This tutorial shares with you a “checkered cat’s eye manicure” that is perfect for early autumn. It is beautiful and delicate, suitable for both everyday wear and dates or shopping. Without further ado, let’s get started!
First, confirm the tools and materials you need: non-stick powder sanding sealant, white brushed glue, UV/LED lamp, champagne-colored magic mirror powder, base glue, your favorite cat’s eye gel polish glue, glass sealant, nail art brush, etc.
Step 1: Apply a non-stick powder matte top coat and cure under a lamp
Select a nude-colored gel polish as the base coat, apply it, and cure under a lamp until dry. Then, take the non-stick powder matte top coat and use a nail brush to apply an even layer over the nail surface. Place the nails with the top coat into a UV/LED lamp and cure according to the lamp’s specified time to solidify the top coat.
Step 2: Draw white grid lines and cure under the lamp
Open the white gel polish container and use a fine-tipped nail art pen to dip up an appropriate amount of gel polish. At an angle, draw lines from one side of the nail to the other. The lines should be smooth and of even thickness.
Once the diagonal lines are complete, switch to the opposite direction and use the wire drawing compound to draw the lines again.
Create a grid pattern on the surface of the nail. Place the nail with the grid lines drawn on it under a UV/LED lamp to cure and fix the shape of the threading gel.
Step 3: Mirror Powder Application and Base Coat Application
Take the champagne-colored mirror powder and gently rub it onto the surface of the nail with your fingertips or a special tool to allow the mirror powder to adhere to the grid area, creating a metallic luster.
Take the base coat, dip a nail brush into it, and apply a thin layer to the surface of the nail coated with magic mirror powder. The purpose is to cover the magic mirror powder and lay the foundation for the next steps. Place the nails coated with the base coat under a UV/LED lamp to dry.
After that, fill in the gaps in the checkered pattern with your favorite cat-eye gel polish (I used CHROMÉCLAIR’s Hema Free Gel Polish CE Series, which is perfect for this style, has good flow, and is non-toxic and healthy).
When filling in, make sure the edges are neat.
Step 4: Create a glass bead effect and cure under a lamp
Use a magnet to attach the nail filled with cat’s eye gel at an appropriate angle, creating a three-dimensional glass bead-like light and shadow effect. Place the nail with the attached effect under a UV/LED lamp to cure, allowing the cat’s eye gel to fully cure with the previous coating.
Step 5: Apply glass sealant and cure under UV/LED light
Take the glass sealant and use a nail brush to apply an even layer to the nail surface. This step is a post-construction process that makes the nail surface smoother and improves overall gloss and durability. Place the nails coated with glass sealant under a UV/LED light to cure the sealant. Once cured, the early autumn checkered cat-eye nail design is complete.
By following the above steps, you can create an early autumn manicure that combines a retro plaid pattern with a dreamy cat-eye effect. From the base coat to the line drawing, mirror powder accents, and final top coat, each step is designed to achieve a refined manicure effect.
Finally, I recommend CHROMÉCLAIR’s HEMA-free Gel Polish. Their products are safe and hypoallergenic (HEMA-free & TPO-free), environmentally friendly, and free of irritating and harmful ingredients, protecting the health of your nails. They offer a wide range of colors that keep up with the latest trends, so you can use them with confidence and look great!
If you encounter any problems during the process, you can watch the video tutorial below. If you find the tutorial useful and like it, remember to give it a thumbs up, save it, and subscribe to me. See you next time!
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