Red is the classic Christmas nail, and cat eye gel makes it feel new. Instead of a flat red, magnetic polish creates a soft band of light that moves as your hands do, so your nails look like velvet under tree lights. Here is how cat eye works, eight looks to try this season and a few tips to keep red festive but polished.
How cat eye nails work
Cat eye gel contains tiny magnetic particles. While the gel is still wet, a magnet pulls the particles into a line or a soft glow, then the gel is cured to lock the effect in place. The result shifts with the angle of the light, which is why it photographs so well at parties.
8 red cat eye looks for Christmas
1. Full ruby velvet
Ten nails of deep ruby cat eye with a single silvery light band. Simple, rich and right for any holiday dinner.
2. Cat eye French tips
A sheer nude base with a slim red cat eye tip. It is the quietest way to wear red and works for the office party.
3. Gold bow hero nail
Add a 3D gold bow with tiny pearls to one nail, like a ribbon on a gift. Our red cat eye press-on nails with a 3D gold bow mix this with ideas 1 and 2 on a long almond shape.
4. Glitter fade into cat eye
Chunky ruby glitter at the cuticle melting into velvet cat eye toward the tip. See the ruby glitter and red cat eye set, which pairs it with full-glitter thumbs and pinkies.
5. Wine red for New Year's Eve
Go one shade darker toward burgundy with a gold line. It carries the look from Christmas to New Year.
6. Red and nude alternating
Alternate cat eye nails with plain nude so the shimmer reads as an accent.
7. Crystals at the cuticle
Three small clear crystals near the base of one nail catch light without looking overdone.
8. Red with a gingerbread twist
Not sure about all red? Pair one red accent with cocoa and candy cane details, like our gingerbread press-on nails.
Keeping red elegant
- Choose deep ruby or wine instead of bright tomato red.
- Use one finish as the star: either cat eye or heavy glitter, not both on every nail.
- Almond and oval shapes look softer with dark red than very sharp stiletto.
When to order for Christmas
Every set is handmade to order in 1 to 4 business days and ships from Vietnam, with delivery to the US in about 7 to 12 business days; peak season can add up to a week. See our shipping policy. For Christmas Day, ordering by about November 30 leaves comfortable room. To make your set last through the whole season, follow our tips on how to make press-on nails last longer, and find more ideas in our Christmas press-on nails guide.