Manicure not only gives a woman’s hands a well-groomed look and attracts attention. It also reflects the personality and character of its owner. That is why many women prefer to cover their nails not just with plain gel polish, but to add all kinds of designs.
One of the easiest ways to diversify and add zest to your manicure is to use magnetic gel polish with a “Cat Eye” effect. Such gel polishes are presented in a wide color palette, there is nothing complicated in their application, which is why “Cat Eye” has been especially popular among the fair sex for several years.
In today’s article we will look at what is the main feature of “Cat Eye” gel polish, and how is it achieved? How and with what to apply it? And is it possible to do this at home?
What is cat's eye
Gel polish with this name externally imitates a cat's eye stone or chrysoberyl. Its feature is a long flare of light that moves across the surface at different viewing angles.
Outwardly, it resembles a cat’s eye, hence the name of both the stone and the effect in nail design. The highlight is also the most saturated in color compared to the rest of the nail.
Previously, one leading color was clearly visible in the coating. A light strip was drawn with a magnet along the entire length or width of the nail. In modern versions of gel polish, we see a combination of several color shades, which, when processed with a magnet, give a chameleon effect.
Also, cat eye gel polish received an additional definition - 3D - due to the volume that can be obtained with its help in manicure.
The possibilities of applying patterns and designs using magnets have expanded significantly. If earlier it was just a long strip of light shimmering with light, now with the help of several magnets of different shapes and sizes you can draw waves, spheres, flowers, stars, graphics.
Design options
Typically, magnetic gel polish is used independently, without unnecessary additions. However, adding any details is not at all prohibited, if desired. For example, an addition in the form of a path of beads or rhinestones of any kind on one or a pair of nails would look good.
Drops made with gel polish in various color schemes will look very beautiful on a cat's eye manicure. Another convenient addition is to decorate one nail, namely on the ring finger, in the style of a caviar manicure.
Caviar is the name for specialized particles - foam balls that look like natural caviar.
Often used in conjunction with magnetic manicure is applying a pattern using special stamps. Patterns in the form of lace, floral, cat-shaped, etc. are welcome.
The designs turn out thin and therefore require additional treatment with a topcoat and drying under a UV lamp. If you don't understand the process, it's best to refer to the video of creating a cat's eye with a magnet.
Types of gel polishes with volume effect
Volume is achieved through deep colored highlights on a dark base. Experiments with magnets make it possible to place flickering strips horizontally, vertically, diagonally, and draw patterns and spheres.
3D gel polish is characterized by depth and saturation of highlights, which give it a three-dimensional effect. They can be created either due to a perfectly smooth, self-leveling surface, or due to inclusions of shiny particles that refract light at different angles and create the necessary volume. The most popular version of 3D gel polish is cat eye. It comes in one or two shades of highlights.
The 3d effect can also be achieved using other textures:
- Cat eye gel polish
- Cat eye pigments
- Cat eye gel polish with chameleon effect. Can only be applied to a black substrate to achieve the desired effect;
- Top with cat eye effect. It can be applied to any color substrate;
- Classic gel polish with a 3D effect of pronounced highlights.
Review of magnetic gel polishes with cat eye effect:
Rating – review of magnetic gel polishes with volume effect
Burgundy cat-eye manicure is an aristocratic trend for 2022
Deep burgundy and wine tones are perfect for confident, self-sufficient ladies. A deep, aristocratic shade creates a respectable, sophisticated image. And the fascinating tints of dark red, brownish-red tones allow you to use this style for any mood. The tone is universal and can be used with all techniques.
Cat eye pigments for a 3D effect
A voluminous effect can be achieved even without the presence of a special varnish, but only with the help of “cat’s eye” pigment.
This allows you to diversify designs with existing shades of gel polish or gel paint, giving them additional volume using a metal pigment formed into a highlight with a magnet.
To do this, you can mix the pigment with a base, top, regular gel polish, gel paint, and use it as a 3D gel polish on a dark base. Some artists apply loose cat eye pigment to a layer of gel polish, mix it here with a thin brush, and then paint highlights with a magnet. This mixing of materials on the surface of the nail saves time and makes it possible to proportionally place different pigments in different areas of the surface of the plate. We combine several options for highlights in one nail design.
What varnish colors are the most successful? Manicure “Cat Eye” – a variety of luxurious shades
Designers shout with one voice; this type of manicure shows its best qualities in all the natural tones that the natural chrysoberyl stone has. This ranges from bluish-green to all shades of brown, emerald, dark green, dark gray, deep blue. Moreover, the shades can be different, but there is one rule: “Deeper and darker varnish colors give more unique and varied designs.” That's when your nails will look simply luxurious!
Professional advice. Some masters even make a preliminary “base” of a very dark, almost black shade, so that the shadows “play” as much as possible. In such cases, a dark varnish is applied over the base gel, then the nails are dried using a lamp (UV, ultraviolet). Only after this are special varnishes with a “cat eye” effect applied.
Master's recommendation. You should not create a completely matte cat eye. If the glossy shine disappears, it will simply destroy the unique effect. The very “zest” of the design for which it is so valued will be lost.
Trend of the season - WHITE cat eye (regular polish)
Magnets for cat eye effect
Depending on the magnet you choose, you can get different options for highlights in your nail design. The larger the area of the tool, the wider the grapple band. Thin magnets produce thin, neat stripes.
Depending on the shape, you can also select different versions of this tool. Usually the set comes with a medium-sized rectangular magnet, 3 cm in length. Round makes it possible to draw streamlined patterns, waves, spheres and semicircles. If your kit already contains several options for 3D cat eye polish, be sure to purchase magnet options of different shapes and sizes. They are as follows:
- Rectangular;
- Round;
- Magnetic point pen;
- Magnetic pen with 3-5 dots in a row at the end;
- Magnetic pen with balls at the end (for drawing flowers).
Life hacks from experienced craftsmen: you don’t have to buy magnets, but use those that you have in everyday life. Options:
- You can get magnets from old headphones;
- Remove them from the refrigerator and remove the stickers, leaving only the base for ease of use;
- A double magnet can be made by placing two round or small rectangular magnets on a pusher or any flat metal tool. Then you can move them or move them apart at different distances from each other, changing the pattern of the 3D varnish;
- Use the intercom key;
- Small round magnets-balls from a children's construction set, placed in a row, make it possible to draw thin stripes along the entire perimeter of the nail, or a “snake” pattern;
- A pen from a children's magnetic drawing board is used to create fine lines and monograms.
You can also get new effects in nail design by combining several round, ball or rectangular magnets, from 2 to 4. For example, rectangular ones are attached to each other with “adhesive” sides, joint to joint, or at right angles, if there are 4 pieces, and make it possible to draw stars with a different number of edges. If the magnets are small, “plant” them on a metal base to free your hands.
If you only have two thin small magnets, you can connect them together by attaching tips on the leg on different sides. The leg becomes a handle for this wider magnet and gives a wider flare.
Base for cat eye gel polishes
Gel polish with a volumetric effect can have a transparent, colored or translucent base, to which metallic colored particles are added. It is recommended to apply a dark undercoat for a deeper and richer effect. In some brands, the color base is so dense that no backing is required. For translucent or transparent options, it is better to use classic black or another dark shade that matches the palette of glitter varnish.
In professional lines, you can immediately purchase a ready-made set with a black base varnish, a 3D cat eye base layer and a transparent top. 1 or several different types of magnets are added to the same set, depending on the price.
Without a black backing, the three-dimensional effect will be almost invisible. In the case of a top coat, a volumetric highlight is created even on a light-colored substrate. This material can be used with any background color, the desired highlight will be obtained in any case.
Features of magnets for gel polish
When working with shimmering gel polishes, the most common magnet is used. A strong magnet can successfully collect the glare, but this does not guarantee that after a second the metal particles will not spread across the nail plate. It is better to use a special magnet for cat eye gel polish. How to make a manicure neat and at the same time attractive? You can use magnetic pens to create more complex designs. Special magnets for gel polish have their advantages:
- A high-quality magnet has a durable and comfortable handle that allows you to maintain the required distance and the correct tilt of the magnetic plate. The handle allows you to conveniently control the direction of the pearlescent highlight.
- The ideally flat surface of the magnet allows you to get a deeper glare effect.
- The intensity of the glare depth depends on the degree of concentration of metal particles in the gel polish.
The location of the magnetic stripes on the nail plate depends on the type of magnet.
Brands of gel polishes with volume effect
- Klio Professional cat eye – has a dense texture and applies well. In versions with a dark base, it does not require a substrate.
- Born Pretty Cat Eye Gel – has a liquid base, but is very magnetic. In light, translucent colors, a black base is required.
- TNL offers a wide range of magnetic varnishes. Walnut, emerald and lilac tones look very impressive.
- Pole is a translucent magnetic varnish with a dense texture and a wide range of colors. Requires a black backing to achieve a 3D highlight effect.
- Fox is a magnetic varnish on a transparent backing. One bottle combines glitter of several shades, which gives an even more “cosmic” glare effect.
- Rio Profi – varnishes on a transparent base with two-color magnetic pigments. Translucent.
- Bluesky - economical options for gel polish with a voluminous effect. Wide range of colors. Requires additional black backing.
In almost every professional series of gel polishes you can find options with a cat eye effect. Follow the coating instructions as some brands may vary slightly.
In-demand cat eye colors for this 2022 season
For this design, dark colors are preferred.
- Marigolds made in rich green tones with a pronounced malachite tint look especially luxurious.
- No less attractive are dark blue, plum or cornflower blue nail plates, reminiscent of the depths of the ocean, evening and night skies.
- Incredibly sensual, magical cherry and purple shades also found their admirers this season.
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How to apply cat eye gel polish
- Prepare your nails for applying varnish, do a trim or hardware manicure;
- Degrease the surfaces of the nail plates and cover them with a self-leveling base. Dry in a lamp;
- Apply black gel polish in one layer as a base, dry in a lamp;
- Apply cat eye gel polish and use a magnet to draw highlights or patterns;
- When the drawing is ready, dry it in a lamp;
- Cover your nails with a top coat with or without a sticky layer, dry it in a lamp and remove the dispersion if necessary.
If the first time you don’t get the cat-eye effect or pattern you want, you can even out the varnish with a brush and try again before it polymerizes in the lamp.
How to create a magnetic manicure
Using a magnet to make a cat eye manicure does not require any special skills or knowledge. You don’t even need complex and specialized tools here, just gel polish and a selected magnet.
The remaining instructions for use can be found on the packaging with a magnet for manicure decoration. Let's take a closer look at how to make a cat's eye with a magnet.
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Now you can start applying gel polish, but the sticky base is applied first. Next, we paint our nails, hold a magnet to each one and wait for the design to appear. Only after this we dry it under a UV lamp until completely dry for a couple of minutes.
In addition to the main coating, you can add decorative details of any kind. Please note that you will need to apply a finishing coat at the end.
Thus, using a cat eye magnet is not at all difficult and absolutely any beginner can do it.
