Soap Nails Are the Subtle Rich Girl Manicure Celebs Are Loving for Red Carpet Season

Soap nails have recently started to grace many high-profile events. Their unique style, which mixes well with the previously popular bubble nails, offers a more neutral and sheer look, while bubble nails typically sport a pronounced pink shade. The key characteristic of soap nails is their sleek, glossy, and wet appearance, providing a fresh and crisp feeling. This trend is beloved for its simplicity and the virtually unnoticeable color that can be achieved through applying layers of sheer tones that match the natural nail color.

To further understand these soap nails, we’ve consulted the insights of experts: Rebecca Isa, Creative Director at Zoya, and Morgan Haile, a nail expert and ambassador for the Gelish brand.

Soap nails and similar minimalist manicures are currently in trend, aligning with the shift towards a more natural beauty, according to Isa. Consumers are appreciating understated elegance and smooth textures, and the soap nail trend delivers this with a unique twist. This elegant manicure look is not only versatile but is also fuss-free and perfect for daily wear. It complements any attire without being excessively conspicuous and offers a discreet, luxurious way to embrace sophistication in nail design.

Isa highlights that the soap nail look can be personalized to perfectly match the natural nail bed, providing a unique and customised look. As an addition, the high gloss finish contributes to the clean, neat appearance, making it a preferred choice for admirers of minimalist beauty with a luxury touch. Nail expert and Gelish brand ambassador Haile agrees that the simplistic, fresh look never goes out of style and is suitable for all seasons, accentuating the minimalist and subtle luxury aesthetics perfectly.

As the name suggests, soap nails are ultra-clean, high-gloss manicures with a sheer, neutral tone that blends perfectly with your complexion, says Haile. These ultra-glossy, trendy manicures look like lustrous soap bubbles. While this manicure does bear similarities to other popular trends, its translucent finish — which mirrors the natural nail bed — and focus on shine sets it apart.

‘For achieving the soap nails look, the focus should be on translucency and glossiness, along with natural-looking shades,’ advises Isa. Soft hues that match the natural color of the nails or skin, such as pink, beige, brown, or milky-nudes, should be used to capture the soap bubble feel, Haile suggests.

Isa believes it’s also easy to achieve the look using Zoya Naked Manicure products. Start by skipping the traditional base coat and instead opt for a coat of a Naked Manicure Perfector shade, which provides customisation in the color to perfectly match your nail bed tone. For the soap nails look, two to three layers of a Zoya Naked Manicure Perfector Shade — like pink, nude, or buff — can help create a sheer, healthy nail color. To attain the perfect density and tone, Isa recommends mixing shades, such as layering Lavender Perfector under a tone-matching perfector for color correction. To give the nails a high-gloss, wet look effect, finish with a super glossy top coat.

Soap nails are perfect for well-manicured natural nails. However, even if your nails aren’t suitably groomed, you can still achieve the look by using short, round press-on nails. You can also use the press-on nails to nail the trend.

In conclusion, soap nails represent a trend in nail aesthetics that champion simplicity, understated elegance, and a fresh look. Their name describes their essential characteristics well: a clean, glossy look that matches the skin tone, reminiscent of soap bubbles.