How to create framed cat eye nails & 20 ways to style the trend
Cat eye nails have been one of the biggest nail trends of the past few years. Now, the mesmerising magnetic finish is getting an eye-catching upgrade…
As if cat eye nails weren’t already attention-grabbing enough, nail artists are taking the shimmering effect to the next level by surrounding it with opaque shades in complementary colours. The result? A striking, framed design that gives the magnetic finish even more impact.
The nail trend is quickly gaining popularity, with social media feeds filling up with dazzling takes on the design. But how can you recreate this showstopping style?
You will need:
- A cat eye gel polish and opaque gel polish in complementary colours.
- A magnet.
- A fine liner nail art brush.
- A steady hand!
Contrary to what you might expect, the trend isn’t created by painting the opaque border then adding a square of cat eye gel polish. Instead, the look starts with the cat eye gel polish. Here’s two steps to follow:
Step 1. Prep the nails and apply a coat of cat eye gel polish. Before curing, use a magnet to manipulate the magnetic particles until you’re happy with the effect. Cure.
Step 2. Using a fine liner brush and your complementary opaque gel polish, paint a large rectangle down the length of the nail, leaving a small gap around the edges. Then, fill in the area between the rectangle and the nail’s edges with the opaque gel polish, leaving a central rectangle of exposed cat eye gel polish. Cure, before applying a gel polish top coat and curing to finish.
Now that you know how to recreate it, scroll on for eye-catching ways to style the nail trend…