Magnetic magic
Nail pros share top techniques & application tricks for flawless cat eye designs
Whimsical nails benefit from a cat eye base in this design by Carrie Morgan,
Scratch Stars Polish & Paint Nail Artist of the Ye
ar finalist 2026.
Freya-Poppy Bowden
Cat eye products are much-loved across the nail industry, owing to their striking dimension and versatility. As we move into autumn, cat eye nail finishes are set to reach new heights, with
Pinterest Trends
reporting a 1,000% increase in searches for ‘autumn cat eye nails’ compared to last year.
“What sets a cat eye look apart is that its shimmer comes from metallic particles, rather than glitter,” explains Freya-Poppy Bowden, Scratch Stars Polish & Paint Nail Artist of the Year finalist 2026. “These particles respond to a magnet, allowing pros to manipulate their alignment and create different effects.”
From soft, subtle shimmer to bold, dazzling designs, cat eye products offer endless possibilities. Scratch asked nail art experts how to create a purr-fect finish…
Classic cat eye
Traditional cat eye styles are characterised by a distinctive line of reflection, akin to a cat’s pupil. Whether the line is horizontal, vertical or diagonal is entirely up to the wearer – the key is to use a magnet to draw the metallic particles into a crisp, defined stripe that catches the light from every angle.
Hamyle Rana
“My favourite way to create a classic cat eye finish is to magnetise the entire nail, then pull the shimmer to one side for a dimensional effect,” says Halo VIP, Hamyle Rana. “I mirror the design on the other hand, and love adding chrome to enhance the reflective finish.”
Lianne Burgess
Kidderminster-based nail artist, Lianne Burgess of @killerqueensklaws, notes the importance of a strong magnet: “I have a large number of magnets stacked together. This resembles more of a wand, which is quite fitting for the magic it produces!”
LePhine Pro 3-in-1 Magnet Tool £5.95 + VAT
www.lightelegance.co.uk Glitterbels 5-in-1 Nail Magnet Tool £4.99 inc VAT www.glitterbels.com
Velvet visions
One of the most popular cat eye styles, velvet nails echo the texture of the fabric they are named after. Instead of magnetic particles being pulled into a line, they are dispersed more evenly to produce an almost fuzzy-looking finish.
Kelsey Akinyemi
“Circling the nail with a magnet creates a centred, diffused velvet finish, not too dissimilar to the aura effect,” says Kelsey Akinyemi, Scratch Stars Polish & Paint Nail Artist of the Year finalist 2026.
Monika Ferreira
“Wave a large or horseshoe-shaped magnet above the entire nail to evenly disperse the particles and create a soft, luminous finish,” recommends Monika Ferreira, Scratch Stars Polish & Paint Nail Artist of the Year 2026.
Gelish Pure Velvet Magnetic Gel Polish in Pull Me In £14.99 + VAT
www.gelishmorgantaylor.co.uk Swirling styles
Once you’ve mastered classic and velvet cat eye finishes, it’s time to experiment. A plethora of patterns can be produced by changing the direction, speed and type of magnet used.
“To create a swirling effect, apply cat eye gel polish and, before curing, move a long magnet around the nail in slow curved or circular motions,” advises Freya-Poppy Bowden.
Instagram.com/learnahstarbuck_nailartist
Kelsey Akinyemi recommends using more than one magnet for maximum impact. “To create loose waves, place two rectangular magnets on opposite sides of the nail, slightly offset from each other,” she says. This staggered position pulls the magnetic particles in two directions, creating a swirl pattern.
Sabre van Dijk
Scratch Stars Polish & Paint Nail Artist of the Year finalist 2026, Sabre van Dijk, takes a different approach, recommending a ball-shaped magnet. She comments: “The magnetic particles in cat eye gel polish are attracted to a curved form, and will effectively replicate this shape. This means that swirl designs are formed organically.”
MelodySusie 5 in 1 Multifunctional Cat Eye Gel Nail Polish Magnet in Pink £9 + VAT
www.melodysusie.com
MUSE Cat Eye Magnetic Balls For Nail Art £4.99 inc VAT
www.musefile.com Heart-shaped handiwork
Producing a heart effect with cat eye products can be simple to achieve once you master the technique. “Cat eye hearts took the internet by storm when the technique first emerged, and now you can buy heart-shaped magnets to create the look,” says Kelsey Akinyemi.
“Wave a magnet around the entire nail in a circular motion, gathering the magnetic particles so they are all showing,” recommends
Freya-Poppy Bowden. “Then, hover a heart-shaped magnetic tool as close to the nail as possible, holding it in place until a heart appears. Cure immediately after.”
A loved-up look by Kelsey Akinyemi.
Glitter Planet Heart Cat Eye Tool Magnet Attachment £3.50 inc VAT
www.glitterplanetuk.com
Nail Order Heart Cat-Eye Magnet £5 + VAT
www.nailorder.co.uk
DIY design
Don’t have a heart-shaped magnet? Monika Ferreira shares how to make and use your own:
Step 1 “Straighten a metal paper clip, then bend it into a small V shape. Twist the ends together three times using pliers.”
Step 2 “Bend the paper clip so it curves down at a 90° angle. Magnetise by attaching the twisted end securely to a strong magnet, ensuring the V points downwards.”
Step 3 “Apply a first coat of cat eye gel polish and cure. Apply a second coat, leaving it uncured. Use the magnet to gather the magnetic particles.”
Step 4 “Hover the heart tool just above the uncured gel polish until a heart-shaped highlight appears. Cure immediately.”
HARA Professional Gel Polish in Magenta Velvet Cat Eye £7.40 + VAT
www.astonandfincher.co.uk
HD Professional Nail Systems Colour It! Cat Eye Gel Polish in Violet Venom £10.49 + VAT
www.hazeldixonnails.com
The Manicure Company Magnetic Gel Polish in Rosé £8.68 inc VAT
www.themanicurecompany.com
Halo Gel Polish in Malice £5.95 + VAT
www.purenails.co.uk
Andreia Professional Cat Eye Effect Gel Polish in Emerald Gaze £5.99 + VAT
www.salon-services.comwww.andreiaprofessional.com Practical pointers
The laws of layering
“I usually only magnetise the last coat of cat eye gel polish, as I find that magnetising multiple layers can lessen the effect,” says Freya-Poppy Bowden.
However, some pros advise doubling up to add drama. “Most of the time, I magnetise only the final layer of cat eye gel polish, however I do magnetise each coat when I want to produce more intricate, layered looks,” says Monika Ferreira.
Sabre van Dijk adds: “For an intense effect, I recommend magnetising each cat eye layer, using the same magnet motions and movements to build depth.”
Carrie Morgan
Magnet manipulation
Scratch Stars Polish & Paint Nail Artist of the Year finalist 2026, Carrie Morgan, explains the difference that magnet positioning can make to a cat eye design: “The closer you hold a magnet to cat eye gel polish, the sharper the line created, as more magnetic particles are drawn towards it. Holding the magnet further away produces a softer, more diffused effect. If you hold the magnet directly above the nail, the particles move away from it, meaning they are no longer visible.”
Timing tips
The amount of time particles are magnetised for has a significant impact on the visual outcome of a cat eye design. Holding the magnet in place for too short a time will create a weak, undefined pattern, while doing this for too long can cause particles to clump heavily in one area.
Sabre van Dijk notes: “A cat eye magnet should be held over a nail for 5-10 seconds depending on the desired result, strength of magnet and products used.”
One step at a time
Once you are happy with a cat eye design, it is imperative to cure the style as soon as possible – as the particles in magnetic gel polish continue to move until cured.
Dannika Majewski
“Always magnetise and cure one nail at a time,” advises Scratch Stars Gel Polish Stylist of the Year 2026, Dannika Majewski. “Once the particles are exactly where you want them, cure immediately so they don’t shift.”
Creative combinations
Instagram.com/thenailscoven
Rebecca Marie
Droitwich-based nail tech, Rebecca Marie of @thenailscoven, often combines cat eye gel polish with another huge trend, revealing: “I apply a clear or silver cat eye gel polish, pulling the magnetic particles into the centre of the nail before curing. I then add jelly gel polish over the top, which makes the cat eye effect really pop.”
Artistic Astrobomb Cat-Eye Two-Tone Magnet Gel in UF-OOH! £9.95 + VAT www.sweetsquared.com
Monika Ferreira, who is behind this beautiful butterfly design, details some of the ways cat eye looks can be elevated: “Burnishing chrome powder into cat eye nails adds a mirror-like shine; an aura effect adds depth, and painting floral details, animal patterns or using foil on top of a cat eye finish creates a subtle glow beneath the art.”
“I love mixing cat eye and chrome effects,” says Freya-Poppy Bowden, who created this look. “They work well together, giving the effect of crystals and jewellery.”
The GelBottle Inc Gel Polish in Mirage Magnetic £17.95 + VAT www.thegelbottle.com
Instagram.com/killerqueensklaws
Lianne Burgess suggests applying cat eye products onto a dark base. “A black or dark-coloured base can completely transform sheer cat eye colours, as they tend to benefit from the depth this brings,” she shares.