Have you seen those 3D nail designs trending all over social media? From Instagram to Pinterest, all nail inspos are full of ideas and tutorials for creating magical nail art. When you ask for such designs from your nail tech, you’ll notice she applies a gel and hovers a magnet over it. Wondering why your nails need a magnet!? Let’s see.
If you’re looking to know what a cat eye nail magnet is, here’s everything you need to know about the tool along with its importance and how to use it in your DIY manicures.
What is a Cat Eye Magnet? Importance, How to Use and DIY
A polish that creates magical effects with its magnetic glitter particles is called a cat eye gel and it works with a magnetic wand that is responsible for moving and aligning these in patterns. Let’s understand the importance of this tool in nail art and how you can use it effectively in your DIY manicure.
What is a Cat Eye Magnet?
A cat eye gel polish contains tiny metallic particles that look exactly like glitter but work differently. A cat eye magnet is a tool used to manipulate these particles and shape them into various patterns. It helps create the trendy cat eye nail art forming mesmerizing shapes and patterns that give a 3D look to your nails.
The magnetic wand, when hovered over your nails, results in a striking optical effect resembling a cat’s eye. Often available in darker or shinier colors, cat eye gels are designed to create these illusional designs. The magnet is also available in various shapes to form different patterns. This includes a rectangle, cylindrical, or a flower-shaped magnet or some other type. The most common of these is a rectangular cat eye magnet and oftentimes, two separate magnets are used to create fun designs.
What is the Importance of Using a Cat Eye Magnet?
When a cat eye magnet is around the nails, the magnetic particles in the cat eye gel move around to create a desired shape and effect. Here’s why it is important to use this nail magnet:
1) It helps create unique and eye-catching visual effects.
2) It forms a shimmery multi-dimensional nail look that looks different from different angles.
3) It helps form customized nail art by adjusting the position and movement of the tool over the gel.
4) It creates a magnetic field for an even distribution and uniform appearance of the cat eye particles.
How to Use and DIY a Cat Eye Magnet?
You can use a cat eye magnetic wand if you’re using nail gels and curing lamps in your at-home manicures. Here are the steps to DIY your cat eye nail art.
1) Always start with a good nail prep. Clean and trim your nails. Shape and file them and clean the cuticles. Buff the nail surface before you begin painting.
2) Apply a thin layer of a gel base coat and cure it under a UV/LED nail lamp.
3) Follow up with two coats of your color polish, ideally a black one. Cure between coats.
4) Now apply a thin and even layer of cat eye nail gel. Do not cure the nails at this step. You may do it on one finger at a time if you’re a beginner.
5) While the polish is still wet, hold the cat eye magnet close to the nail. Move it in the desired shape. Avoid touching the nail.
6) If you ruin your polish at any step, simply re-paint the cat eye gel and repeat the steps.
7) Once you achieve the desired look, cure the pattern under the nail lamp before the metallic particles start dispersing again.
8) Lastly, seal and set everything with a top coat for a lasting effect and a glossy finish.
Wrapping Up Cat Eye Magnets
In conclusion, the cat eye magnet is an essential tool for you if you’re looking to achieve a stunning cat eye nail art effect. Its ability to manipulate metallic particles in gel polish allows for a wide range of creative possibilities, making it a valuable addition to both professional nail technicians’ kits and DIY manicure collections. By mastering its use, you can elevate your nail art to new levels of creativity and sophistication.
