Northern Lights in North Brooklyn: A Chrome Cat Eye Mani With 3D Drops
Color that Won't Sit Still
The magic of this set is depth. A magnetic cat eye pulls a band of light up through the nail, sheer jelly color tints it, and chrome turns the whole surface into a mirror. The result shifts from plum to cobalt to emerald depending on the angle and the light.
Because our artist layered slightly different jelly shades on each finger, no two nails match. A few lean teal and green, while the rest go deep violet and electric blue. It reads moody in late fall and festive once the holiday lights go up, which makes it one of those sets you won't be in a hurry to take off.
Building the set, layer by layer
Every layer does a job, and together they create a finish that looks almost liquid. Here's how our artist built it, in her own words and ours.
A black base. Everything starts on black. A dark base is what makes every color on top look deep and jewel-toned instead of flat.
Silver cat eye. Next comes a silver cat eye gel, a polish packed with magnetic shimmer. Holding a small magnet over each nail before curing pulls that shimmer into a soft band of light that seems to float under the surface.
Layered jelly gels. On top, we layered a few different sheer jelly polishes from Madam Glam in violets, blues and teals. Jellies are translucent, so the silver cat eye glows right through them. That's the "double layer": color and light at the same time.
Vettsy chrome. A rub of Vettsy chrome powder over the top gives the finish its mirror shine and that aurora-like color shift.
3D water droplets. Finally, the detail you can feel. Our artist placed a dot of 3D gel on each nail and swirled it with a fine brush before curing. The chrome catches on every raised curve, so the droplets look like they're still moving.
And all of it is on short, natural-length nails. Proof that you don't need long extensions for nail art that stops people mid-sentence.
Why it's so Brooklyn
Walk down to Transmitter Park after dark and watch the East River for a minute. The city's lights break into ribbons of blue and violet on the water, shifting with every ripple. That's what these nails remind us of: the river at night, the skyline melting into it.
The 3D droplets take the idea one step further. They look like rain beading on a window, or the water after a ferry passes. It's a little bit city, a little bit magic, and very North Brooklyn.
And yes, they look especially good wrapped around a Lili and Cata cafe cup. We may have tested that theory more than once.
Gentle prep, serious shine
Like every set at Lili and Cata, this one starts with gentle prep and the clean, thoughtful products we're known for, so you get the drama without the harsh stuff. Layered cat eye, chrome and 3D details take a steady hand and a little extra time, so let us know when you book that you're coming in for nail art.
Want your own aurora set for the holidays, or for no reason at all? Bring us your favorite colors, a photo of something that shimmers, or just a vibe. We'll bring the chrome.
Book your nail art at our Greenpoint or Williamsburg saloon today.