Velvet nails are an ethereal feast for the eyes, supplying a mesmerizing effect thanks to its textured shimmer — hence the name! “Velvet nails are also 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 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.”
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What happens if you attempt velvet 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 like the Nail Art Magnetic Pen Set ($7) is a non-negotiable for that full-on effect.
If you’re thinking about trying velvet nails, browse the 25 looks polishes and press-ons below.
Cirque Colors Lyra
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.”
Velvet Magnet Gel She’s a Force
Tara Haye
Haye created this gel nail look by layering a silver magnetic polish over Gelish’s Black Shadow ($11). “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.”
Beetles Gel D473
Rachel Joseph
“Beetles Gel is easily accessible on Amazon and also has an amazing variety of colors for the holiday season,” says nail artist Rachel Joseph. “Perfect for those who like doing their nails at home without breaking the bank! Would make a great gift also.” This shade is D473, a rich brown-burgundy shade with lots of gold shimmer.
Olive & June Velvet Swirls Fig Ranch
Olive & June
“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.
ILNP Deep Space
Get an intergalactic look with Deep Space, a polish with a deep black base and teal-to-purple color-shifting magnetic pigments.
Ice Gel 1377
Rachel Joseph
“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.
Cirque Colors Perseus
Reach for Perseus, a ruby red nail polish with pink magnetic pigments for a bold multi-tonal look.
Olive & June Press-Ons Velvet Plaza
Olive & June
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.
ILNP Sugar Plum
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 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.”
Cirque Colors Halo
Halo is an absolutely stunning limited-edition taupe-brown nail polish complete with silver magnetic pigment. The colors work beautifully together, creating a simple yet ethereal look.
Gel Care Silver Velvet
To create this Christmas-inspired nail look, the artist used a silver velvet gel polish atop Gel Care Emerald ($20). It shows that with just one magnetic top coat, you can transform any color with a magical finish.
Red Carpet Manicure Polar Opposites
Red Carpet Manicure
Polar Opposites is an amber gel polish with gold magnetic shimmer for a warm and glamorous finish.
ILNP Frankie
ILNP
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.
Cirque Colors BAE (Big Aura Energy)
If you fell in love with the Ice Gel polish above but aren’t a gel polish girlie, BAE is the perfect alternative. It’s a limited-edition light pink nail polish with silver magnetic pigments.
Gel Care Gold Velvet
This gorgeous gel manicure features Gel Care’s Gold Velvet layered over the brand’sPomegranate ($20) for a gem-like finish.
Olive & June Platinum Velvet
Olive & June
Go super icy with this medium-length oval set of platinum press-ons. They’ll last up to 14 days and come with a non-toxic, non-damaging glue.
Gel Care Midnight Velvet
Gel Care
Get a nail look as mysterious as the night sky with Midnight Velvet from Gel Care. To achieve this deep and moody gel nail design, layer Midnight Velvet over Patent Leather Black ($20).
ILNP Shooting Star
Inspired by meteors, Shooting Star is a blue-purple jelly base with icy blue magnetic pigments. The polish is part of ILNP’s Cosmos Collection ($70), complete with six magnet, shimmer, and chrome nail polishes.
KISS Chameleon
KISS
Use press-ons to get that intergalactic finish with this medium-length and coffin-shaped set. It features a dark base with teal magnetic pigments.
Gel Care Green Velvet
Gel Care
This glittery sage green gel polish was inspired by “the grandeur of the early European nobility,” explains the brand. To get this look, apply one to two coats of Green Velvet over Patent Leather Black ($20).
ILNP Sandbar
ILNP
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.
Red Carpet Manicure Positively Attracted
Red Carpet Manicure
This bright-purple gel polish has silver magnetic pigments to create a super eye-catching look.
ILNP Be Mine
ILNP
Go romantic with Be Mine, 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.
Red Carpet Manicure Mint Magnetism
Red Carpet Manicure
Get a minty-fresh look with this gel polish from Red Carpet Manicure. It’s a minty-green shade with gold and silver magnetic pigments.
KBShimmer Thrust Issues
KBShimmer
Get funky with Thrust Issues from KBShimmer. It’s a rich, multichrome shade that’s made with a mix of yellow, gold, and orange pigments.
