Guide · Gel nails · Sukhumvit 21
Gel nail finishes explained: syrup, flash, cat-eye, mirror, French and ombré
Updated
Short answer
Cat-eye nails use a magnetic gel: a magnet pulls tiny particles into a band of light that moves when you tilt your hand. Cat-eye is one of several gel finishes. At PAYA they are add-ons to our gel nails near BTS Asok, from +฿100 (syrup, flash, glitter) to +฿400 or more (French, ombré).
Start with your gel colour
First you pick the base shade, from the wall of gel colours and the colour charts at the salon.
On our menu, “Gel colour, hands” starts from ฿400 and “Gel colour, feet” from ฿450. A price with a + is charged on top of the base service (see our gel colour prices).
Sheer and sparkle: syrup, flash and glitter (+฿100 each)
Syrup gel
Syrup gel is a sheer, tinted gel. Instead of covering the nail with a solid colour, it lets the nail show through, a little like tinted glass, so the result looks glossy and soft. More coats usually give a deeper shade. On our menu it is listed as Syrup colour.
Flash gel
Flash gel contains tiny reflective particles. In normal light it looks like a soft shimmer. Under a camera flash or a bright direct light, the particles light up and the nails sparkle.
Glitter gel
Glitter gel has visible pieces of glitter in the gel, from a fine sparkle to larger flecks, and you can see them in any light.
Cat-eye (magnetic) gel (+฿300)
Cat-eye gel, also called magnetic gel, usually contains fine metallic particles. While the gel is still soft, a magnet held close to the nail draws the particles together into a band of light. The band looks like the eye of a cat and seems to move when you tilt your hand.
On our Thai menu, ลูกแก้ว is on the same line as cat-eye (สีแคทอาย / ลูกแก้ว), with one price: +฿300.
Mirror powder (from +฿300)
Mirror powder, often called chrome, is an ultra-fine powder rubbed onto the nail once the gel underneath has set. It makes the surface shine like polished silver, gold or a coloured mirror, and a clear gel layer usually goes on top to seal it.
How is it different from cat-eye?
Mirror powder sits on the surface, so the whole nail shines evenly like metal. Cat-eye particles are inside the gel, so you see a band of light that moves as the angle changes.
On our menu, mirror powder starts from +฿300.
French and ombré (+฿400 / from +฿400)
French nail
A French manicure usually keeps most of the nail in a natural, sheer or pale pink tone and adds a line of colour along the tip. The classic tip is white.
Ombré nail
Ombré is a gradient: one colour fades softly into another along the nail, for example from nude near the cuticle to pink or white at the tip, or between two shades of the same colour. The Thai menu calls it ออมเบรไล่สี, "colour-fade ombré". It starts from +฿400.
Adding nail art
Nail art is an add-on too: gel art design (+฿80), paint (+฿100), sticker (+฿50) or relief / charm (from +฿50); see our nail art prices.
Bring a photo for a price
Seen a finish you like on Instagram or Pinterest? Message us the picture on WhatsApp or LINE and ask for a price. You can also walk in with it on your phone: we are open daily, 10:00–22:00.
Coming in with old gel?
Still wearing gel from an earlier manicure? Taking it off is charged on top of the new set: gel colour removal starts from +฿100. Mention it when you book. More on gel removal.
Questions
Gel finishes FAQ
What are cat-eye nails?
Cat-eye nails are done with a magnetic gel that contains fine metallic particles. A magnet draws the particles into a band of light that looks like the eye of a cat and moves when you tilt your hand. At PAYA, cat-eye / magnetic gel is an add-on of +฿300 to your gel colour.
What is syrup gel?
Syrup gel is a sheer, tinted gel that lets the nail show through, like tinted glass, for a glossy and soft look. More coats usually give a deeper shade. At PAYA, syrup colour is an add-on of +฿100 to your gel colour.
What is the difference between mirror (chrome) and cat-eye nails?
Mirror (chrome) powder is rubbed onto the surface once the gel has set, so the whole nail shines evenly like metal. Cat-eye particles sit inside the gel and a magnet draws them into a band of light, so the shine moves when you move your hand.
What is flash gel?
Flash gel contains tiny reflective particles. In normal light it looks like a soft shimmer, but under a camera flash or a bright direct light it sparkles strongly, which is why it shows so clearly in photos.
Guides