33 Cat-Eye Nail Designs for a Luxurious Set (2025)

Table of Contents

Meet the expert Pretty In Pink Champagne Coquette Velvet Magnet Gel Eye of the Tiger Swirls Deep Space Icy Gel Perseus Sugar Plum Halo Amber Accent Heart Long Textured Nails Velvet Press-Ons Elphaba Core Pink With Attitude Deep Red Dark Blue Shooting Star Cherries on Top Emerald City Sandbar Black Cat Bright Purple Foil Pink Mixed Metals Raspberry Light Brown Scarlet French Tip Galactic Nails Platinum Gold Metal

Cat-eye nails are an ethereal feast for the eyes, supplying a mesmerizing effect thanks to their dynamic shimmer. "They're known as cat-eye nails because the cool subtle linear effects created by the magnet resemble looking into a cat's eye," explains Olive & June vice president Olivia Van Iderstine.

To create the cat-eye (AKA velvet) nails look, you need two things: magnetic polish and a magnet. "The cat-eye effect is created by using a special magnetic polish or gel polish that contains magnetic particles," says nail artist Tara Hayes. "The position and angle of the magnet placed over the wet polish determine the pattern outcome."

Meet the expert

Olivia Van Iderstine is the VP of content & creative for Olive & June and the brand's residenttrend expert.
Tara Hayes is a nail artist in New York City who studied under celebrity manicurist Julie Kandalec.
Rachel Joseph is a nail artist who works with Nailing Hollywood.

What happens if you attempt cat-eye nails sans magnet? "Without the magnet, it would look like a standard metallic shimmer polish," says Van Iderstine. So, all this being said, grabbing a magnet set is a non-negotiable for that full-on effect.

If you're thinking about trying cat-eye nails to upgrade your spring manicure, browse the 40 looks, below.

01of 33

Pretty In Pink

33 Cat-Eye Nail Designs for a Luxurious Set (1)

Spring is calling your name with these stunning pink cat eye nails. It's a great way to bring the playfulness of the season center stage.

02of 33

Champagne

33 Cat-Eye Nail Designs for a Luxurious Set (2)

Although this gorgeous brown-tinged champagne shade looks very soft to the touch, know that velvet polish goes on smoothly. "It's not actually fuzzy like velvet," says Van Iderstine. "The effect has no texture at all, just depth of swirling lines and curves."

03of 33

Coquette

33 Cat-Eye Nail Designs for a Luxurious Set (3)

This pink velvet set is made that much better with the addition of silver bows that add to its coquette aesthetic.

04of 33

Velvet Magnet Gel

33 Cat-Eye Nail Designs for a Luxurious Set (4)

Haye created this gel nail look by layering a silver magnetic polish over black polish. "Cat eye’s versatile technique can be used over any color, but it truly shines when applied over dark colors like black," says Hayes. "The contrast between the dark base and polish creates a beautiful eye-catching look."

05of 33

Eye of the Tiger

33 Cat-Eye Nail Designs for a Luxurious Set (5)

These unique nailsfeature a gold magnetic polish topped with a brown jelly. With the added accent detail, it's truly a set to remember.

06of 33

Swirls

33 Cat-Eye Nail Designs for a Luxurious Set (6)

"Our favorite way to achieve the velvet look is using press-ons — no magnet needed," says Van Iderstine. "All the hard work is done for you!" This short, round set features bright pink velvet nails with a fun, negative-space design.

07of 33

Deep Space

33 Cat-Eye Nail Designs for a Luxurious Set (7)

Get an intergalactic look with a deep black base andteal-to-purple color-shifting magnetic pigments.

08of 33

Icy Gel

33 Cat-Eye Nail Designs for a Luxurious Set (8)

"Ice Gel has amazing magnet gels," says Joseph. "They usually only require one coat, too, making it very easy and fast to use!" Color number 1377 is a stunning icy shade of pink.

09of 33

Perseus

33 Cat-Eye Nail Designs for a Luxurious Set (9)

This ruby red nail polish has pink magnetic pigments for a bold multi-tonal look.

10of 33

Sugar Plum

33 Cat-Eye Nail Designs for a Luxurious Set (10)

Sugar Plum truly lives up to its name, as it's a beautiful shade that will absolutely be dancing in my head through the holidays and beyond. It has a mauve base with magenta shimmer and silver metallic flakes.

When using non-gel magnetic polish, "the trick is to do one nail at a time, so you wave the magnetic over the polish while it is still wet," says Van Iderstine. "If the polish is dry, the magnet won't work and you won't achieve the velvet effect."

11of 33

Halo

33 Cat-Eye Nail Designs for a Luxurious Set (11)

We love this taupe-brown nail polish that's complete with silver magnetic pigment. The colors work beautifully together, creating a simple yet ethereal look.

12of 33

Amber

33 Cat-Eye Nail Designs for a Luxurious Set (12)

This amber gel polish has gold magnetic shimmer for a warm and glamorous finish.

13of 33

Accent Heart

33 Cat-Eye Nail Designs for a Luxurious Set (13)

You don't need a full cat eye set to make an impact. This manicure features one pink accent nail that's topped off with a polished heart that steals the show.

14of 33

Long Textured Nails

33 Cat-Eye Nail Designs for a Luxurious Set (14)

This iridescent textured set looks as if they came out of a mermaid's dreams. It's whimsical, vibrant, and just the right amount of quirky.

15of 33

Velvet Press-Ons

33 Cat-Eye Nail Designs for a Luxurious Set (15)

With press-ons, you can "get the velvet look in minutes with no magnet and absolutely no dry time," says Van Iderstine. This extra-short set is in a rich shade of plum.

16of 33

Elphaba Core

33 Cat-Eye Nail Designs for a Luxurious Set (16)

This green shade is perfect for getting that true cat-eye look. Just hold the magnet above the polish so it's aligned with the center of the nail, going lengthwise. "As a result, a distinctive line or lines on the nail resembles the shape and look of a cat eye," says Haye.

17of 33

Pink With Attitude

33 Cat-Eye Nail Designs for a Luxurious Set (17)

Give a pink shade a bit of attitude by opting for a magnetic pink.

18of 33

Deep Red

33 Cat-Eye Nail Designs for a Luxurious Set (18)

For a gem-like effect, top a cat-eye polish with a jelly polish.

19of 33

Dark Blue

33 Cat-Eye Nail Designs for a Luxurious Set (19)

Get a nail look as mysterious as the night sky by layering silver cat-eye polish over a deep and moody navy.

20of 33

Shooting Star

33 Cat-Eye Nail Designs for a Luxurious Set (20)

A purple-blue jelly polish over a silver magnetic creates a cosmic effect.

21of 33

Cherries on Top

33 Cat-Eye Nail Designs for a Luxurious Set (21)

For those who prefer for their set to have a bit of depth and texture, opt for a 3D manicure like this one. With the sweet cherries on top and pink velvet nail look, it's incredibly cute.

22of 33

Emerald City

33 Cat-Eye Nail Designs for a Luxurious Set (22)

To create this Christmas-inspired nail look, the artist used a silver velvet gel polish atop an emerald shade. It shows that with just one magnetic top coat, you can transform any color with a magical finish.

23of 33

Sandbar

33 Cat-Eye Nail Designs for a Luxurious Set (23)

This sandy beige shade is elevated with silver magnetic pigments to create a shimmery nude. It was inspired by the the glimmer of sunlit waves crashing over the shallow shore.

24of 33

Black Cat

33 Cat-Eye Nail Designs for a Luxurious Set (24)

Lean into the edgy vibes that velvet nails have to offer and go for a black manicure.

25of 33

Bright Purple

33 Cat-Eye Nail Designs for a Luxurious Set (25)

This bright-purple gel polish has silver magnetic pigments to create a super eye-catching look.

26of 33

Foil Pink

33 Cat-Eye Nail Designs for a Luxurious Set (26)

Go romantic with a raspberry red polish coupled with pink sparkles and pink-to-gold magnetic pigments. The finish looks exactly like the red-heart foil balloons that dominate Valentine's Day.

27of 33

Mixed Metals

33 Cat-Eye Nail Designs for a Luxurious Set (27)

This set experiments with the mixed metal look to create this dynamic set that has hints of silver and gold.

28of 33

Raspberry

33 Cat-Eye Nail Designs for a Luxurious Set (28)

These raspberry cat eyes look so refined and edgy all at the same time.

29of 33

Light Brown

33 Cat-Eye Nail Designs for a Luxurious Set (29)

For a warmer take on the cat eye trend. Try this light brown shade that feels like a gingerbreaddream. It’s almost bite-worthy!

30of 33

Scarlet French Tip

33 Cat-Eye Nail Designs for a Luxurious Set (30)

Don't want to go for a full cat eye? Get a chic French tip like this one with a scarlet hue.

31of 33

Galactic Nails

33 Cat-Eye Nail Designs for a Luxurious Set (31)

These reflective nails look straight out of space. Play around with color by getting this futuristic set at your next nail appointment.

32of 33

Platinum

33 Cat-Eye Nail Designs for a Luxurious Set (32)

Go super icy with a milky white topped with silver cat-eye polish.

33of 33

Gold Metal

33 Cat-Eye Nail Designs for a Luxurious Set (33)

Throwing in an unexpected metal decal or pearls to your manicure is such a great way to make it feel unique.