Stained Glass Nails: Cat Eye Abstract Nail Art Tutorial from Not a Nail Tech

Want a design that shines differently every time you move your hands? In this episode of Not a Nail Tech, we try out cat eye gel polish to create abstract segmented stained glass nails. Black lines finished with silver mirror chrome act like the leading, and each segment is filled with cat eye polish magnetised in a different direction, so the nail shines differently every time it moves.

Stained glass nails are a brilliant way to show off what cat eye polish can really do. Instead of one magnetic flash across the whole nail, each little section has its own shimmer, creating a mosaic of light that changes as you turn your hand. The silver chrome lines frame every segment like the metal in a real stained glass window.

This design is pure movement and shine. Because each segment is magnetised in a different direction, the light hits every section differently, so the nail looks alive. Ethereal and Extraterrestrial, a pinky purple cat eye, sit side by side for a soft but striking colour story, and the mirror chrome lines add a crisp, metallic edge.

It's also wonderfully freeform. There's no rhyme or reason to where the lines go, so you can place them wherever feels right. That makes stained glass nails a relaxed, creative project that's ideal for trying out cat eye polish without worrying about perfect symmetry.

Using Serious Black and a long fine detail brush, map out the segments of the design, similar to the leading on stained glass. There's no rhyme or reason to where the lines go – just place them wherever feels right. Cure for 60 seconds before moving on to the chrome.

Buff the silver Mirror Chrome Pigment over the black lines for a shimmering mirror effect. Make sure you buff off all of the excess chrome so it doesn't end up in the rest of your design.

Apply Top Coat over the chrome. Decant the Top Coat onto a resin palette and apply it with a gel brush, so no chrome gets transferred into the bottle and onto other nails in the future.

Using Ethereal cat eye gel polish, fill in a segment – a dotting tool works well for the first layer. Don't cure it yet. Use your magnet to play around with the placement of the magnetic particles, which changes where the light hits.

Cure each segment once it's finished so you can use the magnet in a different direction on every section. If a segment doesn't feel covered enough, go in with a second layer using a very small detail brush and magnetise again before curing.

Repeat the process on the remaining segments with Extraterrestrial, which has a pinky purple hue. Alternating the two shades adds to the mosaic feel of your stained glass nails.

Apply Top Coat over the whole nail and cure in the lamp for 60 seconds.

• Use a longer detail brush for the lines. A longer fine detail brush makes it much easier to map out the segments.
• Buff off every bit of excess chrome. Stray chrome can end up in the cat eye segments, so be thorough.
• Magnetise each segment differently. Curing one section at a time lets you change the magnet's direction, so the nail catches the light in different ways as it moves.
• Keep chrome out of your Top Coat. Decanting onto a resin palette and using a separate brush stops chrome contaminating the bottle.

These stained glass nails are perfect for anyone who's curious about cat eye polish and wants to explore what a magnet can do. The Not a Nail Tech approach keeps things accessible, and because the segments are freeform, there's no pressure to get every line perfect.

It's also a lovely choice for people who like abstract, artistic designs with plenty of shine. The pinky purple tones and silver chrome feel modern and elegant, so the set works for everyday wear as well as special occasions. Nail techs can use it as a quick showcase of cat eye techniques for clients.

Try these ideas with the same products and techniques:

• Use more or fewer lines to create larger or smaller segments.
• Fill all the segments with just Ethereal or just Extraterrestrial for a single-tone look.
• Experiment with magnet placement in each section to change how the light moves across the nail.
• Keep the stained glass nails to an accent nail and wear a plain cat eye on the rest.

A little aftercare goes a long way with any gel manicure. Apply cuticle oil regularly to keep the skin around the nails hydrated, and wear gloves when cleaning or washing up to protect the finish. Avoid using your nails as tools, and don't pick or peel at the gel, as this can damage the natural nail underneath.

Chrome details can be delicate, so treat them gently. When it's time for a change, have the gel removed properly rather than peeling it off, so your natural nails are healthy for your next set of stained glass nails.

Fill one segment with cat eye polish, magnetise it, then cure it before moving on. This lets you point the magnet in a different direction on every section.

Buff off all of the excess chrome after applying it to the black lines, then seal it with Top Coat before adding the cat eye polish.

Applying Top Coat from a resin palette with a gel brush stops chrome being transferred into the bottle and onto other nails in the future.

Go in with a second layer using a very small detail brush, then magnetise again before curing.

With silver chrome leading and cat eye segments that shimmer in every direction, these stained glass nails are a stunning way to play with magnetic polish. Watch the full Not a Nail Tech video tutorial above, gather the products listed, and create your own mosaic of light.