Why We’ll Never Get Tired Of Bubble Bath Nails

4 months ago

We won't be washing our hands of this trend anytime soon

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When it comes to nail trends, very few make it to timeless status – only a sleek red set and a classic French mani come to mind. One of the newer manicures to make the list is bubble bath nails, the go-to beauty look for polished minimalists. And, lucky for us, it’s pretty easy to recreate at home.

What Are Bubble Bath Nails?

‘Bubble bath nails are a sheer pinky-white manicure,’ explains Lindsay Heigh, a nail technician and beauty pro at LOOKFANTASTIC. ‘It can be summed up by the ethos, “your nails, but better”. This is one of the most clean, versatile, timeless manicures out there right now, making it one that will likely not go out of trend anytime soon.’

‘They’re the perfect mix between “quiet luxury” and minimalism, creating a soft and polished look,’ adds Mamps Thaliwal, a beauty expert at Nail Polish Direct, who pins the origins of the trend on one brand in particular. ‘The trend was inspired by the famous OPI Bubble Bath nail polish colour, and aims to offer you a manicure which is easy to accessorise and works with any outfit.’

@opi It’s officially #NationalBubbleBathDay, but for us it’s every day #OPI #OPIBubbleBath #naturalnails #neutralnails #pinknails ♬ original sound – ⟢

Lindsay also links its recent revival on the clean girl aesthetic. Rooted in natural, polished beauty, the trend is all about achieving a fresh look that doesn’t seem too overdone. ‘I think with the recent “clean girl” aesthetic becoming so popular, this is the perfect mani to achieve the look,’ she says.

Now a staple internet beauty trend (with 66 million posts on TikTok), you’d think bubble bath nails would be old news – but no. If anything, it’s more popular than ever. ‘I think the new releases of products like builder gels (BIAB) has allowed for a new range of “bubble bath” colours to become more widely available, which has given the trend another boost,’ says Lindsay. ‘It is a super wearable, versatile trend. It goes with any outfit, which makes it perfect for any occasion.’

How To Ask For Bubble Bath Nails In The Salon

It’s always worth checking out your salon in advance, suggests Lindsay. ‘Research the brands your salon uses before your appointment, so you know what to ask for,’ she says. ‘Not all salons stock the same products! Most salons will know what a bubble bath mani is, but you can also show them some reference photos too. This can help your nail tech know what to use to get the desired outcome. And it will ensure you don’t end up leaving disappointed.’

With plans in place, you can let your nail tech work their magic. ‘Quite often bubble bath nails are created using just a base colour – a builder gel, hard gel, acrylic,’ says Lindsay. ‘These bases come in many shades that can be suited to the skin tone of the individual. If you are simply using gel then a few layers of a sheer pinky colour works, and allows you to build it up to match your skin tone. You can also add a layer of a sheer milky white on top to help create the perfect bubble bath colour.’

@katiefeeneyyI’ve never loved a nail color this much♬ Makeba – Jain

How To Recreate The Look At Home

The key to nailing this trend lies in the colour you pick for your polish. ‘If you want to recreate this look at home then I would suggest looking for a sheer pinky-white colour, with some level of translucency that will allow the bubble bath colour to build up with application,’ recommends Lindsay. ‘You can pick how many coats to apply based on your desired final outcome. Remember: you don’t want a solid, block opaque colour as this will not give the same effect.’

And when it comes to colour matching and adding some personal flair, Mamps has a few pointers. ‘Look for a pinky nude nail colour that works well with your skin tone,’ she says. ‘You can opt for a sheer shade, which will enhance the look of your natural nails and create that effortlessly clean aesthetic. But if your heart is set on an opaque colour, you can top it off with a milky, sheer white topcoat which will give your nails a glazed appearance. Or, add a touch of silver chrome powder to switch it up.’

What Next?

With this being a legacy trend, we’ve already seen how bubble bath nails have started to evolve. ‘This trend has already been enhanced with the addition of small, intricate nail art pieces on a couple of nails, glazed doughnut chrome and even a french manicure over the bubble bath base,’ confirms Lindsay. ‘This keeps a clean, put-together look. but allows the client to add their own spin to their set.’