Free guide and calculator

How to price chrome and cat eye nails

Price chrome powder and cat eye as add-ons on top of the base service, from the minutes they really add and the product they use, with one price for a full set and a smaller one for accent nails. Giving them away inside the gel polish price means working extra minutes for free on some of your most requested finishes.

Updated

What it is, from the salon side

Chrome (mirror powder) is a fine powder rubbed onto a cured top coat and sealed, giving a metallic or pearl shine. Cat eye is a magnetic gel polish: you hold a magnet over each nail before curing to pull the shimmer into a line or glow. Both sit on top of gel polish, builder gel or extensions, so for the owner they are add-ons with their own minutes.

How much time to plan

AppointmentPlan for
Chrome powder, full setApplying, sealing and cleaning edges+10–15 min
Cat eye, full setMagnet on each nail before curing+10–15 min
Chrome or cat eye on 1–2 accent nails+5 min
Cat eye with chrome on top+15–25 min
Gel polish with chrome, completeBase service plus the add-on60–75 min

Starting points for planning, not measured averages. Time your own appointments for two weeks and use your numbers.

What goes into the cost

  • Chrome powder and the no-wipe top coat it needs
  • Magnetic gel polish and a magnet that wears with use
  • Applicators, sponges or silicone tools, often single use
  • Extra top coat to seal the edges
  • Your time for the extra layers and curing
  • A share of rent, power and software for every hour you work

How to set the price

  1. Time a few real chrome and cat eye sets against the same base service without them, and note the extra minutes.
  2. Turn the extra minutes into a price with your target hourly rate, then add the product used per set.
  3. Set two prices: full set and accent nails, so the client can choose without you working it out at the desk.
  4. Enter both in the calculator below, round to clean prices and compare with two or three salons near you.
  5. List chrome and cat eye as add-ons next to each base service in your price list, not hidden in the colour choice.

Work out your price

The rows below are examples for this service. Change the minutes and product cost to your own, set your hourly target and overheads, and the calculator gives a price that covers them.

Your numbers

What you want to earn per booked hour, before profit.

Rent, utilities, software, insurance and other costs you pay every month.

Hours you can realistically book, not opening hours.

Share of the final price you keep as profit.

Overhead per hour
$15.00
Cost per booked hour
$40.00

Your services

Example rows. Replace them with your own services, real durations and product cost.

Suggested prices

  • Chrome add-on, full set15 min

    Cost: $11.00

    $15

    Profit: $4.00

    Price per hour: $60

  • Cat eye add-on, full set15 min

    Cost: $11.50

    $15

    Profit: $3.50

    Price per hour: $60

  • Chrome or cat eye, accent nails5 min

    Cost: $3.83

    $5

    Profit: $1.17

    Price per hour: $60

  • Gel polish with chrome70 min

    Cost: $50.17

    $65

    Profit: $14.83

    Price per hour: $56

Overhead per hour = monthly fixed costs ÷ sellable hours. Cost = product cost + (minutes ÷ 60) × (hourly pay + overhead per hour). Price = cost ÷ (1 − margin), rounded up.

Your price list

The printed page shows only the price list.

Price list

  • Chrome add-on, full set15 min$15
  • Cat eye add-on, full set15 min$15
  • Chrome or cat eye, accent nails5 min$5
  • Gel polish with chrome70 min$65

What to ask before the first appointment

  • Which base does she want under it: gel polish, builder gel or extensions?
  • Full set or only accent nails, and which shade of chrome or cat eye?
  • Does she have a photo of the finish she wants, so you can match the look?
  • Any allergies or reactions to gel products before?

Add-ons that fit

  • Nail art or French combined with chrome
  • Cat eye in a second colour on accent nails
  • Matching chrome finish on a pedicure
  • Hand treatment or cuticle care

In CutieCure Salon

In CutieCure Salon you can add your chrome and cat eye shades to your catalog with prices, and AI virtual try-on lets clients see a finish from your catalog on a photo of their own hand before the appointment. Each service has its own duration, so gel polish with chrome books the extra minutes it really takes.

Questions

How much should I charge for chrome nails?

There is no single right price: it depends on your time, product cost, overheads and local market. Price chrome and cat eye as add-ons from your own numbers, then compare with salons near you.

Should chrome be included in the gel polish price?

Including it means giving away the extra minutes and product. A separate add-on price keeps your base price simple and pays for the extra work.

How much extra time should I book for cat eye?

Plan around ten to fifteen minutes extra for a full set, then adjust to the times you measure in your own salon.

Book every service at the right length

In CutieCure Salon each service has its own duration, so clients only see times that really fit. 14-day free trial, no card required.

Start your free trial

Other service guides

Related guides