ombining the classic with the modern, the cat-eye French manicure is spring’s coolest manicure trend. It marries the elegant half-moon French tip with the light-reflective, velvet-like effect popularised in Korea and Japan.
‘This is one of my favourite nail trends right now because they bring a modern, dimensional twist to the classic French manicure,’ says Daisy Kalnina, founder of The Gel Bottle. ‘The magnetic pigment creates a light-catching shimmer that adds movement and depth, making the tip feel much more elevated than a traditional block colour. It’s the perfect balance between timeless and trend-led, which is why we’re seeing so many nail techs and clients gravitate towards it.’
If you’re looking for an expressive nail art design that’s still easy to wear and looks elegant for both work and after hours, this trend is the one as it can be tailored through colour combinations. It also serves as a canvas for additional nail art designs, be it micro florals or florals or stars.
Kalnina is a fan of pairing a delicate pink BIAB base such as Dolly or Demure with a matching matching cat-eye effect like Cherish or Cheerleader from The Gel Bottle. It creates a subtle, subtle, glossy French that still catches the light beautifully,’ she tells ELLE UK.
You can also take it up a notch by experimenting with more more striking colour palettes. Think baby blues and warm chocolates, butter yellow and earthy green or creamy pistachio with bright orange.
How to create the cat-eye French tip
Your nail technician will generally start with a gel or BIAB base colour, and layer a cat-eye cat-eye gel polish on the tips. ‘Using a magnet, such as our Dual-Ended Magnet Tool, the pigment is then gently pulled and shaped to create that signature reflective curve across the tip, giving the illusion of movement and movement and depth,’ explains Kalnina. The desired effect is then sealed with a high shine top coat.
