How to Apply Cat-Eye Gel Nails 🧲✨ | Step-by-Step Tutorial | NIKO, by helloniko on YouTube. 1 min 1 s.
- Video length
- 1 min 1 s
- Time to do it
- 45 minutes
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Push back cuticles with a cuticle pusher, then apply cuticle softener around each nail and wait a minute. Wipe away the softened skin with a lint-free wipe.
Trim any loose cuticle skin with nippers and file the nail edges into shape. Keep the nippers clean and only cut dead skin, not live cuticle.
Buff the nail plate lightly with a buffer to remove shine and give the gel grip. Wipe each nail with isopropyl alcohol to remove dust and oil.
Apply a thin layer of gel base coat, keeping it off the skin, and cure it under the lamp for the time your gel brand states, usually 30 to 60 seconds.
Paint one thin coat of cat-eye magnetic polish and cure it. Repeat with a second thin coat for even color.
Before curing the last coat, hold the magnet close over the nail for about 5 to 10 seconds to pull the particles into a line. Move the magnet slowly to shape the effect.
Cure the nail straight away so the pattern sets, then check the line. Add another coat and repeat the magnet step if you want a stronger effect.
Apply a thin clear top coat, cap the free edge, and cure it fully. Wipe off any sticky layer with alcohol if your top coat needs it.
Tips and common mistakes
Keep every layer thin, since thick gel can wrinkle or lift during curing.
Hold the magnet the same distance and angle on each nail so the cat-eye lines match.
Cure each layer fully before adding the next one to avoid smudging.
Work one hand at a time so you can hold the magnet steady without rushing.
Questions
Do I need a special lamp for cat-eye gel?
Any UV or LED lamp that matches your gel brand works. Check the cure time on the polish label, since some gels need longer than others.
Why did my cat-eye line disappear?
The particles move until the gel is cured. Hold the magnet over the wet polish, then cure it right away without tilting the nail.
How long does a gel manicure last?
Most gel manicures last about two to three weeks. Proper prep and thin layers help prevent lifting and chipping.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
