If you want a fresh start mani, you can’t really get much better than the soap nails we keep seeing everywhere. Where other 2025 nail trends are calling for maximalism with high-impact techniques—such as 3D nails and striking shades like tomato red—soap nails are the subtle alternative nestled quietly (but assuredly) at the other end of the spectrum.
So minimalists, this one’s for you… Here’s everything to know about the soap nails trend.
What are soap nails?
Taking clean and simple nail designs to another level, soap nails are all about mimicking the effect of squeaky clean nails. It takes that fresh mani feeling—you know, when your nails have been scrubbed, buffed, trimmed, and filed to perfection—and adds in some softening exfoliation. The result? A manicure that looks like it has just emerged from soapy suds after a bubble bath.
To get this effect, the bare nails are given a super glossy top coat that gives the nails an almost wet-look clean finish. However, you can tailor the trend to your preference by layering sheer pink tints or milky shades beneath. You can also finish with some subtle nail art if you like—though to stay on trend, it’s recommended to stick to similarly low-key, clean shades like crisp white or frothy cream.
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How can you create soap nails?
Since this is the manicure equivalent of no makeup makeup, your base is important. And, just as you can’t achieve no makeup makeup without upping the ante on your skincare, soap nails require giving the nail beds some proper TLC. This means drenching your nails and cuticles in nail oil whenever you can and spending more time on prep than polish when it comes to the manicure itself.
Your nail artist—or you, if you’re keeping your manicure in house—will need to focus on thoroughly cleaning nails of any previous polish, buffing them until they shine, neatly trimming away rough cuticles, and filing them so they’re beautifully symmetrical. Once they’re in good shape, that’s when you can give them a glow-up with a sheer wash of ultra glossy polish and top coat. You can keep it completely clear or choose a formula with a pink tint or a milky hue. The color is less important than an ultra fresh finish.
To wrap things up, you’re gonna want to ensure your hands have had the same treatment, so exfoliation with a sugar scrub followed by a moisturizing hand cream or mask will give you the softest skin to pair with immaculate soap nails.
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Here are 13 ways to wear soap nails…
Simple soap nails
This understated glossy bare mani is proof that prep is everything. Those cuticles are immaculate.
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Sheer pink
This squeaky clean soapy shade was created using OPI’s Nail Envy in Pink to Envy.
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Milky pink soap nails
These milky pink soap nails were created using Nails Inc’s Glowing Somewhere.
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Quiet luxury soap nails
These soft-almond quiet luxury soap nails were created using Gelcare’s Rose BB Cream. (Note: This one is best used by a professional since it involves curing with a UV lamp.)
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Short squoval soap nails
This sheer pink gives an immaculate finish.
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Glossy pink soap nails
These ultra glossy soap nails look so fresh and so clean.
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Dinky dot soap nails
Remix a classic soap mani with clean details, like dinky dots or skinny French tips.
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Crème soap nails
These clean soap nails were created using three coats Biosculpture’s Crème (another pro formula). But luckily, they have a matching nail polish available for retail.
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Rich girl soap nails
Soft hands and neat nails are the rich girl way to wear a mani.
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Blanc Frenchie soap nails
These were created using Biosculpture’s Blanc over natural nails. Ask your manicurist for a natural soft white to get this look.
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Short and shiny soap nails
These short shiny soap nails look bubble-levels of shiny.
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Rosewater soap nails
This glossy sheer shade is so fresh.
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Sheer Frenchie soap nails
Soften natural frenchies with a soapy pink.
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Milky soap nails
This milky shade looks soft, clean, and dreamy.
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Shiny sheer soap nails
Simple but so pretty, these bare nails have had a glow-up with a glossy top coat.
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Rose quartz soap nails
For nails that need a little extra love you can build up coverage with a glossy rose quartz shade.
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A version of article was previously published on Glamour UK.
The post Soap Nails Are About to Be Everywhere, and They’re the Perfect Fresh Start for the New Year appeared first on Glamour.
