You've seen that shifting shimmer effect on nails that seems to glow and move as the hand turns. It looks like light trapped inside a gemstone. Every time the angle changes, the shimmer follows. You want it but you've no idea how it's done or where to get it in Dundee.
Cat-eye nails use a special magnetic gel polish. The formula contains tiny metallic particles that get pulled into a concentrated band of shimmer using a magnet. The effect shifts and moves with your hand, creating a dimensional, glowing finish that looks completely different from regular polish, chrome, or glitter.
At Aesthete Beauty in Dundee, cat-eye is available as an add-on to any nail service. Gel polish, BIAB, or extensions. Radina Ignatova has over 11 years of experience and her work has been featured in Scratch Magazine and Who What Wear UK. Cat-Eye starts from £7. That's 33p a day over a three-week manicure for a finish that turns heads every time your hand moves. Book online any time or call us on 01382 217888.
I have been seeing Radina regularly for the last few months and cannot recommend Aesthete Beauty more. She is such good chat and always does the most incredible job. My nails have never looked this good. Definitely the best place in Dundee for all your nail needs.
Sudhara Niriella·★★★★★·Google ReviewCat-eye nails are created using a magnetic gel polish that contains tiny metallic particles suspended in the formula. When a magnet is held over the uncured gel, those particles align and gather into a concentrated line of shimmer. Once the gel is cured under the LED lamp, the particles lock in position permanently.
The result is a shifting, dimensional shimmer that moves as your hand changes angle. The light effect appears to float inside the nail rather than sitting flat on the surface. It's named after the cat's eye gemstone, chrysoberyl, which has the same optical effect - a glowing band of light that rolls across the surface.
It's different from chrome. Chrome is a flat, all-over mirror finish that reflects light uniformly. Cat-eye has depth. The shimmer appears to come from inside the nail, not from the surface. It's more subtle, more dimensional, and it moves.
It's also different from glitter. Glitter is textured particles sitting on the surface of the polish. You can feel them. Cat-eye is completely smooth to the touch. The shimmer is inside the gel, not on top of it.
Cat-eye is available in a range of colours. Classic silver and grey for a cool, sophisticated look. Gold for warmth. Green, blue, purple, and pink for something bolder. The base colour underneath affects how dramatic the effect is. A darker base like black or dark brown makes the cat-eye band more intense and visible. A lighter or nude base gives a softer, more understated shimmer.
One Aesthete Beauty client described her set as "cats eyes, done to perfection, lovely dark purple. Admired by many so far." That's what proper cat-eye application looks like when the magnet work and base colour are both done right.
All three are add-on finishes that go on top of your base service. They all cost from £7. But they look and feel completely different.
Cat-eye is a dimensional shimmer that moves with light. The effect appears to float inside the nail. Smooth finish, subtle luxury. Best for clients who want something eye-catching but not overwhelming. The movement of the shimmer gives it a living, organic quality that plain colour can't match.
Chrome is a flat mirror finish. All-over metallic reflection, like polished metal. High impact, statement look. Best for clients who want bold, head-turning nails that reflect light from every angle.
Glitter is textured sparkle on the surface of the nail. Chunky or fine particles that catch light. Festive, fun, tactile. Best for clients who want visible texture and sparkle.
If you're not sure which one suits what you're after, Radina can show you examples and help you decide.
Walk into most salons and ask for cat-eye nails, and you'll probably get one of three completely different looks. The confusion is everywhere online. People show up expecting a sharp diagonal line of light across each nail and walk out with an all-over soft shimmer. Or the other way round. Both are created using the same magnetic gel polish. The difference is what happens with the magnet.
Classic cat-eye is the original look. A sharp, focused band of light running diagonally across the nail. It's created by holding a straight bar magnet at an angle above the uncured gel. The metallic particles rush towards the magnet and form a tight, concentrated line. When you move your hand, that line of light rolls across the nail like a cat's pupil catching the light. Bold, defined, dramatic.
Velvet is the softer option. Instead of pulling the particles into a tight line, the magnet is held parallel to the nail and moved gently back and forth. The particles spread evenly across the whole surface, creating a diffused, almost fuzzy shimmer that covers the entire nail. No single line of light. Just a soft, all-over glow that shifts when the nail moves. It's the most popular style right now, and it's what most people picture when they think of cat-eye nails in 2026.
Glass bead is the newest trend. The particles get concentrated into a small, round focal point near the centre of the nail. It looks like a tiny glass marble is sitting inside the polish, glowing from within. The technique uses a spinning circular magnet or a horseshoe magnet rotated above the nail. The result is a concentrated orb of light rather than a line or an all-over shimmer. It's the trickiest to get right. The concentration has to be precise, and the magnet needs to be held at exactly the right distance while spinning. Get it wrong and you end up with a messy blob instead of a clean, glowing bead.
All three effects use the same magnetic gel polish. Same products, same colours, same price. The magnet does the work. Radina changes the technique depending on which effect you want, and that's what makes each look completely different from the next.
The reason this matters to you as a client is simple. If you walk into a salon and say "I want cat-eye nails," you could get any of these three looks depending on what the tech defaults to. Most salons default to velvet because it's the easiest. That's fine if velvet is what you wanted. Not so fine if you had your heart set on that sharp diagonal line.
If you've seen a look you love on Instagram or TikTok but you're not sure which style it is, save the photo and bring it along. Radina can look at it and tell you exactly which technique will get you there. That's the benefit of going to someone who actually understands how magnetic gel works, rather than a tech who just holds a magnet over the nail and hopes for the best.
It also means you can mix effects. Velvet on eight nails with a sharp cat-eye accent on two ring fingers. Or glass bead on one accent nail with plain gel on the rest. The combinations are yours to decide.
The colour you pick changes everything about how cat-eye looks on your nails. It's not like regular gel polish where the colour is the colour. With magnetic gel, the base underneath and the cat-eye shade work together to create the final effect.
Darker bases make the shimmer pop. Black is the classic choice because the contrast between the dark background and the glowing metallic band is at its strongest. Deep navy, dark plum, forest green. Same principle. Darker base means a more visible, more dramatic shimmer line.
Red is the most requested shade at Aesthete Beauty. A deep crimson cat-eye over a dark base creates that red velvet look you'll see all over social media. The shimmer has a warm, rich glow that catches light beautifully in person. It photographs well too, which is probably why it's so popular.
Gold and silver cat-eye shades work on almost any base. Gold gives warmth. Silver gives a cooler, more modern feel. Both are versatile enough for everyday wear and still dramatic enough for a night out.
Lighter and softer shades are trickier. A pale pink or nude cat-eye won't show the same contrast as a dark one. You'll still get the shimmer, but it'll be much more subtle. Some clients love that understated look. Others expect a bolder effect and end up disappointed. If you're going light, know in advance that the effect will be gentle rather than dramatic.
Teal and emerald are the shades that always get compliments. The green tones catch light differently from reds and blues, and the colour shift is striking. They're less common too, so you won't see the same nails on everyone at the next night out.
Purple sits somewhere between bold and understated. A deep plum cat-eye on a black base has a moody, vampy quality to it. Lighter lavender shades over a nude base give something more playful. Blue is the same story: navy is intense and sophisticated, while a lighter blue feels more casual and summery.
The particle size in the gel also affects how the colour reads. Finer particles give a smoother, more liquid shimmer that looks almost like light moving through water. Coarser particles produce a more textured, glittery shimmer. The products Radina uses at Aesthete Beauty are fine-particle formulas from professional ranges, which is why the finish looks polished rather than chunky.
If you're not sure, tell Radina what you're after. Bold and head-turning? Go dark base with red or emerald. Everyday elegance? Gold or silver on a mid-tone base. Barely there shimmer? Lighter shades on a nude base.
Cat-Eye from £7 as an add-on to any nail service.
Book your base service (gel polish manicure, BIAB, extensions) and add cat-eye when you book or mention it when you arrive. It works on any base and any nail length.
All current pricing is in the online booking system. Pick your service, choose your time, done. You can also call us on 01382 217888 or message on WhatsApp.
Cat-eye is an add-on, not a standalone service. It goes on top of your base nail service. Here is what happens step by step.
Your base service includes e-file cuticle preparation with Vodex dust extraction, fresh disposable files and buffers, sterilised metal tools, and gloves throughout. The cat-eye application itself doesn't create any dust. It's gel and a magnet. But the prep before it follows the same hygiene standards as every appointment at the salon.
Your gel polish manicure, BIAB, or extensions are completed first. Cuticle prep, shaping, base product, all done as normal. The cat-eye effect is created on top of your finished base.
For maximum contrast, a dark base colour goes on first. Black is the classic choice because it makes the magnetic shimmer really pop, but it works on any base colour.
The cat-eye gel polish is applied in a thin, even layer. This is important because if the layer is too thick, the magnet cannot reach the metallic particles deep inside the gel. The polish stays uncured at this point.
Radina holds a magnet about two to five millimetres above the nail surface for five to ten seconds. The magnetic particles in the uncured gel respond and align into a concentrated band of shimmer. The position and movement of the magnet determines the pattern.
Once the pattern is set, the nail goes straight under the LED lamp to cure. The particles lock in place permanently. This is done one nail at a time because the magnetic effect needs to be created while the gel is still wet. A top coat is applied and cured to seal the finish.
You're bored of plain gel polish but you don't want anything too loud. You've seen that shimmer effect on someone else's nails and can't stop thinking about it. You want something that looks expensive without the price tag to match. If any of these sound familiar, cat-eye is what you're looking for:
Cat-eye works on any base service and any nail length. You don't need extensions. It looks just as good on short natural nails with gel polish.
If you want a flat mirror finish instead of a moving shimmer, chrome is the better option.
Luxury service. Radina is a professional perfectionist. There are so many colours and designs to choose from! Hidden gem in Dundee.
The magnetic effect is locked inside the cured gel. It won't fade, shift, or change position once it's been set under the LED lamp. You don't need to do anything special to maintain the shimmer itself. What you do need to protect is the gel polish around it.
Wear rubber gloves when you're cleaning. This is the single biggest thing you can do. Bleach, bathroom cleaners, and washing-up liquid all break down gel polish faster than normal wear ever would. This isn't unique to cat-eye, but it matters more here because any damage to the top coat dulls the shimmer effect underneath. The glossy surface is what makes the cat-eye band look like it's glowing from within. Scratch or dull that top coat and you lose the depth.
Avoid soaking your hands for long periods. Extended baths, hot tubs, and swimming pools all soften the gel over time. Quick hand washing is fine. It's the prolonged soaking that causes problems.
Keep your cuticles moisturised. Cuticle oil once a day does more for the longevity of your manicure than anything else. It keeps the skin around the nail flexible, which reduces lifting at the edges. Gel lifts. Water gets in. Nails come off early. That's the chain reaction cuticle oil prevents.
Don't pick at them. If a nail starts to lift at the edge, don't pull it. You'll take layers of your natural nail with it. Book a repair appointment instead. A single nail repair is £6 and takes ten minutes.
With standard e-file prep, expect two to three weeks of wear. Upgrade to Russian manicure? Three to five weeks. The cat-eye effect doesn't degrade. It stays exactly as Radina created it until your next appointment.
Book your next appointment before you leave. Three weeks goes quickly, and getting into a regular cycle means you never end up with grown-out nails that need extra work. For our full aftercare guidance including what to avoid in the first 24 hours, visit our aftercare page.
Cat-eye is from £7 as an add-on to any nail service. The base service (gel polish, BIAB, extensions) is priced separately.
No. Cat-eye is an add-on applied on top of a base service. You book your gel polish manicure, BIAB, or extensions, and add cat-eye to the appointment.
As long as your base service. The cat-eye effect is locked inside the cured gel and sealed under a top coat, so it lasts the full wear time of whatever's underneath.
Silver, grey, gold, green, blue, purple, pink, and more. The effect can be applied over different base colours to change the look. A dark base makes the shimmer more dramatic. A lighter base gives a softer effect.
Yes. Cat-eye looks great on any length. The shimmer effect works regardless of how long or short your nails are.
Chrome is a flat, all-over mirror finish. Cat-eye is a dimensional shimmer that moves with light and appears to float inside the nail. Chrome is bold and uniform. Cat-eye is subtle and shifts depending on the angle.
Yes. Cat-eye can be applied to all nails or used as an accent on selected nails. It combines well with plain colours on other nails for a mixed look.
The gel polish contains tiny metallic particles. A magnet held over the uncured gel pulls these particles into a concentrated line. When the gel is cured under the LED lamp, the particles lock in position permanently, creating the shifting shimmer effect.
They use the same magnetic gel polish. Cat-eye creates a sharp, focused line of shimmer across the nail. Velvet spreads the shimmer evenly across the whole surface for a soft, diffused glow. Both are available at the same price. Bring a photo if you’re not sure which one you want.
Yes. The metallic particles in cat-eye gel polish are iron oxide based, which is a standard cosmetic ingredient used in thousands of beauty products including eyeshadows and foundations. The particles are fully encapsulated inside the cured gel and don’t come into contact with your skin or natural nail. There’s no difference in safety between cat-eye and regular gel polish.
No. Once the gel is cured under the LED lamp, the metallic particles are permanently locked in position. The shimmer effect stays exactly as it was created for the full wear time of your manicure. The only thing that can dull the appearance is damage to the top coat from harsh chemicals or rough handling.
Absolutely. Lots of clients go for velvet on most nails with a sharp cat-eye line on one or two accent nails. Or cat-eye on some nails and plain gel on others. You can mix and match however you like.
Glass bead is a newer magnetic technique where the shimmer gets concentrated into a small, round focal point on the nail. It looks like a tiny glowing marble sitting inside the polish. It uses the same cat-eye gel but a different magnet technique.
Yes. The metallic particles in cat-eye gel are not ferromagnetic and won't react to an MRI magnet. The "magnetic" part of the process only applies during application when a handheld magnet aligns the particles before curing. Once the gel is cured under the LED lamp, the particles are permanently locked in place and the nail has no magnetic properties at all.
Very much so. Cat-eye has been trending since 2023 and it's showing no signs of slowing down. Aurora and velvet variations gave it a second wind. It's one of the most requested add-ons at Aesthete Beauty. The fact that the shimmer moves with light gives it something that flat colours and even chrome can't match. It looks different in every photo, which makes it perfect for the Instagram age.
Yes, and it's one of the most popular combinations right now. A chrome base with cat-eye magnetic gel layered on top creates a depth and dimension that neither finish can achieve alone. Radina can walk you through the options when you arrive. Mention it when you book so the right amount of time is allocated.
First time visiting and extremely impressed. An absolutely perfect manicure. No gaps or flaws at all. Also, a huge selection of colours and a very clean place. I will definitely be returning regularly.
If you want nails with that shifting, glowing shimmer that moves with every angle, cat-eye is the add-on to book. Subtle, dimensional, and unlike anything regular polish can do.
We serve clients from across Dundee and the surrounding areas including the West End, Broughty Ferry, Newport-on-Tay, Monifieth, Carnoustie, and further afield.
