How to Get the Soap Nails Trend
Recently, "clean girl beauty" has taken over the internet. This aesthetic is all about minimalist, natural beauty from head to toe. And when it comes to your manicure, "clean girl beauty" turns into the "soap nails" or "soapy nails" trend.
What are soap nails?
Don't go running to coat your cuticles in bubbles or glue teeny-tiny bar soaps to your fingertips—soap nails don't literally involve soap! Instead, this manicure is all about making your nails look fresh, clean, and glossy, as if you just gave them a salon-level buffing. While you can certainly take a few soapy nail photos or TikTok videos to the nail salon, this look is also easy to DIY. Think of the soap nail trend as the sister to other "clean girl" and minimalist nail looks like balletcore or glazed donut nails. The difference is that soap nails are all about the clean look of the nail beneath a sheer or semi-sheer polish, rather than the polish itself. Think "no-makeup makeup," but for your nails.
Soap nail colors
There are quite a few variations on soap nails, but they typically include a translucent base and a glossy finish. Shades of pale pink and milky white are particularly popular, but you can also choose beige, taupe, gray, and even lavender. The versatility of this trend means that soap nails fit every skin tone—simply choose a favorite neutral or soft pastel shade that fits your skin tone. Here are some ideas for you:
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Original Illuminating Nail Concealer: Nail concealer is an instant brightener, giving you a healthy glow with a milky finish.
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Quartz Illuminating Nail Concealer: This variation of illuminating nail concealer adds a soft gray glaze. If you'd like to add a touch of a different color, try a variation in Pink, Bare, or Bubble.
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Invisible Crown: This soft, sheer pink is a classic color for soap nails.
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Uncovered: Prefer a nude that's less pink? Try a beige nude like this shade.
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Jane Austen: Not into pinks and nudes? This pale lavender shade is a fun twist on the trend.
Pink Illuminating Nail Concealer
How to get soap nails
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Prep your nails. Soap nails are all about looking fresh and clean, so begin with a refresh. Remove any old polish with Strengthening Lacquer Remover and, if you like, give your nails a thorough cleaning with the Mani Bright Nail Scrub.
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Take care of your cuticles. Apply Fresh Glow Cuticle Remover to melt dry skin and overgrown edges. Gently push back your cuticles with a cuticle pusher.
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File your nails with an emery board or glass nail file until your nails are even and in your desired shape. Oval, almond, and square shapes are all popular for this trend, but feel free to put your own twist on it.
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Buff your nails with a nail buffer until you have a smooth surface. Now, your nails are ready to paint!
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Apply a protective base coat, like Nail Hardener and Base Coat, and let dry. If using a one-step, Illuminating Nail Concealer formula no base coat is needed!
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Add nail polish in a nude, pink, white, or pale pastel color, like the ones suggested above. If you prefer a sheer look, stick to one coat. If you'd like more color, add one or two additional coats until you achieve the look you like.
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Finish with High Gloss Top Coat. This look is all about the shine!
