Not to get all Miranda Priestly on here, but velvet for fall isn’t exactly revolutionary- but my goodness it truly NEVER gets old. While I was researching A/W 2020 runway trends, I was gob smacked by so many lush, decadent jewel-toned pieces and it immediately sent my creativity into overdrive. How does one translate the depth and iridescence of velvet into nail art? Enter, magnetic gel. 

 Magnetic gel, known as many things by many brands (Cat Eye, Dragon’s Eye, HypnoGel- just to name a few) is a suspension (or a dry powder that can be mixed into gel) of iron powder fragments that rise toward the surface of uncured gel when a magnet is hovered in close proximity.  We’ve all seen the traditional “cat eye” technique, where the fragments are moved into a line across the surface of the nail- but in my studio, we like it with maximum coverage and a dymanic and velvety texture. 

Velvet nails are 100% a show stopper that your clients will absolutely flip over. Here are some tips to help you get started: 

Quality

Be careful ordering magnetic gel from unverified sources (unknown brands on Amazon or Ali Express). Go for brands that can provide a Safety Date Sheet and legit ingredient list. The last thing you want is for a client to have an allergic reaction. I’ve used inexpensive magnetic gel in the past without issue, but now that I know better, I do better. 

Get That Texture Right

Be sure to wipe off the inhibition layer of your base color gel with a lint-free pad and alcohol, this will keep the magnetic gel from getting contaminated and also allow for more particle movement on the nail plate (a.k.a. you get more sparkle). 

One By One

Because magnetic gel is made to move, you want to work one nail at a time curing as you alternate fingers/hands. 

Fixing a Slip-Up

If the gel isn’t moving how you need it to or you accidently get a dark spot- do not cure it - just add a little more magnetic gel to reinvigorate the surface and try again, once you get it just right, cure.

Mix It Up

You are absolutely not bound to a black base coat, try layering over fun colors and see what you can create. Just keep in mind, magnetic gel tends to have a gray cast so it will likely darken and cool the tone of whatever your base color is (especially light colors). There are also some magnetic powders on the market (like Ageha Mag Powder) that can be mixed into sheer/jelly shades to create custom colors. 

Products used in the tutorial:

Kokoist Color Gel E-148 Blackest Black

Kokoist Round Brush

Kokoist Dragon’s Eye Gel D-06 Pink Gold

Kokoist Ultra Glossy Non-Wipe Top Coat Gel