Move over glazed doughnut nails! Selena Gomez’s soap nails are gaining widespread attention this awards season and it looks like the new nail trend is set to become a defining beauty movement.
Selena Gomez’s recent manicure has taken over the internet, marking the first sign of clean-girl spring.
The Disney alum debuted the new nail trend known as soap nails, becoming the latest celebrity to try the ‘quiet luxury’ manicure. Soap nails are meant to mimic the sudsy gloss and squeaky clean look achieved after a bubble bath. The mani trend was created by celebrity nail tech, Tom Bachik, and blew up after he posted a snap of Gomez’s nails with the caption: “Soap Girl Mani”.
Everyone is already racing to mimic the polished, pinky look, but what exactly are soap nails? Tinu Bello, professional nail tech, educator and founder of Manicured London, defines the new trend set to take over this spring. She told the Mirror: “Soap nails, which are usually a pale pink, such as Mylee’s XOXO Gel Polish, are a gentle, delicate nail finish that mirrors the subtle shine of freshly cut soap.
“Soap nails have a translucent, almost milky quality, making them look soft and light, like something straight out of a bubble bath. A glossy topcoat is typically added to enhance that polished, almost ethereal effect. Soap nails also look great in baby blue, lavender, soft yellow, and mint green.”
The trend is reminiscent of the milky manicure that propped up a couple of years ago. But while ‘soap nails’ and ‘milk nails’ may fall into the same category of ‘quiet luxury’ manicures, there are some slight differences to keep in mind, says Bello.
“Milky nails have a soft, semi-sheer white or neutral base that creates a creamy, milk-like appearance. The focus is on a smooth, understated finish that feels minimalist and natural, with a slightly diffused, blurred effect,”
“Soap nails take on a more glossy aesthetic. While they can feature a translucent or semi-sheer base like milky nails, they typically incorporate soft pastels mimicking the delicate tones of soap. Soap nails typically have a shinier, almost wet-look finish, sometimes with an iridescent or pearlescent effect to capture the subtle glistening aspect of soap or bubbles.”
If you’re keen to try the trend for yourself, be sure to start with a clean cuticle. Then, Bello says buffing is a must to achieve the perfect gloss. “Make sure to buff the surface of your nails lightly to remove any ridges and to create a smooth canvas for the polish. After that, clean your nails with a nail prep wipe to remove oils and debris, ensuring the polish adheres well.
“Apply a base coat to protect your nails and create an even surface for colour application, and cure if you are using a gel polish. Once the base coat is dry, carefully apply thin layers of your chosen soft pastel polish, allowing each layer to dry or cure fully before adding another to prevent streaking. Finish with a high-shine top coat for that glossy, soapy finish before one final cure.”
