We’ve seen a few variations of soap nails grace recent red carpets, from Selena Gomez’s wet mani to Camila Cabello’s shiny set. While soap nails have some significant overlap with the previously trending bubble nails, soap nails veer a bit more sheer and nude, while bubble nails tend to have a decidedly pink hue. Soap nails’ key feature is that sleek, wet, soapy look that makes the trend feel crisp and fresh. “The beauty of soap nails is in their simplicity and the barely-there color, achieved through layers of sheer, customizable shades that match the natural nail tone,” says the Creative Director at Zoya Rebecca Isa.
Featured experts
- Rebecca Isa is the Creative Director at Zoya
- Morgan Haile is a nail expert and Gelish brand ambassador
Soap nails and similar minimalist manis are trending because they align with the shift towards more natural beauty, Isa speculates. “People are gravitating toward understated elegance and soft textures, and the soap nail trend delivers that with a fresh twist,” she says. “It’s also incredibly versatile—this look is low-maintenance, works well for everyday wear, and complements any outfit without being overly bold. It’s a subtle, elevated way to embrace chic simplicity in nail design.”
Isa notes that the look could be customized to perfectly match the natural nail bed to give it a look tailored to you. Plus, “the high gloss finish also gives nails a clean, fresh look, making it a perfect choice for those who love minimalist beauty with a touch of luxury.” Nail expert and Gelish brand ambassador Morgan Haile adds that the fresh, simple look is timeless and can work during any season, and complements the clean girl and quiet luxury looks perfectly.
What Are Soap Nails?
“True to their name, soap nails are a super clean high-gloss manicure with a sheer, neutral tone that perfectly complements your complexion,” explains Haile. “Soap nails are a trending, ultra-shiny manicure look that resembles the glossy, wet sheen of soap bubbles,” says Isa. Although it’s similar to some other popular trends, its translucent finish that mimics the natural nail bed and emphasis on shine helps differentiate it, she notes.
How to Get the Soap Nails Look
“To get the soap nails look, you’ll want to focus on translucency and shine and work with natural-looking shades,” says Isa. “For color, use soft tones that match natural color nails or skin tones like pinks, beige, browns or milky-nudes to capture that soap bubble feel,” suggests Haile. She recommends Gelish Foundation Flex ($18) because it hides imperfections and is a two-in-one base and color with a few shade options. Other nail polishes we love for creating this look include Chanel La Base Camélia ($32), Static Nails Creme Brulee ($16) and Londontown Perfecting Nail Veil #4 ($20).
Isa says it’s also easy to get the look with Zoya Naked Manicure products. “Start by skipping the traditional base coat and instead opt for a coat of a Naked Manicure Perfector shade, which allows flexibility in customizing the color to your nail bed tone. For the soap nails look, apply two to three layers of a Zoya Naked Manicure Perfector Shade ($12)—like pink, nude or buff, to create a sheer, healthy nail color.” To achieve the perfect density and tone for you Isa recommends mixing shades, “such as layering Lavender Perfector under a tone-matching perfector for color correction. Finish with a super glossy top coat, such as Zoya Naked Manicure Ultra Glossy Seal Top Coat ($17), to give nails that high shine, wet look effect.”
Soap nails are perfect for well-manicured natural nails, but if yours don’t necessarily fit this description, you can get the look by popping on short, round press-ons like Gelish Soft Gel Tips ($20). You could also grab the press-ons Camila Cabello used to nail the trend—Kiss Salon X-tend LED Soft Gel System Color Nails in Gloria ($10).
