails with the prettiest pastel swirls. But it’s time to embrace the latest and greatest nail trend that will take you from now until the summer (and hopefully beyond that): cat-eye nails are back! We rounded up gorgeous nail examples for you to become inspired to try it yourself, along with a few good tips you need to get started.
What are cat-eye nails?
If you’ve never heard of cat-eye nails, you’re in for a beautiful treat.
“The cat-eye nail trend is a style that features a swirling pattern that resembles a cat’s eye,” explains Linh Ngo, Nail Artist at Nail Maxx. “It is achieved using a magnetic polish with metallic particles, which react to a magnet to create a swirling pattern.”
To achieve the look, Ngo says you first apply a base coat and then apply the magnetic polish. “After applying the polish, you hold a magnet over the nail for a few seconds to create the desired pattern,” she said. “Once the pattern is created, you can apply a top coat to protect the design and give it a glossy finish.”
Depending on your nail art skills, you can absolutely give this one a whirl (see what we did there?) in the comfort of your own home, though your trusted manicurist may be able to replicate it in an easier and less messy way at the salon. One of the best things about cat-eye nails is that, unlike the Earth nail trend, for example, there’s no limit to the shade of polish that you can use to achieve them. Deep blues and purples work great, but so do light pinks and beige tones — the distinctive pattern achieved with metallic polish and a magnet are the key components to creating this look using any shade you want.
It’s hard to nail down exactly why certain nail trends capture the imagination at any given moment, but Ngo says this versatility with color and the fact that it’s fairly low maintenance (as far as nail trends go) could have something to do with it. “The cat-eye nail trend is having a moment because it is a unique and eye-catching style that can be created in a variety of colors and variations,” Ngo said. “It is also relatively easy to achieve, making it a popular choice for at-home nail enthusiasts and professionals alike."
To boot, Ngo points to Nail Maxx as a brand that she says carries a variety of cat eye gel nail polish products. If you want to try this trend out at home, two products to consider include Nail Maxx’sCRE8TION MEWTIVERSE CAT EYE and CRE8TION SILVER CAT EYE.
