Nail glossary

Velvet nails

A magnetic-polish finish worked into an all-over fabric-like shimmer instead of a single band. Also called: Velvet cat-eye.

Velvet nails use the same iron-particle polish as cat-eye, but the magnet is applied diffusely so the whole nail shimmers like crushed velvet rather than showing one streak. In dim warm light — restaurants, candles, parties — it is the most flattering finish in the current repertoire.

Ask for 'a soft all-over velvet shimmer, no distinct band' — the salon default is often the single cat-eye streak.

Now on the App Store

Now go design it.

Vocabulary is the map; a real set is the territory. Design your exact nails in Nailly and send them to an artist who can make them — live on the App Store for the US and Canada.