The 25 Best Velvet Nail Ideas for a Luxurious Set

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.

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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.”

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.

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.”