Black Cat Eye Short Square Nails

Step by step: black cat eye nails

1. Prep: push back cuticles, buff the shine off the nail plate and wipe with alcohol so the base coat grips.
2. Shape: File straight across the top, then soften the two corners with one light stroke so they don’t snag.
3. Apply and cure a gel base, then one coat of a dark or matching black base color.
4. Brush on a thin coat of magnetic cat eye gel.
5. Hold the magnet close to the nail for 5–10 seconds to pull the shimmer into a line (diagonal, centered or at the tip).
6. Cure immediately so the light band stays where you placed it; repeat nail by nail.
7. Seal with a glossy top coat — gloss makes the shimmer look deeper.
8. A drop of cuticle oil at the end makes the photo-ready difference.

Pro tip: Work one nail at a time: the shimmer drifts within seconds if you move on before curing.