Masterclass Notes: Soap Nails
WHAT ARE SOAP NAILS?
A soap manicure is a high-gloss, sheer neutral manicure that enhances your natural nail. It mimics the effect of squeaky-clean nails. Trimmed, shaped, buffed and scrubbed to perfection. Your nails should look almost wet, like they have just emerged from a bubble bath.
HOW DO YOU CREATE A SOAP NAILS MANICURE?
This trend is basically the no makeup makeup look for your nails. So, prep, picking the perfect enhancing polish, and maintenance are the most important steps for an immaculate outcome.
PREP
You’ll go through all your usual prep steps. However, you will want to pay extra attention to shaping, cuticle care and creating a perfectly smooth and clean nail plate to work with. It will make all the difference.
1. Shaping – Make sure your nails are all one length, and of course all the same shape. Take extra time to make sure the whites of your nails are all even. They will stand out. Symmetry is important with this mani.
2. Cuticle Care – This is a big one. You will want to push your cuticles back the way you normally would. However, you should always use your cuticle remover and cuticle pusher for a perfect cuticle line. Then buff and carefully cut down any hang nails or stubborn dry skin.
3. Clean Nail Plate – Once you’ve done your prep, and you’ve cleaned and properly dehydrated your nails, it’s time to create the smoothest, brightest surface for your paint job. My must-haves for this step are Ridge Filler + Nail Brightener OR starting with a clear gel mani as a base.
PICKING A POLISH
First this section begs the question, “what makes a Soap Mani different than any other neutral mani?” The real answer is, the difference is super subtle. I believe it is in the amount of polish and number of layers you paint. Because this mani is all about making your natural nail shine (literally), your mani should be more delicate, and even thinner than you’re used to. Most manicures are about full coverage of your nail. Soap Nails are about showing off your perfectly prepped nail with a little pop to enhance it’s natural beauty.
With that said, you will want to pick a polish that compliments your skin tone, nail shape and natural nail color. Some examples of types of polishes to choose from for your “barely there” look are:
1. Sheer Pinks or Beige Neutrals
Sandy (Quick Dry)
The Queen Takes Her Tea With Milk
2. Milky Whites or Pinks
1 Coat Icing is the Best Part
2 Coats BEB, 1 Coat CCT
3. Glossy Pinks or Peaches
SGT + Strawberries Are In Season Right Now
Pink Pineapple Gloss
4. Light Lavender
Passionfruit Gloss
5. Subtle Sparkly Sheers
Presents Are My Olive You
MAINTENANCE
Now that your Soap Nails mani is done, you must keep up your clean look. That takes daily maintenance, not just for your nails but also for your whole hand.
Here are the products I like to use to keep my Soap Nails looking fresh out of the tub.
1. The Mani + Pedi Scrub – I use this twice a week to keep my hands soft.
2. The Cuticle Pusher – I use this to clean under my nails each night.
3. Cuticle Oil – I use this all day, every day to keep my cuticle fresh and as moisturized as possible. This will help maintain that wet look throughout the day.
4. Cuticle Balm – I use this every night to keep that moisture working overtime.
5. Hand Treatment – This is another one I use all day, every day to keep my hands soft and plump.
6. Super Glossy Top Coat – I reapply top coat every other day to keep that high-gloss shine alive.
WHAT NAIL POLISH COLORS CAN I USE TO CREATE MY SOAP MANI?
Olive & June has a wide variety of colors to use for your chicest clean mani. You can use these polishes alone, with one or two thin coats (FYI, I prefer one coat for this look). Or you can also have fun layering and/or mixing to create your perfect soapy combination. Here are a few I’ve been rocking.
LONG LASTING:
1. BEB
2. CCT
3. EC
4. Icing Is The Best Part
5. The Queen Takes Her Tea With Milk
6. Strawberry Scone
7. Pink Pineapple Gloss
8. Strawberries Are In Season Right Now (I only put a drop of this mixed in with Super Glossy Top Coat to give it a subtle pink tint.)
9. Passionfruit Gloss
10. Office Party
11. Atlas (I use this as a thin layer underneath a sheer polish.)
12. Pink Goldfish
BEB
BEB +CCT
Icing is the Best Part
Office Party
Atlas
Passionfruit Gloss
QUICK DRY
1. Sandy
2. Potpourri
3. Baroque (I use this as a nail brightener before applying a sheer polish.)
4. Glossed
5. Freshwater (I use this as a thin layer underneath a sheer.)
6. Buttercream
Potpourri
Baroque
Glossed
GEL
1. Pink Goldfish (I use this as a nail brightener before applying a sheer polish.)
2. The Queen Takes Her Tea With Milk
3. CCT
4. Icing Is the Best Part
5. Atlas (I use this as a thin first coat underneath a sheer.)
Pink Goldfish
Atlas Tip + The Queen Takes Her Tea With Milk
WHAT ELSE CAN YOU DO WITH A SOAP NAILS MANI?
Now that you know the basics of how to create your Soap Nails Mani, you can have fun and make it your own. That’s the beauty of it! Play around with layering combos, do a little mixing, you can even add some minimalistic nail art. Just keep your hands and nails clean and shiny, and you’ve got yourself a perfect Soap Mani!
HD dots with The Queen takes Her Tea With Milk
3D Gold Bow with The Queen Takes Her Tea With Milk
